Chapter 187: 40th Floor, Child of the Demonic Tribe (1)
“I have something to inform you about.”
She spoke, twirling her hair with an uncertain expression.
“On the 40th floor, at the very end, there is someone waiting for you.”
“The Guide of Sin?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes.”
From the demon goddess’s words, Taesan understood.
“So, it’s just one person.”
Taesan had already defeated all the adventurers of the 4th rank on the 40th floor.
Next would be the 5th rank adventurers, but it was too soon for all of them to descend.
So, it was likely just one person,
A talented individual.
Someone who had navigated the labyrinth, grasped many things, and obtained numerous rewards.
Like Taesan, someone who focused not merely on clearing floors but on acquiring skills and strategies.
There was a high chance such a remarkable individual would descend.
The demon goddess nodded.
“Yes. He will come to you. And either fight and die or kill you.”
The demon goddess looked regretful.
“He is… my child.”
“A demonic tribe member?”
“Yes. He has great talent. But he made a poor choice due to his lack of experience. He’s a pitiable child.”
The demon goddess’s eyes narrowed, and the atmosphere grew heavy.
“To be honest… I want to kill them all.”
A chilling sensation enveloped Taesan.
“But I can’t.”
She shook her head, and the oppressive atmosphere dissipated.
“The matters of the labyrinth should be dealt with by its adventurers. That is our rule. Even if that poor child was deceived, it was his choice. There’s nothing I can do. So, do as you wish, Kang Taesan.”
“I intend to.”
Taesan replied.
The demon goddess disappeared with a sorrowful expression.
“You seem to care about him quite a bit.”
“The demon goddess has a strong affection for her children. If they are talented, even more so. But as she said, she won’t interfere, so you don’t have to worry about interruptions.”
If she spoke this way, it meant the demonic tribe member was indeed powerful.
Preparing himself, Taesan descended the floor.
The monsters on the 40th floor were golden knights wielding greatswords. The knights held their swords with both hands and charged at Taesan.
Taesan swung his sword and trampled them.
Against such enemies, Sure-Hit was unnecessary. They charged without any intention to dodge, making them practically like Sure-Hit themselves.
Sure-Hit would be useful against the entity waiting at the end of the 40th floor.
Holding his sword, Taesan began to quickly clear the floor.
Although the golden knights on the 40th floor were significantly stronger than before, they posed no meaningful challenge to Taesan, so he easily descended the labyrinth.
As always, he found and cleared the secret room, obtaining the reward.
[Shoes of Leap]
[Defense +4]
[Shoes of one who wished to soar high into the sky. He burned to death near the sun.]
[Allows a 20% higher leap.]
Though they were equipment with decent defense, the shoes Taesan was currently wearing were too good, so he stored them in his inventory.
Taesan continued to advance. On the 40th floor, there were no trials from gods or NPCs, allowing him to reach the boss without any interruptions.
Clang.
[A brilliantly shining golden knight has appeared.]
The boss, true to its name, filled the room with the radiance of its golden armor.
The knight charged at Taesan with its greatsword.
Clang!
Being the boss of the 40th floor, it was indeed strong. It was an opponent that would require a normal adventurer to risk their life.
Crunch.
Taesan struck down with his sword. The knight, blocking with its sword, was slammed into the ground.
Taesan waved his hand.
[You have activated Frost Arrow.]
Dozens of arrows materialized in the air.
They pierced through the knight. With a cracking sound, holes began to appear in its armor.
Thus, the knight fell.
With that, the 40th floor was cleared.
[You have defeated the brilliantly shining golden knight.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Your Spirit Ascension has activated.]
[You have obtained the Necklace of the Majestic.]
[You have obtained ???.]
[You have reached the 40th floor. You have obtained the title [The Unyielding One].]
[You have perfectly cleared the 40th floor. You have obtained the title [The Unsatisfied One].]
[You have perfectly understood and cleared all the floors up to the 40th floor. You have obtained the title [The One Who Steps into Perfection].]
[You have reached a place where no one can deny your achievements. You have obtained the title [The Recognized One].]
[Your footsteps now leave significant marks and can serve as guidelines for future challengers.]
[You have reached the threshold desired by the creator of the labyrinth. As a reward, you are granted one benefit.]
The creator of the labyrinth. The level the wizard desired. Taesan had seen a similar system message when he reached level 55. Accompanying it, a presence appeared.
The floor’s bricks began to rise, forming a shape in the air like a puzzle.
The labyrinth’s administrator, Balbabamba, appeared.
Balbabamba’s brick eyes moved.
[You’ve come this far.]
“Do you remember me?”
[I am a tool. I have no forgetfulness. I remember everything. Moreover, recently, only one other person besides you has reached this far, so even more so.]
The sound of bricks clashing filled the air.
[Human. You have reached the level the wizard desired for adventurers. I shall give you a reward for that. Choose. Supreme wealth or valuable equipment.]
“Fewer choices this time?”
[Don’t ask me. It’s the wizard’s will.]
Wealth and equipment. It seemed he had to choose between gold and an item. Taesan pondered.
Previously, he would have chosen equipment without hesitation. But now, the equipment he wore was of such high quality that even if he received something, it might not make a significant difference, or he might not replace anything at all.
Taesan made his decision.
“Supreme wealth.”
He had just surpassed the 40th floor. The shop’s items would change soon, so he planned to buy accordingly.
Balbabamba blinked.
[Very well. According to the wizard’s will, I shall give you valuable wealth.]
[You have obtained 90,421 gold.]
Ninety thousand gold. It was more than he expected. With this, he could buy whatever equipment he wanted from the shop.
As Taesan smiled in satisfaction, Balbabamba spoke.
[Then continue to descend, human. You might reach the place my master desires.]
“I plan to.”
The bricks dispersed and turned back into the floor. The ghost muttered.
[That blunt guy said something like that…]
Words of expectation. The ghost had never heard such words before. For Balbabamba, who had seen countless adventurers since the labyrinth’s inception, to say this meant Taesan was beyond standard.
Taesan began checking the rewards for clearing the floor.
[Necklace of the Majestic]
[A necklace of someone adorned in the most expensive gold. Its value is immeasurable.]
“Seems like it’s meant for selling.”
There were no stats attached. It seemed to be an item meant to be sold at the shop for something matching its clear reward value.
[You used ???.]
[You obtained the Colorless Ring.]
[Colorless Ring]
[Health +200]
[Mana +100]
[Strength +30]
[Agility +30]
[Intelligence +30]
[Attack Power +3]
[A ring with no markings or colors. It’s unknown who made it or who it belongs to.]
“Oh.”
It was quite a good ring.
Overall, its stats were lower than the ring Bargan had given after completing the battlefield of gods quest. But that didn’t mean this ring was bad; rather, Bargan’s ring was exceptionally good.
Considering it was a ring usable until deep into the labyrinth, this one also had stats usable until deep levels.
Taesan replaced his attack power 8 ring with the Colorless Ring.
And the reward for clearing the theme of the 40th floor.
[Title: The Unyielding One]
[You have reached the 40th floor without breaking your spirit or halting your steps.]
[Attack Power +3]
[Defense +3]
[Title: The Unsatisfied One]
[You continued to descend the labyrinth without settling and achieved results.]
[Strength +6]
[Agility +6]
[Intelligence +6]
[Attack Power +2]
[Defense +20]
[Title: The One Who Steps into Perfection]
[You descended to the 40th floor without missing anything. It’s an achievement close to impossible.]
[Attack Power +5]
[Defense +50]
[Title: The Recognized One]
[You have reached a place no one can deny and must acknowledge your achievements.]
[Attack Power +4]
[Defense +4]
[Shop item prices decrease by 10%.]
[NPCs and gods have a favorable impression of you.]
[You acquire the special passive skill [Defense Penetration].]
“They greatly increase attack power overall.”
[It’s because attack power is hard to come by. Not that it matters to you.]
As the ghost said, with his Irac weapon skill, Taesan wasn’t lacking in attack power.
Still, since obtaining attack power was generally harder than stats, getting high values like these was beneficial.
[Kang Taesan]
[Level: 88]
[Shield: 1599/1599]
[Health: 17920/17920]
[Mana: 2582/2582]
[Magi: 312/312]
[Strength: 4298]
[Intelligence: 3854]
[Agility: 4083]
[Attack Power +809]
[Defense +638]
[The target is in optimal condition.]
This was Taesan’s current status.
He had almost caught up to one-third of Lee Taeyeon’s level. It was satisfactory progress.
And this wasn’t the end.
The title The Recognized One also came with a skill.
[Special Passive Skill: Defense Penetration]
[Proficiency: 1%]
[Ignores 10% of the opponent’s defense.]
Defense reduction. It seemed a bit random, but he could guess why it was given.
“It’s an advantage when fighting adventurers in the deeper levels.”
In the labyrinth, attack and defense values were calculated by addition and subtraction. If the opponent’s defense was higher than one’s attack, dealing damage would be practically impossible.
While critical attacks, specific skills, or combat flow could potentially allow overcoming it, it wasn’t an easily closed gap. Taesan would have struggled significantly without his Irac weapon skill.
“They gave it quite late.”
[Until now, it was possible to manage somehow. But soon, it would be impossible to win without such an advantage. The difference will start to show.]
A different change from the 40th floor onward.
He was excited about the future items and skills he would acquire.
However, there was something he needed to do first.
He sensed a presence ascending the stairs. Taesan muttered.
“Considerate enough to wait for confirmation. How nice.”
“The most enjoyable time while descending the labyrinth; I wouldn’t want to interrupt that.”
It was a young man with black hair.
He still had a youthful appearance. Taesan felt he was about the same age as Annetia, whom he had met in Vekeseta.
The young man had a very lethargic expression, waving his hand as if he had no will to fight.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah.”
Taesan replied calmly, looking at the demonic tribe member.
He looked different from what Taesan had expected.
He thought the demonic tribe member would immediately show hostility and attack, just like the previous Guides of Sin. So, he had prepared all his skills as soon as he sensed the presence.
But the demonic tribe member before him showed no particular hostility.
“I really hate this. I hate it.”
If anything, he seemed to exude an air of negativity.