Chapter 135: 30th Floor, Guide of Sin. (1)
The monsters on the 30th floor seemed to be a conglomeration of elements like fire, wind, and water, with spirits of each type appearing more powerful, faster, and more formidable than ever before.
However, they were still no match for Taesan. He breezed through the labyrinth without much trouble and assessed the rewards in the secret room.
[Ring of Unknown Aura]
[Attack Power +10]
[The ring contains an unknown aura that attacks the bearer’s enemies. It’s not particularly meaningful but seems like it could sell for a good price.]
Attack power was meaningless unless attached to a weapon. It was likely a currency item, but for Taesan, who had learned advanced weapon techniques, better equipment was hard to find.
After removing a ring with +5 Strength and +5 Defense and wearing the new one, his attack and defense values matched perfectly:
[Attack Power +228]
[Defense +228]
“Nice.”
It was a minor pleasure, but it felt good nonetheless.
He continued clearing the labyrinth. The 30th floor, lacking anything like a divine altar or doors of different colors, was quickly navigated.
That’s when he reached the boss.
[The fire spirit, Ifrit, has appeared.]
A giant of flame blocked Taesan’s path, swinging its massive arms and creating a blaze.
Taesan smiled as if this was a good opportunity.
“Perfect for a test.”
[You have activated a small spark.]
As the skill was activated, his senses changed. The flames felt closer and more familiar, and he realized he had gained control over them.
Taesan reached out towards the incoming punch from Ifrit.
Boom!
Ifrit’s arm exploded, a result of Taesan exerting control over the flames. Although the arm regenerated, Ifrit seemed disoriented.
“Nice.”
The boss of the 30th floor was being beaten single-handedly without a chance to react.
The fight was one-sided. Any attempts by Ifrit to counterattack were effortlessly blocked by simple gestures from Taesan.
“Goodbye.”
Taesan clenched his fist. Ifrit’s entire body exploded, leaving nothing but ashes behind. For a 30th-floor boss, it was an anticlimactic end.
[Your level has increased.]
[Your aura has escalated.]
[You have uncovered the hidden elements of the 30th floor. You have obtained the reward [???].]
[You have perfectly cleared the 30th floor. You have obtained the title [Settler].]
[You have perfectly cleared all floors up to the 30th. You have obtained the title [Seeker of Perfection].]
[As someone who entered the labyrinth, you have reached a level to be proud of. You have obtained the title [Pioneer].]
[You have shown significant value beyond proving your strength here. You have obtained the title [Continual Challenger].]
[You have reached a position that anyone would acknowledge. You have obtained the title [Adventurer].]
[Your footsteps now leave significant changes behind.]
As usual, numerous rewards were bestowed all at once.
“Now then.”
Before concluding, a verification was necessary. Taesan sat down.
The reward for clearing the 30th floor, like before, was titles. The increase in stats was expected and satisfactory, though it felt somewhat dull since nothing had changed.
Thinking this, he checked the titles.
[Title: Settler]
[You have reached a level where you can settle in the labyrinth. Whether you move forward or stay is your choice.]
[Strength +4]
[Agility +4]
[Intelligence +40]
[Attack Power +10]
[Defense +10]
Taesan paused for a moment.
“The stats are quite different, aren’t they?”
When he had cleared the 20th floor, he had also received a title. The corresponding title for Settler was [Progressor].
It was a decent title, enhancing each stat by 15. But this new title far surpassed that.
“Adding 40 and both attack and defense by 10? What’s this?”
[You’ve reached the 30th floor.]
The spirit explained calmly.
[If the first 20 floors were the beginning, from here on, you’ve moved beyond that. It’s no longer considered the lower floors. So, the rewards are accordingly significant. Though it might not mean much to you, the increase in title attack power works even without a weapon, which is very nice.]
“Hmm, not bad.”
In fact, it was good. If other titles were on this level, Taesan felt excited to check them, and they did not disappoint.
Indeed, they were substantial.
[Seeker of Perfection] raised all stats by 40, [Pioneer] by 70, and [Continual Challenger] by 30.
Just by clearing the 30th floor, he had gained a total of 180 in stats.
And the last title obtained, [Adventurer].
Taesan hesitated when he saw it.
[Title: Adventurer]
[A qualified individual. This title disappears if you lose the qualifications.]
[Strength +100]
[Agility +100]
[Intelligence +10]
[Attack Power +10]
[Defense +10]
[Low chance to double the rewards in the secret room.]
[Skill proficiency increases 20% faster.]
Taesan chuckled.
“That’s too good.”
The values were incredibly high, but the special effects were the real deal.
Double the rewards in the secret room at a low chance, plus a title that increases skill proficiency by 20%.
“Why would they give this at the 30th floor?”
[It’s not an easily obtained title.]
The spirit explained.
[Probably none of the Guide of Sin members have received it. It’s a title given under the labyrinth’s unique judgment to adventurers it chooses—a sort of qualification.]
The gods only bestow enhanced trials to those they favor and choose as their apostles.
This title seemed to serve that role.
“Status.”
[Kang Taesan]
[Level: 69]
[Shield: 435/435]
[Health: 4890/4890]
[Mana: 875/875]
[Magi: 66/66]
[Strength: 2043]
[Intelligence: 1601]
[Agility: 1875]
[Attack Power +248]
[Defense +248]
[The subject is in the best condition.]
Finally, his strength had surpassed 2000. Though it still paled in comparison to Lee Taeyeon’s stats, he was slowly closing the gap.
“Very good.”
He had become stronger than he was yesterday, and tomorrow he would be stronger than today.
It was a very enjoyable prospect.
Taesan smiled joyously and struck the wall.
Crack.
The wall crumbled. The labyrinth’s walls were incredibly sturdy, requiring tens of thousands in attack power to even scratch them.
That it had crumbled so easily meant there was something hidden within.
Taesan, having scouted ahead, casually entered through the broken wall.
After descending for a moment, a small space appeared, and within it were five figures.
“Hello. We haven’t met before, have we?”
Taesan greeted them.
These were members of the Guide of Sin who had chosen not to seek battle but to preserve their lives instead.
All five were now in front of Taesan.
“Let’s finish this.”
Taesan drew his sword leisurely as the thin man with sharp features hastily raised his hands.
“Stop! You can’t kill us!”
“I think I can.”
“No, you can’t.”
The man declared boldly.
“Because we’ve made contact with the deep layers!”
Taesan paused his sword at that, and seeing his reaction, the man brightened.
“Just a moment ago! We got in touch with the leadership! They said they’re coming right away!”
Even hidden in the secret room, they were aware of the general situation in the labyrinth. They had turned pale watching Taesan swiftly clear the 29th and 30th floors.
When Taesan had defeated the boss of the 30th floor, they had nearly given up.
But at the same time, the leaders from the deeper layers had finished their conquest of the floors and were returning.
Whether it was a failure or a success was unknown, but the fact that communication was possible was crucial.
The man immediately contacted the deep layers. The guy we thought was dead is alive. He’s coming to kill us.
The moment Taesan arrived, they received word that help was on its way.
“You can’t kill us! If you kill us, you’ll be making a complete enemy!”
The man’s face showed no more fear, convinced that Taesan could never harm them.
“So?”
And then Taesan shattered that certainty.
Taesan moved towards them with his sword.
The man stepped back in panic.
“Are you mad? Are you trying to oppose the adventurers from the deep layers?”
He was sure of his survival for that reason.
Taesan was undoubtedly strong. Even though it was only the 30th floor, he was confident in defeating these five. He had the strength to win against any typical 40th-floor adventurer.
But that was a story up to the 40th floor.
The adventurers from the deeper layers were beyond the 70th floor. They literally possessed power from another dimension. The difference between the 1st and 30th floors was less than that between the 30th and 70th floors.
Therefore, the man believed Taesan would choose not to fight any longer to preserve his life.
But Taesan had no such intentions.
“I’ve already crossed a river I can’t return from. What difference does it make if I kill five more?”
“No, no!”
The man shouted frantically, his back against the wall.
“You’re strong! Unprecedentedly strong among us! Under the leadership’s judgment, you could join us!”
It wasn’t a lie.
It was an extremely rare event, but definitely possible. In fact, only once in the very early days, long before they entered the labyrinth, had someone opposed the Guide of Sin. He had demolished the lower floors, and the leadership had approached him. Without any punishment, he had become a member of the Guide of Sin.
“Really?”
“So, now…
“But I don’t like it. I have no intention of getting along with you.”
Taesan shook his head as he approached them.
“You… you…
“Aren’t you adventurers who risked your lives to get down to the 30th floor? You’ve overcome a trial or two, haven’t you? Choose. Whether to risk your life and win or die disgracefully here.”
The look in their eyes changed at Taesan’s muttering. The man clenched his teeth and let go of the wall.
“You’ll regret this!”
They stood up. The powers they possessed exploded, violently shaking the small space.
They did their best.
Whether it was Taesan’s words that spurred them on or their own hidden techniques and skills they had mastered. They used everything they had kept until now to oppose Taesan.
Thanks to that, Taesan also had a bit of a challenge. He was slightly pushed back by the Guide of Sin members trying to create an opening at the cost of their lives.
But that was all.
Crack.
Taesan blocked an attack and stepped back. Seeing this, the Guide of Sin member thought he had gained the upper hand and excitedly charged at Taesan.
And then he stepped on the dark energy that had formed where Taesan had stood.
“Uh, uh?”
Confusion flashed across his face as his body’s movements slowed, and his complexion turned ashen.
Crack.
“Kuhak!”
Taesan’s sword pierced his chest. Using him as a shield, he blocked the skills.
[You have activated Decarabia’s Twisted Vegetation.]
Boom!
Roots wildly sprang up, filling the room. Caught off guard by the suddenly obscured vision, they were disoriented.
And Taesan was watching it all.
Not with his eyes. Eyes of Accord. Enhanced senses. High-level detection skills showed him more than what the eyes could see.
Boom!
Breaking through the roots, Taesan appeared. The man who had been searching for him found Taesan’s sword piercing his throat.
“Goodbye.”
He charged at them.
Only three of the Guide of Sin remained, their faces set as they gripped their weapons.
And then, 10 minutes later.
They were all annihilated.
“You held out well.”
There was an absolute difference between them and Taesan now. Yet they had managed to hold out for 10 minutes. It was something to be proud of.
In fact, the last man to fall was smiling satisfactorily.
Taesan dusted off his sword.
Five third-tier members of the Guide of Sin. Their levels differed, but they were strong enough to trigger an aura escalation. He had gained levels and a few skills.
But there was no time to check them.
Taesan looked up.
“Huh. Why are they all dead?”
A young man with a frivolous demeanor was entering through the entrance, looking surprised.