Chapter 109 : The 22nd Floor. The God of Proof, Pavsha (2)

“What is this… How…”

Malesten continued to scan the void, unable to hide his amazement.

“Who are you?”

Taesan’s clone possessed his stats and skills intact. Malesten had confirmed it all, so his surprise was inevitable.

“How can someone on such a low floor have these stats?”

Malesten, an adventurer who had delved deep into the labyrinth, naturally knew the level of adventurers on the lower floors.

Thus, his shock was unavoidable. Taesan’s stats far surpassed what was attainable on the 22nd floor. As far as Malesten knew, there was no way to achieve such heights.

“Did you accept multiple apostle contracts? Even then, it’s tough… This is puzzling.”

But that wasn’t the main point. Sure, the stats were impressive, but not unattainable. In other words, reaching the 30th floor would eventually grant anyone those stats.

But the skills were a different story.

“How did you learn black magic?”

Taesan was human, yet among his skills was black magic. Malesten knew this was impossible.

“The Demon God doesn’t care for anything other than his own. He wouldn’t bestow black magic on a human…”

Malesten couldn’t believe Taesan had somehow cleared the Demon God’s quest.

And Taesan’s skills didn’t stop at black magic.

“You learned magic too?”

Although Taesan learned magic quite easily from Lillith with the God of Magic’s permission, it was virtually impossible for a regular adventurer.

The God of Magic was exceedingly picky about adventurers. There were geniuses in the world who entered the labyrinth but never received a single reply from the god.

A genius ultimately died forgotten and alone. Malesten had even forgotten their name.

Only a very few permitted ones could learn such skills. That was magic.

“Endure? Nullify attacks? What are these?”

Eventually, Malesten let out a hollow laugh. Even he, who had descended to the depths, was unaware of such skills’ existence.

“How did you learn spirit skills? And the ancestral skill Werewolf? That’s something you can’t learn unless it’s in your bloodline. How exactly?”

Every skill, everything about them, was a mystery. With a mix of astonishment and perplexity in his gaze, Taesan realized something odd.

‘Surprised by the spirit skills and Werewolf?’

Taesan had the Soul Skill. Soul Ascension. Since the skill description mentioned taking the power of others, it could be roughly guessed that Soul Ascension could steal skills.

But Malesten showed no sign of it. It was as if Soul Ascension didn’t exist among Malesten’s skills.

“Hmm.”

After a long moment of being unable to hide his astonishment, Malesten finally composed himself.

“This shouldn’t be happening. It’s quite rude to Lord Pavsha.”

Malesten gripped his sword, a relic of Carver just like Taesan’s. He grinned.

“This will be a fascinating and enjoyable experience.”

He stamped his foot. A harsh winter manifested behind him.

[Malesten has activated Frost Arrows.]

[Malesten has activated Magic Acceleration.]

Watching the arrows fly, Taesan was certain. Indeed, Malesten fought with the stats and skills he possessed.

Taesan dodged the Frost Arrows with a leap. Malesten stamped the ground.

[Malesten has activated Acceleration.]

[You have activated Aerial Leap.]

Dodging Malesten mid-air, Taesan counters with Frost Arrows, piercing Malesten’s back.

[Malesten’s first absolute nullification is activated.]

“What a strange skill. Hard to adapt to.”

Malesten, feeling odd about the activation sensation of nullification, charged at Taesan with a grimace.

Clash!

Swords collided. From Malesten’s hand unfolded the same Stormscar technique as Taesan’s. Taesan, using the first sword, Wolf Fang, pressed on.

“Hmm.”

Malesten moved his hand seriously. The reverse-gripped sword dazzlingly aimed for Taesan’s armpit.

Taesan swiftly withdrew his arm. Malesten twisted his waist and spun around, striking Taesan like a hurricane.

Clash, clash, clash!

With the sound of splitting air, Taesan was pushed back.

“What’s that?”

“What are you doing?”

The ghost reprimanded, sounding uncomfortable.

“Why mix someone else’s swordsmanship with your own?”

“It’s a new body, but the soul’s etched experiences don’t vanish. I found the hero’s swordsmanship interesting, so I tried mixing it. It didn’t work well.”

As Malesten spoke, he charged again. His sword movements left no openings.

Clang!

Taesan was pushed back.

Indeed, he was strong. The ghost had mentioned that he focused on swordsmanship as an adventurer. Even though it was Malesten’s first time using the Storm scar technique, he handled it more smoothly than Taesan.

“He’s strong.”

He was on a different level from any adventurer Taesan had seen before.

But that was it.

With a swift move, Taesan dove lower. Malesten immediately swung his sword downward.

[You have activated Parrying.]

The sword strike was diverted. Yet, Malesten wasn’t flustered. Having descended to the depths, he was well aware of such maneuvers.

[Malesten has activated Counter.]

A forced counter-attack skill. It corrected the direction of force, even in a misaligned stance, something Taesan often used.

And as often as he had used it, he knew how to counter it. Taesan created distance and launched a Searing Orb. Malesten, expecting Taesan to charge immediately, was momentarily confused and deflected the orb.

In that process, the counter was lost. Taesan dove in again, thrusting his sword.

“Hm.”

[Malesten has activated Parrying.]

[You have activated Thunderstrike.]

Thunderstrike activated simultaneously with the parrying, surprising Malesten, who was charging in, and Taesan’s sword pierced his chest.

Malesten was caught off guard but quickly reacted. As he raised his sword to counterattack, absolute nullification was triggered.

[Malesten’s second absolute nullification is activated.]

Taesan’s body returned to its position before the attack, and he swiftly withdrew.

Unaware that nullification could erase an attack, Malesten’s strike cut through the air, and Taesan didn’t miss the opening.

A third absolute nullification was activated.

Realizing the mechanism of attack nullification, Malesten charged at Taesan again, but Taesan had already created distance. Thunderstrike hit Malesten, inflicting damage.

“Uh, um.”

Confusion didn’t leave Malesten’s face.

Taesan charged forward. With Acceleration activated, he clashed with Malesten’s sword. Their stats were equal; neither side gave in.

[You have activated Freedom of Choice.]

Freedom of Choice. The gift from the God of Choice, Maria, allowed for the alteration of stat values.

Taesan converted his agility into strength. Suddenly gaining the upper hand in strength, Malesten was pushed back. Malesten, realizing the skill too late, activated it, but it was already too late.

[You have activated Marax’s False Flame.]

A substance resembling flame engulfed Malesten, continuously dealing damage.

Taesan created distance and charged again.

The cycle repeated. Malesten tried to press with the skills and swordsmanship Taesan possessed, but all were countered, and he was overpowered.

“Well, it was to be expected.”

The ghost murmured calmly.

Parrying that deflects attacks, Counter that strikes back, both were splendid skills. They were essential for most adventurers descending the depths and favored by hardcore mode players.

Yet, even those skills seemed dim compared to the array Taesan possessed. Having just one would be enough to overpower peers.

Of course, having powerful skills and utilizing them effectively were entirely different matters.

That was precisely the case with Malesten.

He had the skill to fluidly use newly acquired skills, a necessity for survival in the labyrinth. If not, he would have perished before descending.

Yet, even Malesten couldn’t muster a significant resistance against Taesan.

Even if Malesten had fully grasped Taesan’s skills and fought, the outcome would likely have been the same.

Such was Taesan’s skill utilization proficiency.

Unless Malesten regained the skills and power he wielded nearly perfectly in life, he couldn’t hope to gain the upper hand.

The ghost chuckled softly.

It was quite amusing.

A 22nd-floor adventurer handling his power as flawlessly as a deeply seasoned adventurer of many decades.

‘…What if it were me?’

If he fought Taesan, what outcome would unfold?

Malesten was strong, but weaker than him. He was the sole adventurer to earn the title of hero here, once touted to conquer the labyrinth soon.

Taesan’s skill utilization was superior. But he had his swordsmanship.

A fleeting spark of competitive spirit flared, then quickly extinguished.

It was an impossible thought. He was already dead.

The ghost quietly watched their battle.

The battle lasted a considerable time. Taesan’s health was high, requiring over a dozen direct hits to make a dent. As time passed, Malesten became increasingly familiar with Taesan’s skills, managing to adeptly handle them when half his health was depleted.

But the gap between him and Taesan was clear.

[Malesten’s Endure is activated. An attack that would have led to death is nullified. All damage becomes 0 for 1 second.]

“Ah, really.”

Malesten let out a hollow laugh.

“It’s the first time I’ve felt so powerless since losing to the hero.”

Simply put, Taesan was superior. Ridiculously, the 22nd-floor adventurer before him was already a completed entity in terms of skill concept.

This was due to his previous life’s easy mode experiences and his lengthy battles on Earth, but Malesten, unaware of this, could only marvel.

“I apologize to Lord Pavsha.”

Suddenly, the dark space that enveloped them trembled. Malesten, having heard something, grinned faintly.

“That’s a generous comment. Thank you. O Divine One.”

Malesten struggled to his feet.

Though Endure allowed him one more hit, his will to continue fighting seemed depleted.

“Do you think Lord Pavsha would make the same offer to you? Have you no intention of accepting?”

“Sorry, but I have no such plans.”

The fate of adventurers who accepted the apostle’s contract was clear.

Malesten exemplified the path: bound to a god’s will after death, compelled to move as directed. Taesan had no desire for such an existence.

Understanding this, Malesten made no further offers.

“It’s somewhat comfortable once you get used to it. Lord Pavsha is a merciful being. Being his can be quite protective… but I guess I can’t force you.”

Malesten smiled warmly. Taesan’s form blurred, revealing an aged, venerable figure for a moment.

“It’s been a pleasure, adventurer.”

[Your level has increased.]

[Your Soul Ascension is activated. The proficiency of all skills, excluding Soul Skill [Soul Ascension], increases.]

A system window with this startling information appeared, barely giving him time to read before another series of notifications unfolded.

[You have passed Pavsha’s trial. According to Pavsha’s evaluation, a reward is granted to you.]

[Pavsha is highly pleased with your proof. Pavsha wishes to give you a fitting reward.]

[Pavsha’s interference domain has shrunk.]

[Pavsha grants you a reward. You have received [The Dagger of the Proven].]

[You have cleared the enhanced trial. An additional reward is granted.] [

You have obtained the special passive skill [The Soul of the Proven].]

[Pavsha offers you the contract of an apostle.]