Leveling Up With Skills - Chapter 201: 45th Floor (2)
[A secret room within another secret room. This is intriguing.]
Taesan entered the room. After passing through a dusty, cobweb-covered passage, he found a small chamber.
In the room were a decayed skeleton and a small staff.
Taesan picked up the staff.
[*Staff of the Icy Path*]
[*Mana Cost: 2*]
[*Creates a path of ice in front of you.*]
It had been a while since he had encountered a magical staff. The effect wasn’t particularly impressive, as it only created an ice path.
[You have activated Magic Extraction.]
[You have learned the basic magic *Icy Path*.]
Lee Taeyeon had entered this place before but had only managed to take the staff.
Taesan reached for the skeleton behind the staff.
*Bzzzzz.*
However, a barrier in the room blocked his hand. The barrier, covered in numerous magical runes, firmly protected the skeleton.
‘Just as she described.’
Lee Taeyeon had mentioned finding the hidden room within the secret room.
She had obtained the Staff of the Icy Path, but there was a skeleton she couldn’t approach due to some form of protection.
Taesan pressed his hand against the barrier. It trembled violently, pushing back with an even stronger repelling force.
‘It seems difficult to break through with brute force.’
It was possible to break it, but given the resistance, he couldn’t be sure what kind of backlash might occur.
Taesan opened his inventory.
[*Dagger of Magic Dispel*]
[*A dagger imbued with dispel magic. It can break magical seals. Seals with a higher magical force than the dagger’s dispel power cannot be broken.*]
He retrieved the Dagger of Magic Dispel that he had obtained earlier. Placing his hand on the dagger, he activated its magic.
[You have activated Magic Extraction.]
[You have learned the beginner magic *Magic Dispel*.]
[*Beginner Magic: Magic Dispel*]
[*Mana Cost: 10*]
[*Proficiency: 1%*]
[*Allows you to break magical seals. Increasing the mana used expands the range of magic that can be dispelled. Currently, it can only break a limited number of spells.*]
The magic in the dagger vanished, leaving it a simple, powerless blade.
Taesan put the dagger away and placed his hand on the barrier again.
[You have activated Magic Dispel.]
*Buzz.*
Waves of energy radiated from the magic circle. Mana imbued with dispel power surged like waves, spreading across the barrier.
The barrier resisted, trembling violently.
Taesan’s mana rapidly drained as the barrier began to crack.
*Shatter!*
Finally, the barrier couldn’t withstand the force and shattered.
Taesan swept away the remnants of the barrier and picked up the skeleton.
Faint traces of magical power emanated from the skeleton. Taesan channeled mana into it through his hands.
*Shudder.*
The skeleton began to tremble.
A blue light flickered in its empty eye sockets. The scattered bone fragments on the ground started to reassemble themselves.
[O-oh!]
The skeleton’s jaw moved, and a voice echoed out.
[To think it actually worked. I guess it’s always worth trying, isn’t it?]
Its jaw clicked. The skeleton, as if fascinated, stared at its own body, then, seemingly disappointed by its decayed state, lowered its head.
[I’m all rotted away. Not even a lich, what a pitiful sight.]
“Hello?”
Taesan greeted. The skeleton finally seemed to notice him and clacked its jaw.
[Ah, my apologies. I forgot to thank the one who revived me. Thank you, truly.]
The skeleton’s voice held a deep sense of urgency.
[Honestly, I thought I’d be stuck here until the Labyrinth vanished, wondering if I’d made a mistake.]
The skeleton draped its decayed, dust-covered robe over its body. It also grasped the rotten staff in its skeletal hand.
[I was once almost a great mage. The name’s Akisha. Nice to meet you.]
[You have encountered the Betrayed Mage.]
[Do you know how long it’s been since I died?]
“I have no idea.”
[As I thought…]
Akisha’s jaw clicked, as if clicking its tongue. The ghost, who had been silent, finally spoke.
[Were you an adventurer too?]
[I was. Though I look like this now, I was once like you.]
[Something like that, huh? I’ve never heard of someone like you.]
The ghost had once descended to the deep layers. If he didn’t know about Akisha, there were only two possibilities.
Either Akisha existed before the ghost’s time or after.
But no one could tell exactly when, as the Labyrinth had no way of tracking time.
Akisha groaned and asked,
[Do you know the name Mantejac?]
[…Why do you ask?]
[He was the one who entered the Labyrinth with me. And he’s also the one who betrayed me.]
[You entered with that guy?]
The ghost chuckled as if he understood what had happened.
[Now I get it. You’re from before my time.]
[Oh? You know him?]
[I sure do.]
The skeleton’s tone brightened.
[What’s he up to now?]
[He’s with the Guide of Sin in the deep layers.]
[The Guide of Sin? What’s that?]
[It’s a group. He’s known as the Grand Mage there.]
Akisha froze at the ghost’s reply.
In a stiff tone, he asked,
[He’s calling himself a Grand Mage?]
[Yes.]
[…Hah.]
A cold laugh echoed.
[Of course. After killing me and taking everything, the least he could do was achieve that. Yes, that’s fitting. It’ll make it all the sweeter when I kill him.]
Akisha cackled. Taesan quickly pieced together what had happened.
“A betrayal, huh.”
[It’s not uncommon. The Labyrinth rewards adventurers for killing each other. The stronger the opponent, the greater the rewards. It wasn’t unusual for comrades to kill each other for power.]
[Exactly. And that’s what happened to me.]
Akisha’s voice was rough with anger.
[I was the most talented mage in the Magic Tower. Even the Tower Master said I would reach his level within ten years. In fifty years, I could have surpassed anyone in the Tower.]
Akisha’s voice quivered with suppressed rage.
[But I wasn’t satisfied with that. No matter how great or untouchable I became, it would still be nothing compared to the countless transcendents and immortals. I wanted to be greater. But I had hit a ceiling with what I could gain from the outside world.]
“The Labyrinth?”
[Yes. This place allows the strong to reach even higher levels. I searched diligently and entered the Labyrinth. But I didn’t realize that someone was following me.]
“The one who became the Grand Mage?”
[Exactly.]
Akisha nodded.
[He was talented, no doubt. Everyone admired him, calling him a once-in-a-century genius. At least, until I appeared.]
A person who had received all the attention, love, and trust suddenly lost everything in a single day to someone with greater talent.
[I felt a bit sorry. But I thought everything would be fine since I was disappearing into the Labyrinth. But instead, he followed me here, determined to prove that he was superior to me.]
[Go on.]
The ghost urged him, clearly intrigued. Akisha continued reluctantly.
[You’re really enjoying this.]
[How could I not find it amusing to learn about that bastard’s past?]
[Well… after that, it was pretty straightforward. I kept descending the Labyrinth, and he kept following me. But natural talent is undeniable. He always arrived at new floors after I did, and he was slower in learning magic.]
Meeting someone more talented than oneself is hard enough. Following that person into a hellish place to prove oneself, only to fail repeatedly, is worse.
Even a normal person would be tormented by that. And for someone who couldn’t tolerate it, such feelings could easily twist into something darker.
[So he killed you to take your power? That old man had such a past?]
The ghost murmured, fascinated.
[He went around bragging that no one could surpass him in magic. This is interesting. I’d like to meet him again.]
[He said that?]
Akisha let out a tearful laugh. The low laughter continued for a moment before abruptly stopping.
[You’re an adventurer, right?]
Taesan nodded. The blue light in Akisha’s eyes flared.
[Adventurer. I was betrayed and buried here. I want revenge. Will you help me?]
“Sure.”
Taesan agreed immediately. He had to fight the Guide of Sin anyway. They were enemies he had to defeat eventually, so accepting the quest posed no issue.
Seeing Taesan accept so quickly, Akisha looked somewhat taken aback.
[Thanks for agreeing… but I can’t just give you a quest that easily. I don’t know anything about you. That guy carries the title of Grand Mage, right?]
Akisha needed to know if Taesan had the skill to defeat him or if he could grow strong enough to do so.
[The fact that you’ve made it this far is proof that you’re strong, but it’s not enough.]
Akisha waved his skeletal hand. A small magic circle formed in the chamber.
*Buzz.*
A small golden slime emerged from the circle.
[A Golden Slime. It has both physical and magical resistance. Even adventurers beyond the 50th floor struggle to defeat it.]
This was the 45th floor. Considering that monsters grow significantly stronger as one progresses through the Labyrinth’s themes, it was safe to say that the average 45th-floor adventurer would struggle against it.
[If you can defeat it, I’ll give you the quest.]
The slime bounced toward Taesan.
It moved with considerable speed.
Taesan brought his sword down.
*Crunch.*
The slime was crushed and splattered onto the floor. It wobbled as if disoriented by the impact.
Taesan stomped on it and drove his sword through its body.
[You have defeated the Golden Slime.]
“That wasn’t much.”
[…What?]
Akisha stammered.
[You defeated it… that easily?]
Golden Slime. A monster with both physical and magical resistance.
In other words, if one had the power to overcome that resistance, it was a simple monster to defeat. Akisha let out a breathy laugh.
[You’re… quite powerful. There shouldn’t be any problem.]
[Side Quest Start]
[*The Betrayed Mage.* Akisha desires revenge against the Grand Mage who betrayed him.*]
[*Condition: The death of the Grand Mage*]
[*Reward: The greatest and most powerful magic Akisha possesses, along with his magical equipment.*]
[He has reached the deep layers. By the time you face him, you will have grown stronger, but the rewards will still be significant. The magic I created is something even the gods of magic cannot disregard.]
Akisha spoke proudly and waved his hand.
Magical power surged into Taesan.
[And I’ll give you this.]
[You have obtained the special activation skill *Unilateral Mana Barrier*.]
[You’ll find it useful against Mantejac.]
The blue flames in the skeleton’s eyes began to flicker out.
[Now… I’ll rest again. When you defeat him and complete the quest, I’ll come to you.]
With those final words, the skeleton crumbled into dust.
Akisha’s presence could no longer be felt. Taesan left the room.
“That makes two now.”
Revenge for the Spirit King, as the Spirit desired.
And revenge for the Grand Mage, as the skeleton desired.
There were now two high-ranking enemies he had to defeat.
“Don’t you have one too? Someone named Societ?”
[…Yes, there’s her.]
The Ashen Woman, Societ Gardentia.
The ghost had said they were close. But the one who had planned his death was none other than Societ.
“So many targets.”
Taesan murmured as he continued to clear the floor.
From there, nothing particularly unusual occurred. No more NPCs offering quests appeared, and there were no divine trials.
As a result, Taesan proceeded through the floors without much interference, collecting equipment and delivering emotions to Valencia.
Eventually, he reached the 48th floor.