Leveling Up With Skills - Chapter 221: Arulia, the World of Spirits and Humans (4)
[You are the one who killed your own kin!]
Varcaza raised its voice and distanced itself. Taesan tilted his head in curiosity.
“How do the spirits know everything that happens in the Labyrinth?”
The Labyrinth and the outside world were separated. While one might think Varcaza was hostile due to some title effect, it had specifically stated that Taesan had killed its kin.
[How are you here?]
Varcaza watched Taesan from afar.
[What do you seek in this place, human?]
“Nothing much.”
Taesan raised his sword and pointed it at Varcaza.
“I want to make a contract with you.”
[A being who killed spirits wants to make a contract with us?]
“I hope you’ll understand it as self-defense. Either way, I want a contract. So let’s keep it simple. If you win, you do as you please. If I win, you make a contract with me. How about that?”
[Hoho.]
Varcaza’s voice held interest.
[That sounds fun. Fine. Let’s fight. If I win, you’ll become my slave!]
Varcaza clapped its hands, and light spread out in all directions like the sun.
Taesan closed his eyes, but this light was more than just blinding—it directly attacked the mind, blocking normal thought.
[Behold the power of a great spirit!]
Rumble!
Rainbow-colored beams rained down on Taesan.
He kicked off the ground, dodging the beams as they obliterated the earth and trees around him, attempting to pierce through him.
“Ahhh!”
“What’s happening?!”
Akien’s group, who had been sleeping peacefully in the nearby carriage, woke up in a panic.
“What’s going on?!”
They had been sleeping quietly when a sudden, terrifying collision of power erupted right next to them.
At the sound of their screams, Taesan kicked off the ground again.
“Let’s take this somewhere else.”
[Are you concerned that the living beings here will get caught in the aftermath? You are more considerate than I thought.]
Varcaza clapped its hands again, levitating as it followed Taesan.
Taesan landed on an appropriate cliff, and Varcaza clapped forcefully once more.
Rumble!
Nature responded. The surrounding power gathered around Varcaza, amplifying its strength.
That power then transformed into beams of rainbow light, which poured down on Taesan like a storm.
Taesan moved his body, dodging the relentless beams. The sheer quality and quantity of power Varcaza wielded surpassed any spirit Taesan had encountered before.
However, Taesan was puzzled.
‘It’s not as strong as I expected.’
He planted his feet firmly and moved his sword towards the oncoming light.
[You have activated *Bewilderment*.]
His sword wavered as it touched the light, distorting its trajectory. As the first beam was deflected, the remaining light beams also shifted and wavered in response.
Rumble!
[W-What?]
The rainbow beams all missed their mark.
Seizing the opening, Taesan charged towards Varcaza.
Varcaza quickly clapped again, and the light surged, brightening everything around Taesan.
[You have activated *Adventurer’s Will*.]
The light that had enveloped even his mind vanished.
Dodging the falling rainbow beams, Taesan reached Varcaza.
[This!]
Varcaza hastily gathered more power. Nature’s force began coalescing around it.
Rumble!
A massive barrier enveloped Varcaza.
Taesan thrust his sword at it.
Clang!
His sword was repelled. The force of the recoil widened Taesan’s eyes.
‘That’s solid.’
The defense was incomparable to Varcaza’s attacks.
Boom!
The rainbow light rained down again.
Taesan moved his body.
Dodging the falling beams, he thrust his sword at Varcaza’s barrier once more, but it was deflected again.
[You cannot penetrate it!]
Varcaza shouted triumphantly.
[Not even the King’s Sword could easily break through my shield! Your power cannot shatter it!]
“Is that so?”
Taesan observed the falling beams and planted his foot.
[You have activated *Random Blink*.]
In an instant, Taesan appeared right in front of Varcaza. Startled, Varcaza let out a laugh, trusting in its defense.
[Go ahead! Try again!]
“I plan to.”
[You have activated *Vital Point Designation*.]
[You have activated *Addition*.]
[You have activated *Strong Strike*.]
[You have activated *Consecutive Attack*.]
Boom!
With a thunderous sound, the barrier shook.
A crack began to form where the sword had struck.
[What?]
Varcaza was alarmed. Taesan hammered his sword into the crack.
Boom!
The crack spread further.
Just as Varcaza tried to summon more power to retaliate, Taesan moved his hand.
[You have activated *Mephisto’s Black Lightning*.]
Rumble!
The black lightning pierced through the barrier, ignoring its defenses, and struck Varcaza. The uncontrolled rainbow light scattered wildly, collapsing the cliff. In that opening, Taesan swung his sword even more forcefully.
[You have activated *Blade of Resolve*.]
Boom!
The crack widened, creating a small opening.
Taesan shoved his arm into the gap, and with a rough movement, shattered the barrier completely.
Varcaza, in a panic, tried to clap again, but Taesan grabbed its throat.
Boom!
He slammed Varcaza into the ground. A crater formed, and the entire cliff collapsed. Dust clouds billowed out, spreading across the forest.
[It’s not over yet!]
“Then keep going.”
Taesan overpowered Varcaza.
From that moment on, it was a one-sided battle. Taesan read Varcaza’s intentions, suppressing and destroying any actions before they could be carried out. Varcaza could do little more than take the hits.
[I’ve lost!]
Eventually, a half-shattered Varcaza shouted in surrender.
Taesan withdrew his sword.
“You were still decent.”
He had known from the beginning that Varcaza wouldn’t stand a chance.
Taesan had defeated a high-level spirit back on the 23rd floor. Since then, he had become incomparably stronger, so even a supreme spirit like Varcaza couldn’t be a match.
What was impressive was that Varcaza had managed to block a few of his attacks.
Varcaza grumbled.
[You are incredibly strong. Aside from the King’s Shield and Sword, no one could fight against you. No wonder you killed our kin.]
“How do you know about the Labyrinth?”
[We are beings of the spirit world. Wherever there are spirits, news reaches us. Even if it’s a Labyrinth created by a magician.]
“Then tell me this: aren’t the Labyrinth spirits your enemies?”
[Why would you think that?]
“They’ve abandoned their lifespan and duty, fleeing to the Labyrinth.”
The spirit god, Beatrice, had said that the Spirit Kings were beings who protected the world.
By that logic, the Fire Spirit King had abandoned the world he was supposed to protect and had fled into the Labyrinth.
Varcaza fell silent at Taesan’s words.
[Who told you that?]
“Someone you would know.”
[Did the Labyrinth spirits tell you that? It’s not wrong. They are beings who abandoned their duty. But they’re still our kin. You could say they are both loved and hated.]
Varcaza snorted.
[In any case, I’ve been defeated. If you wish, I’ll make a contract. Do you want it?]
“Of course.”
Wooong.
The energy of nature gathered and formed a shape, appearing before Taesan and Varcaza as a key.
[I am Varcaza, the supreme spirit of many colors. With my creation and destruction as a spirit on the line, I make a contract with you, becoming your servant. Do you accept?]
Taesan nodded and grabbed the key.
Energy surged simultaneously into Taesan and Varcaza.
This was the binding of a contract, a set of rules.
[You have learned *Spirit Magic*.]
[You have gained the spirit skill: *Spirit Contract*.]
[You have made a contract with the supreme spirit of many colors, Varcaza.]
Taesan felt a new power he hadn’t sensed before. Varcaza spoke calmly.
[From now on, I am both your shield and sword. I will protect you and crush your enemies. You are my master.]
A small mark, the symbol of the contract, appeared on the back of Taesan’s hand.
The contract was complete. Varcaza grumbled.
[My first contract in hundreds of years, and it’s with our enemy. I’m both happy and confused.]
[Hello?]
A ghost waved its hand. Varcaza fell silent.
[…Who are you?]
[You can see me? I guess it’s because of this binding. How interesting.]
[Hoho, you’re a being of the Labyrinth, aren’t you?]
As the two exchanged words, Taesan checked his new skill.
—
[*Spirit Magic*]
[*Proficiency*: 1%
*Description*: A skill to command spirits and harness their power. Currently very clumsy and unable to fully draw out their strength.]
—
[*Spirit Skill: Spirit Contract*]
[*Proficiency*: 1%
*Description*: Allows a contract with a spirit, enabling the user to summon them and use their powers. Currently, unable to fully utilize the spirit’s abilities.]
—
[*Spirit Contract: Varcaza, Supreme Spirit of Many Colors*]
[*Proficiency*: 1%
*Mana Cost for Summon*: 30
*Description*: You have contracted with Varcaza. You can summon Varcaza and command it. You can also draw upon part of Varcaza’s power.]
—
Varcaza’s strength could now be used, so understanding what Varcaza was capable of was important.
“What exactly can you do?”
[As you saw, I’m mainly a protector. My offensive power isn’t that remarkable. In terms of raw power, other supreme spirits are much stronger. But in defense, it’s a different story.]
Varcaza clapped its hands, and the energy of nature gathered around them once again.
[No other supreme spirit has been able to destroy my defense. Although, of course, you broke through it quite easily.]
“Do I have to manage your strength?”
[What do you mean?]
“I mean, do I need to be nearby for you to use your power?”
[No. Once summoned, I can act freely as long as I’m not reverse-summoned. You won’t need to worry too much about me.]
“That’s useful.”
There were many times on Earth when Taesan had to be far away from others. The fact that Varcaza could protect them in his absence was a huge advantage.
[Aside from that, I also have the ability to support other spirits’ powers, but that won’t matter to you, will it?]
“Support?”
[I am a spirit of nature itself. Unlike other spirits, I have no specific attribute.]
When Taesan had summoned Varcaza, he had gathered all the surrounding energy without drawing upon a specific element, unlike Akien, who summoned a forest-type spirit.
[If you were to contract with another spirit, I could enhance that spirit’s attribute. But for you, I doubt you’ll find another spirit to contract with.]
[You have activated *Small Ember*.]
Woosh.
Flames erupted. The flames carried the power of a king, swirling around Taesan.
“Definitely stronger.”
The flames burned more brightly than before, their power noticeably increased.
Taesan extinguished the fire.
Varcaza stammered.
[That power is…?]
“It was an opportunity.”
[You can just obtain the power of a king through an opportunity?]
Varcaza chuckled.
[So that’s what’s possible in the Labyrinth? How interesting.]
Varcaza’s voice was filled with fascination.
[Since I’m contracted to you, does that mean I’ll also enter the Labyrinth?]
“Probably.”
[Hoho.]
Varcaza’s eyes gleamed, visibly excited. Taesan found the reaction strange.
“I thought you hated me for killing your kin?”
[As a spirit, I must seek revenge on those who kill my kin. But I’ve already been defeated. To cry for revenge now would just be the lament of a loser. And besides, there’s something more important to me.]
Varcaza spoke with a smile.
[What do you think of this world?]
“It’s very peaceful.”
[Yes. Our god allowed spirits to make contracts with the world, and our now-vanished King generously permitted those contracts. Thanks to that, everyone lives in harmony with spirits, without any inconvenience. But I hate it.]
Varcaza’s voice was filled with disgust.
[Nothing happens here. It’s always so static. No one fights because everything is comfortable. We just live on, and it’s boring. After hundreds of years of this, even a spirit becomes mentally exhausted.]
Varcaza clapped its hands loudly.
[I want a life of struggle. A battle where lives are at stake, and destruction is always a possibility. Contracting with a human like you is exciting.]
[A spirit craving combat? This is something new.]
The ghost found it fascinating, as it had never encountered a spirit that enjoyed conflict. Spirits usually loved peace and disliked conflict.
Taesan responded.
“Well, you don’t need to worry. You’ll be fighting to your heart’s content.”
[That’s a relief.]
Varcaza was delighted.
[Then, let me ask again: why have you come to this world? Everyone here will reject you.]
“Your god gave me a request.”
[…A god?]
Varcaza paused.
[You mean Beatrice?]
“I’ll explain later. For now, let’s head back.”
Taesan began moving, and Varcaza hurried after him in surprise.