Chapter 108 : The 22nd Floor. The God of Proof, Pavsha (1)
“Pavsha. The God of Self-Proof,” the ghost began to explain.
“A god in the truest sense. Prove yourself. Show what you have built. That’s the kind of trial this god offers. It used to be deeper down, but now it’s moved up here.”
“What kind of trial is it?”
“I haven’t taken it.”
It was an unexpected response. Given the ghost’s high confidence in its own abilities, it was natural to assume it had undergone the trial. Taesan asked in surprise.
“Is it difficult?”
“It’s not so much difficult as… Well, if you’re looking at the success rate, it’s actually quite easy. But it’s a bit tricky, you see.”
The ghost spoke with a hint of discomfort.
“Most adventurers I remember took Pavsha’s trial. And all of them succeeded.”
This, too, was beyond expectation. Taesan frowned.
“Everyone?”
“Even those who were not particularly outstanding, close to average, all succeeded.”
“That’s… odd.”
To put it precisely, it was impossible.
The trials set by immensely powerful beings for their own amusement do not consider ordinary adventurers.
While most could clear them, it’s not feasible for everyone to do so. That had been Taesan’s observation of the divine trials until now.
“That’s the odd part. And some of those who cleared the trial changed a bit. Their way of speaking or behavior altered.”
“…Doppelgangers?”
The most common monsters that mimic appearances. It was the logical conclusion if those who cleared the trial changed. However, the ghost denied it.
“Doppelgangers replicate even the tone of voice and mannerisms perfectly. But those who came out of the trial gave themselves away. They acted as if they were the real deal. Suspicious ones checked but found nothing amiss.”
“So, not doppelgangers.”
“Not doppelgangers. But we called those who changed ‘fakes’.”
It meant they were considered not genuine.
“What happened to these ‘fakes’?”
“All sorts. Some descended deeper into the labyrinth, others died on the way down, and some became guides of sin, staying at their own levels. Most met the ends typical of average adventurers.”
That was yet another peculiar tale.
If a fake were mimicking an adventurer, it would try to survive by any means. The goal of descending the labyrinth wasn’t that of the fake but of the adventurer it consumed.
Yet, these fakes died like true adventurers.
“So, you didn’t take it because of that?”
“Since it’s unclear. Can’t measure by the ratio of success to failure, and can’t trust the information from those who survived. I didn’t want to act recklessly.”
Taesan looked towards Pavsha’s altar.
The aura emanating from there carried a single message.
Prove yourself.
“What did those who returned say?”
“Their own proof. That was it.”
Taesan pondered.
There was no information. It was an unknown trial. There was a reason the ghost refused it. It was akin to walking on a cliff in dense fog.
But Taesan was certain about one thing.
“The gods here expect a level of strength from me.”
Then, the trial set by the god would likely be appropriate for Taesan.
Pavsha was not a god of death. Unlike Lakiratas, it wouldn’t wish for his death.
Taesan touched the altar.
“Are you doing it?”
“I’ve no intention of backing out now.”
“Right… They wouldn’t give you a trial that could kill you.”
The ghost seemed to think so too, sounding calm.
[Pavsha’s Altar]
[An altar built by those who worship Pavsha. A conduit connected to the god. Pavsha can exert influence through here.]
[Sub-Quest Start]
[Pavsha wishes to test you, having come to its altar. Accept, and the trial will come to you. Succeed, and you will be rewarded.]
[Reward: Pavsha will decide based on your performance.]
“I accept.”
As he accepted, darkness engulfed Taesan.
When his vision returned, he was in an empty space of darkness.
It wasn’t too vast. About the size of three labyrinth rooms combined, he could reach the end in just a second if he moved purposefully.
In the middle of this space, darkness began to coalesce. It formed arms and legs, and eventually, a face.
“Hmm.”
Taesan grimaced.
“Seems like a doppelganger, alright.”
A being that looked exactly like Taesan appeared before him. At the same time, the quest window popped up.
[Prove yourself.]
The trial was not enhanced. This meant one thing.
The trial changes to suit the user.
Watching his clone, Taesan calmly drew his weapon.
Fighting a mimic of oneself wasn’t an uncommon story in the creative works from Earth. Out of ten stories, you’d find it in at least two or three.
Taesan examined his doppelganger.
The wavering hair, the almost expressionless face.
The ghost marveled as it observed.
“It’s an exact copy. Like a mirror, huh?”
“I can’t really tell.”
“From your perspective, sure. But it’s exactly the same. The face, height, physique, even the clothing.”
There was no discernible difference on the surface.
Taesan had some pretty impressive gear. The weapon he was currently using was a unique sword given as a reward by the ghost, and one of his rings was worth tens of thousands of gold.
The clone had all these items as well. It was nothing for a divine trial to replicate such details.
But what about skills? Did it have all his skills, including the black magic granted by the Demon God and the magics permitted by the God of Magic?
While Taesan pondered, the clone simply stared at him expressionlessly.
First, he needed to gauge its level. Taesan swung his sword.
And the clone moved.
[The clone has activated a powerful strike.]
Clash.
Taesan’s sword was pushed back. He quickly tried to flow into the Dance of the Blade to deflect the tip of the sword.
At that moment, the clone’s sword changed as well. It began to assail Taesan like a storm.
[What!]
The first sword strike, Wolf Fang.
The clone was executing the sword technique taught by the ghost.
“Oh.”
Taesan’s eyes lit up. His sword began to move, executing the Wolf Fang technique just like the clone’s.
Clash, clash, clash!
The swords created echoes as they collided, producing a loud noise. After the final clash, Taesan backed off.
“So, it has skills too.”
“…This is a hit to my pride. My sword technique, copied by a divine clone?”
“Don’t say it like that.”
The clone bared its teeth, gripping its sword.
“I’ll be the real one soon enough!”
The clone charged at him.
Taesan parried each attack slowly retreating. The clone, believing it had the upper hand, laughed maniacally.
“Die! Your soul will be mine!”
The clone shouted fiercely, moving its sword. Occasionally, Frost Arrows targeted Taesan’s body.
Taesan lightly maneuvered his dual swords. He deflected the clone’s sword and twisted the trajectory of the Frost Arrows.
Using just one technique, he fended off both magic and sword attacks. The clone hesitated as it sensed something was off.
Taesan looked down on the clone with indifferent eyes.
“Not much of a challenge.”
“Looks to be about the level of an average 22nd-floor adventurer.”
Despite having the same skills and stats, the performance varied with the user. If Taesan had the stats and skills of Itaeyeon, he would have used them more efficiently.
The clone, despite having his stats and skills, utilized them in a crude manner. The ghost muttered with interest.
“A concept where you kill and steal the soul to become the real deal? Interesting. So that’s why their personalities changed. Because the soul was real, there was no way to detect it. So this was the nature of the trial. I could have taken it.”
It wasn’t an easy trial after all. Average level meant just that, the average of the solo mode. If it came down to sheer ability, the clone might be stronger than Itaeyeon on the 22nd floor.
However, Taesan was far beyond the ordinary. The clone staggered back.
Instead of pursuing, Taesan focused on the space trembling with darkness.
The divine trial had to satisfy the god. At least, the current level didn’t seem likely to impress Pavsha.
Taesan’s guess was right, as the clone’s body suddenly shook violently.
[Pavsha’s Authority Manifests. As a consequence, Pavsha’s influence area diminishes.]
[Pavsha offers you an enhanced trial.]
Unlike with Lakiratas, it was proposed as an offer. Taesan nodded.
[Pavsha is pleased.]
[A separate soul inhabits the clone’s body.]
Something spiritual descended from the dark space into the clone. The clone’s body trembled, then took a deep breath.
“Ah!”
The atmosphere changed. It had Taesan’s face, but the expression was entirely different. Taesan grimaced.
“This feels wrong.”
It was unsettling to see someone else wearing his shell. The clone, though a duplicate, was not a pleasant sight.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in the labyrinth. Welcome, adventurer.”
The clone smiled widely, holding the sword in a unique reverse grip.
“What’s this?”
The ghost murmured as if recalling something. The soul inhabiting the clone introduced itself.
“I am the apostle of the great Pavsha, one who has trodden the depths. I am called Malesten.”
Facing the apostle of a god was a first for Taesan.
Considering the gods offered the role of apostle to those who far surpassed the average, this meant Malesten must have been quite formidable in life. The ghost, seemingly familiar with him, spoke up in surprise.
“So, you became an apostle? Where have you been?”
“Hmm?”
Malesten, belatedly noticing the ghost’s presence, showed surprise.
“A hero? Are you here too?”
After a moment, Malesten realized.
“Ah, but you’re different. You’ve already died, haven’t you? If you couldn’t conquer it, I guess there’s not much hope for anyone else.”
“I didn’t die descending the labyrinth. I was killed by something else.”
“…The guides of sin. I see.”
Malesten grimaced.
“Insane. Killing you would halt their own descent as well.”
“That’s why they’re still struggling. Serves them right.”
The ghost chuckled mischievously. Taesan clicked his tongue.
“Don’t just chat among yourselves. Explain. Who is this?”
“Sorry. He was someone who descended the labyrinth around the same time as me. He wasn’t part of the guides of sin.”
“They did not appeal to me. They are weak, spiritually dead.”
Malesten snorted derisively. His words suggested he was too strong for the guides of sin to even consider challenging.
“He surpassed the 70th floor. Used dual swords like you, but one in reverse grip. Preferred swordsmanship over skills.”
“So, a slave who became an apostle? Still, no regrets. Pavsha is surprisingly kind to his belongings.”
Malesten shrugged and looked at Taesan.
“It seems you’re bound too? Unexpected. I thought you’d choose death over this.”
“If it were up to me, I would have. But I ran into some irritating issues.”
“Hmm. I’m curious, but… let’s leave it at that. The protagonist seems bored.”
Malesten’s gaze turned cold as if he was looking at a status window. After a moment, he frowned.
“…What floor is this?”
“22nd.”
“22nd?”
Shock appeared on Malesten’s face.
“The level is beyond the 30th…”
“This guy is a bit unusual.”
“Huh, interesting.”
Malesten looked at Taesan with a mixture of awe and curiosity. Taesan readied himself.
He was starting to understand what Pavsha’s enhanced trial entailed.
Defeat his own apostle, possessing his stats and skills. That seemed to be the essence of the trial.
