Chapter 127: Grade B Monsters (Part 4)
“Wh-what?”
Kim Hwihyun was astonished, and she wasn’t the only one. Those sprawled on the ground and those barely standing felt it too.
A tremendous force began to envelop their bodies. Kim Hwihyun looked at her own fist with widened eyes.
Squeezing it tightly, she felt a new strength coursing through her arm. This strength, its intensity, and a more efficient way to harness it—all became clear in her mind. Countless techniques she hadn’t known before, or perhaps had been unaware of, now burst forth like fireworks in her thoughts.
“What is this?”
Jungkeun, feeling a similar sensation, was just as puzzled.
“It’s not stats or leveling up… This is…”
Kim swallowed hard.
It was talent.
Innate abilities were descending into their bodies.
Taesan felt it too, moaning as he sensed the power embedding within him.
“Strange.”
With a short jab, Taesan punched the air, producing a sharp crack.
The sequence of punching, retracting, and repositioning was much faster and more precise than before.
“Is this… your power?”
［You have received the Divine Blessing [Talent of Struggle and Death].］
［A blessing granted only to a chosen few who believe and follow me. Be thankful and show reverence, mortal.］
Lakiratas spoke haughtily. Taesan had no comeback.
Squeezing his fist again, Taesan noticed his senses had changed. It wasn’t just about being faster or stronger; something more fundamental had shifted.
‘Talent.’
An innate power that couldn’t be acquired through learning had been granted to them.
‘With this power…’
They could become stronger. Not just stronger now, but it held the potential for growth.
It was astonishing. Exciting. And that wasn’t all.
“Is it not just me, but has every survivor received this?”
[Yes. Normally, such powers aren’t meant for trivial beings like yourselves, but things have turned out to be quite interesting.]
Lakiratas muttered, but Taesan was too shocked to even retort.
That such a divine power was granted to all humanity was no small matter. Depending on the situation, even players from Easy Mode could become more than twice as strong as in their past lives.
It was certainly a joyous occasion, but some things didn’t make sense.
“Why?”
Lakiratas is a god. Gods despise mortals they don’t recognize and grant them nothing.
Yet, he had bestowed power on all humanity. At least, that wasn’t what Taesan had expected.
Lakiratas replied bluntly.
[It’s a contract. A deal, if you will. You’re not stupid. Figure it out.]
Taesan thought hard, and soon he understood.
“Is this related to the monsters, the Old Gods?”
[Correct.]
Power surged from the throne, rippling as if it enjoyed the revelation.
[They tried to cross the line. So, I made a deal.]
“…Grade B monsters.”
Such monsters shouldn’t have appeared now. If it were possible, they would have been sent in the previous world.
That it hadn’t meant something special about this time.
[You have met our expectations and triumphed admirably. I commend you, mortal.]
Taesan looked towards the throne. Lakiratas’s tone was as if it had watched their entire battle.
With a solemn gaze, Lakiratas spoke.
[Do not mistake your enemy, mortal. We are at least not your enemy.]
“What’s going on?”
Taesan needed information. Why had Lakiratas descended here?
Pondering, Lakiratas fell silent for a moment.
[Given what you are now, it shouldn’t matter. We created the labyrinth. We wanted to watch the struggles of great heroes and champions. The Old Gods displeased us.]
“So, they were trying to destroy worlds.”
According to the demon, 258 worlds had fallen to the Old Gods.
Such events would not sit well with the gods of the labyrinth. Irritation tinged Lakiratas’s voice.
[Unable to accept defeat, these despicable beings are crumpling worlds that could potentially enter the labyrinth. Did you think we would just watch?]
“So, you called us.”
People from worlds doomed to destruction were valuable potential entrants to the labyrinth.
It was somewhat expected, so it wasn’t a shock, just a realization of the truth.
[But… I have a question.]
The specter spoke up quietly.
[May I dare to ask, great being?]
[Hmm.]
Lakiratas’s gaze turned to the specter, causing its form to tremble as if disturbed by static noise.
[I shall permit you to speak because of your courage. Speak, dead one.]
[…Thank you.]
The specter swallowed before speaking.
[Even for you gods, calling all humans from one world must be challenging.]
[Normally, yes. But they interfered and created openings. That made things easier.]
[So that’s how it happened.]
[Not just for some trivial tale did you wish to speak. Continue.]
[According to the being I reside in, most people here did not enter the labyrinth but a different place mimicking it.]
Taesan realized what the specter was trying to say.
Easy, Normal, Hard Modes… The people of Earth were divided among many modes. Previously, he thought that was natural, but as he entered Solo Mode, his perspective changed.
The real one was Solo Mode only. The rest were fakes.
The specter was questioning that.
[Originally, all of you should have entered our world. But their interference has complicated matters. Rifts formed and dimensions twisted.]
The interference of the Old Gods.
It seems that was what caused the separation into modes.
[That annoyed us considerably before… but not this time.]
Lakiratas spoke with a hint of amusement.
His gaze was on Taesan.
[That’s all for now. If you want to know more, come find me in the depths.]
“Understood.”
Taesan responded, but Lakiratas did not disappear. The throne remained on Earth.
‘What?’
As Taesan was puzzled, Lakiratas spoke again.
[Mortal. Become my apostle.]
“I declined that offer before.”
When he had faced an enhanced trial at Lakiratas’s altar, the god had offered him the contract of an apostle.
Lakiratas, being a capricious god and not one to be tied down, had been refused by Taesan.
[That was then. But circumstances have changed. The Old Gods may be losers, but they are too strong for a mortal to handle. The vermin are also targeting you. You wouldn’t want to perish anonymously, would you?]
Lakiratas spoke with divine arrogance.
[I shall grant you the honor of standing by my side. Accept it, mortal.]
[Hmm.]
The specter gasped in surprise at Lakiratas’s words.
The response mattered, but Taesan spoke first.
“You know my answer.”
He had no intention of being bound to a god. Among his goals was to become as strong as the gods. Becoming an apostate might limit him.
[Hmm. I figured as much. If you had accepted, that brat would have made a fuss.]
Lakiratas muttered as if he hadn’t been expecting a different answer.
[Still, it was fun. I look forward to your fighting spirit.]
Lakiratas’s power slowly faded. The throne began to sink back into the earth.
[Ah, right.]
Suddenly, as if just remembering, Lakiratas spoke.
[You have triumphed against a tool of the vermin. An impressive feat. I was quite satisfied. Therefore, I grant you a gift.]
Power detached from the disappearing throne and embedded itself in Taesan.
[You have acquired the special activation skill [Apostlehood [Lakiratas]].]
[Check it out when you return to the labyrinth. It should be a great help to your plans.]
With a meaningful remark, Taesan laughed.
“Did you know?”
[How could I not? Still, I permit it. Use my name if you must.]
“Thank you.”
Taesan nodded. With permission from Lakiratas, following the demon, there really was nothing to worry about.
[I hope for even more entertaining sights, mortal.]
And with that, Lakiratas disappeared. No more presence was felt.
[Whew!]
The specter exhaled the breath it had been holding.
[I thought I was dead just from being looked at.]
“Why did you speak up?”
[Did I want to? You needed to hear that, didn’t you?]
The specter grumbled. Indeed, the information it shared was significant to Taesan, who was grateful.
“The modes were caused by the interference of the Old Gods.”
Easy, Normal, Hard Modes. Although the details were unknown, these difficulties were created by the intervention of the Old Gods. It seemed the gods of the labyrinth hadn’t intended for that.
The specter muttered with a hint of amazement.
[It’s funny, isn’t it? That Lakiratas would offer the position of guarding his side to a mortal?]
“What position is that?”
[Literally. It’s about taking on one of the fingers of the god. More than just an apostle, a kind of divine entity.]
“So, becoming a god?”
[Something like that.]
Though the remark was made in jest, the specter answered seriously.
Taesan paused briefly.
“Becoming a real god?”
[Not exactly a full position, but you would certainly escape the mortal coil. That’s why it’s funny. From what I know, only three have become Lakiratas’s fingers since his birth… and none had yet passed the 50th floor.]
“God.”
Becoming an immortal being. It was a startling thought, but still, he wasn’t ready to accept it.
“Then I should return.”
Taesan headed back to the battlefield. It was filled with people in confusion, all examining their bodies and swinging their fists.
He assessed the situation.
“Half survived.”
He had expected only 20%, maybe 30% to survive, but the number was significantly higher.
“What are you doing?”
“Ah, Taesan!”
Kim Hwihyun, flustered, stuttered.
“This… something has embedded in our bodies…”
“Let’s organize first.”
The divine blessing wouldn’t disappear. It could be checked once they returned to the labyrinth.
But there was work to be done. Kim Hwihyun nodded with a somber face.
It took nearly two days. Only on the eve of their return did they manage to organize. Nearly half had died, mostly from Easy and Normal Modes.
Hard Mode players also had casualties, but they had managed to endure by repeatedly striking and retreating, thereby minimizing losses.
Everyone was downcast. Having nearly half die during what was expected to be an easy return cast a gloom over them.
But they didn’t fall.
Having survived many trials, those who remained mourned the dead, discussed and debated the powers they had acquired.
Taesan also adjusted his movements in training sessions with Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk.
Lakiratas’s blessing. The Talent of Struggle and Death.
[Divine Blessing: Talent of Struggle and Death]
[You acquire all talents related to struggle and death.]
The explanation was simple, but the effects were astonishing.