Leveling Up With Skills - Chapter 218: Arulia, the World of Spirits and Humans (1)
*[First Discovery Bonus]*
*[Intelligence has permanently increased by 100. Mana has permanently increased by 60.]*
The altar—a conduit connecting the gods and the Labyrinth.
Kang Taesan gazed at the altar.
It was a simple structure with a single pillar and no decorations. A faint aura of nature emanated from it.
Taesan could guess who the owner of the altar was, and the ghost confirmed his guess.
*[The Primordial Spirit God, Beatrice.]*
“As expected.”
*[She’s not a bad god. But… I’m not sure how she’ll react to you.]*
Taesan had slaughtered many spirits. During the divine battles, while other gods rejoiced, the Spirit God remained silent.
At the very least, Beatrice wouldn’t be viewing Taesan with favor. Indeed, a heavy aura began to emanate from the altar, subtly growing stronger.
*[What will you do? You could leave without accepting it… but I doubt you would.]*
Even before the ghost finished speaking, Taesan moved closer to the altar. The ghost wasn’t surprised; it was exactly what he expected.
Taesan placed his hand on the pillar.
*[Sub Quest Initiated]*
*[Beatrice has a proposition for you, who has sought out her altar. If you accept, a trial will come your way. Should you overcome it, you will receive a reward.]*
*[Reward: Determined by Beatrice based on your accomplishments.]*
Unlike the previous quests, there was no mention of a trial.
Taesan nodded.
*[Beatrice’s sphere of influence is diminishing.]*
*[Beatrice is descending.]*
A god began to manifest. A vast essence of nature filled the entire room.
Beatrice’s form was unlike any other gods he had encountered thus far. While her shape was humanoid, there was no tangible body. The very wind had gathered to form her presence.
*[Human.]*
A curt voice resonated. Taesan bowed.
“Greetings, Divine One.”
Taesan could feel the god’s gaze directed at the back of his head.
Unlike previous encounters, the gaze wasn’t friendly. However, it wasn’t hostile either.
The Spirit God spoke.
*[This place is where warriors and spirits stake their lives in battle. It is regrettable that they perish, but… I do not intend to blame you for it.]*
“Thank you.”
It didn’t seem like Taesan would be chastised for killing spirits within the Labyrinth.
He had somewhat expected this. A god’s stance wouldn’t be so fickle.
Still, there was always the possibility, so Taesan, who had been tensing his muscles, finally relaxed.
*[Moreover, if I were to interfere, that young god would throw a fit… so I can’t intervene.]*
“Then why have you descended?”
If it was merely for a trial, Beatrice could have given a quest and left it at that.
However, the quest mentioned that Beatrice had a proposition.
Just as the other gods had done, it meant Beatrice also wanted something from him.
Beatrice answered.
*[You have resolved various concerns of the gods. I, too, have a proposal for you.]*
The winds that made up Beatrice’s form exploded.
The space itself began to twist. Taesan closed his eyes against the fierce winds.
When the winds calmed and he opened his eyes again, Taesan found himself in front of a massive star.
*[What do you see?]*
“It’s colorful.”
The surface of the star was painted in a myriad of colors. Blue, green, brown—they filled the star, making it incredibly beautiful.
*[That place is a world where spirits and humans coexist, Arulia.]*
Beatrice raised her hand. The world began to recede. In an instant, Taesan was back in the Labyrinth.
*[What I want you to do is go to that world.]*
“May I ask why a mortal like me would be given such a proposition?”
He couldn’t accept the quest without knowing anything. He needed some preliminary information.
The winds forming Beatrice began to coalesce. As they gathered, they started to take shape.
A Wind Spirit was born.
The newly formed Wind Spirit quickly hid behind Beatrice, seemingly frightened of Taesan.
Beatrice petted the spirit as she spoke.
*[What do you think of the Spirit Kings?]*
“I don’t think of them as good beings.”
The Fire Spirit King was part of the leadership of the Guides. To Taesan, who had nearly died at her hands, spirits were enemies.
*[The Spirit Kings are not inherently like that. If anything, they are like the dragon. You must have seen a dragon in the world from that young god’s quest.]*
“Yes.”
The dragon had proclaimed itself the protector of its world. Although it had been trampled by the Demon God, its power was undoubtedly beyond reach for anyone except transcendents or immortals.
*[Spirit Kings are similar to dragons. They protect the world from external beings. However, Arulia has recently become chaotic and dangerous. The Spirit King, who was supposed to protect the world, has perished, leaving the position vacant.]*
“Do spirits also have lifespans?”
*[You must have heard it from the spirits you’ve extinguished. You could infer as much.]*
Taesan recalled a memory.
A spirit that had dwelled in a skull in a hidden room had said that spirits were parts of nature that had gained consciousness. But nature, by its very nature, did not possess consciousness.
Therefore, they were inherently unstable, and they created mad spirits to handle those emotions.
*[The inherent limitation, that is the lifespan of spirits. Those that reside in the Labyrinth are trying to live by rejecting that lifespan. I do not deny them. I just don’t affirm them either.]*
“Only the mad spirits seem pitiable.”
*[I do not interfere in the affairs of spirits.]*
Beatrice spoke bluntly.
*[Matters of mortals are for mortals to handle. Whether they try to transcend their inherent limitations or abandon their duties and flee, I do not care. All those choices are entirely theirs.]*
“Then is there any reason for you to call upon me?”
If the affairs of spirits were left to spirits, there would be no reason to make a proposal to Taesan.
Beatrice spoke.
*[Ordinarily, you’d be right. When a Spirit King perishes, a newly born Spirit King fills that void. There’s a bit of chaos while they settle, but it’s not a problem. However… troublesome beings have intervened.]*
A hint of displeasure crept into Beatrice’s tone.
Taesan instinctively realized what Beatrice was referring to.
“The Ancient Gods.”
*[Those defeated ones have the nerve to meddle everywhere. I should have crushed them completely so they couldn’t even approach.]*
Beatrice clicked her tongue.
*[They are infiltrating Arulia. Therefore, I propose this to you: go and prevent the Ancient Gods from consuming Arulia.]*
*[Sub Quest Initiated]*
*[Spirit God Beatrice wants to repel the Ancient Gods trying to consume Arulia. Enter Arulia and protect the yet unqualified Wind Spirit King until they gain their qualifications.]*
*[Conditions: The Wind Spirit King must not fall or die until they gain their qualifications.]*
*[Reward: Determined by Beatrice based on your accomplishments.]*
“Can’t you go down yourself, Spirit God?”
*[I am already stretched thin just preventing their direct interference. Even for us, as with the God of Magic, it’s impossible to completely block their attacks.]*
Beatrice continued.
*[A newly born spirit is fragile and lacks a complete consciousness. Once the Spirit King gains their qualifications, they will obtain complete power and protect the world, making it difficult for the Ancient Gods to interfere. Until then, you must protect the Spirit King. Will you accept?]*
“Yes.”
Taesan nodded.
*[Sub Quest Accepted]*
As soon as Taesan accepted, space began to open up.
As Taesan was transported to Arulia, Beatrice spoke softly.
*[It won’t be easy. The beings hindering you are Ancient Gods. Not just one, but multiple.]*
**Boom!**
Taesan’s body began to be sucked into the spatial rift.
*[I will send you near the Spirit King. The rest is up to you.]*
As his body moved across the void, a sudden, massive force intervened.
**Crack.**
Space began to warp. Beatrice clicked her tongue, releasing more power.
*[Such troublesome beings. Truly.]*
**Crack!**
The closing gap in space expanded again. Beatrice gestured.
*[Go now.]*
Taesan quickly slipped into the rift.
And he arrived in the middle of a dense forest.
“This doesn’t seem to be anywhere near the Spirit King.”
*[The Ancient Gods must have interfered at the last moment. This is troublesome.]*
Taesan expanded his senses to survey his surroundings.
All he could feel was the thick aura of nature. There was no sign of the Spirit King.
His quest was to protect the Spirit King.
First, he needed to find the Spirit King’s location. Taesan left the forest and reached a road.
Judging by how well-kept it was, it seemed to be a frequently used path. Taesan ran along the road.
Before long, he spotted a carriage.
Near the carriage, several people were fighting desperately.
“This doesn’t seem like a world where spirits and humans coexist harmoniously.”
Their opponents were spirits. But these weren’t ordinary spirits. These spirits were tainted, blackened by some influence, and were oppressing the people with their power.
The people were also summoning spirits to fight back, but they were struggling to defend themselves, clearly overpowered.
“The strength of this world isn’t much, is it?”
The spirits engaged in battle were far weaker compared to the ones Taesan had faced in the Labyrinth.
And yet, the people couldn’t easily repel the spirits.
“Why are the spirits acting like this?!”
[Master! Hang in there!]
“Watch out on the left!”
Observing the fight from a distance, Taesan decided to step in. To find the Spirit King’s location, he needed local information first.
He sprinted towards the group and threw a punch.
Crash!
One of the blackened spirits was smashed apart and sent flying into the distance.
The eyes of those who had been fighting desperately widened in shock.
“Huh?”
“W-what?”
“Nice to meet you all.”
Taesan dusted off his hands. The humans stared at him with dazed expressions.
“Did… did he just take out a spirit with his bare hands?”
Taesan looked at the blackened spirits.
He could sense the influence of the Ancient Gods within them.
“So, this is what their interference looks like?”
It seemed that the Ancient Gods had corrupted the spirits, twisting them into malevolent forms.
The blackened spirits facing Taesan suddenly began to swell.
Feeling the intense malice directed at him, Taesan tilted his head.
“What’s this?”
“W-wait a minute!”
“Why are you guys acting like this?!”
Hearing the desperate voices behind him, Taesan turned around and saw that the spirits summoned by the humans were also swelling up, just like the corrupted ones.
These spirits were also showing hostility towards Taesan. Unable to hold back, one of the spirits let out a shout.
[Our enemy!]
Woosh!
Flames erupted and engulfed Taesan.
Taesan casually waved his hand, dispersing the flames.
He was taken aback. The very spirits he was supposed to protect were attacking him.
“What’s wrong with these guys?”
[Isn’t it because of that title of yours?]
“Title?”
Taesan suddenly remembered one of his titles.
[Title: Opponent of Nature]
[You have caused destruction in the realm of spirits. Your notoriety has spread among them.]
[Damage to spirits +20%]
[Greatly decreased favorability with spirits.]
A significant decrease in favorability. It was almost safe to say that they saw him as an enemy. He hadn’t expected that this effect would apply even outside the Labyrinth.
The blackened spirits and the spirits controlled by the humans simultaneously attacked Taesan. The humans tried to stop them, but the spirits paid no heed.
“Guys, stop!”
“Please! Just listen to us!”
[Master! Run away! He’s dangerous!]
“What a bother.”
Taesan frowned.
His hand moved.
The spirits exploded all at once.