Leveling Up With Skills - Chapter 251: Community, Earth’s Players (2)

**[Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]**: “A god….”

**[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]**: “A god acknowledged you?”

Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyuk asked in surprise.

Amelia smiled as if amused by their reactions.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “You seem to know a bit about the gods, huh? Are you somewhat strong? Though, not stronger than me.”

**[Oliver Khan [Hard]]**: “Amelia Aerin. They are our allies. I won’t allow any hostility toward them.”

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “Shut up, Oliver. You promised, didn’t you? I agreed to follow your orders as the leader, but you said you wouldn’t interfere in discussions between Solo players.”

**[Oliver Khan [Hard]]**: “You’re such a troublesome woman.”

Oliver uploaded the message as if exhausted. He seemed to have had a tough time until now.

**[Oliver Khan [Hard]]**: “Sorry. I made a prior promise. Just deal with her stubbornness for a bit.”

With that, Oliver logged out.

Amelia, however, didn’t care.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “How strong are you?”

**[Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]**: “We just entered the 20th floor….”

The 20th floor.

This was the phase where the Spirit Quest began. Taesan intended to offer some advice regarding it.

The 20th floor was not low by any means. Compared to Lee Taeyeon’s progress in his previous life, this was remarkably fast.

However, Amelia was unimpressed.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “20th floor. Not bad. Much better than those idiots in the U.S.”

**[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]**: “And what floor are you on, then?”

Kang Jun-hyuk asked sharply, full of confidence in himself. Amelia’s dismissive tone, as if congratulating a child’s accomplishment, irritated him.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “Me?”

Amelia answered confidently.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “35th floor.”

**[Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]**: “What?”

**[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]**: “35th floor!”

Both of them were stunned. Amelia, amused by their reactions, posted again.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “I am strong. Much stronger than you two.”

Her words were neither exaggerated nor false.

In Solo mode, the lower you descend, the more exponentially powerful you become. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyuk, now on the 20th floor, felt confident they could defeat multiple versions of their 10th-floor selves.

This meant Amelia was someone who could easily overpower both of them if they attacked together.

A 35th-floor adventurer held that level of strength.

Moreover, Amelia lacked any external support like Taesan’s. She descended purely by her own strength, solving every mystery through her own means.

Taesan quietly observed their conversation.

Amelia Aerin.

She was undoubtedly the strongest Solo-mode player. Her strength was unmatched, and no one could defeat her.

Unlike Lee Taeyeon, she didn’t only focus on clearing the labyrinth. She also actively pursued strategies and gained much in the process. In terms of raw power, she surpassed Lee Taeyeon.

Taesan remembered the strength she displayed in his past life.

The power to blow away mountains and collapse tidal waves—she was a monster.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “A god descended upon me and acknowledged my strength. He granted me his authority.”

Taesan stared at her message.

A god.

In his previous life, he hadn’t paid much attention to her words. As an Easy-mode player, he had never encountered a god.

But now, things felt different.

**[Kang Taesan [Solo]]**: “Which god descended upon you?”

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “Huh? Who are you?”

**[Kang Taesan [Solo]]**: “Someone you’ll probably hate. Now, answer me. It’s not a difficult question.”

Annoyed at losing control of the conversation, Amelia responded grumpily.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “The God of Fall—Essence.”

The God of Fall.

Taesan had never encountered this god while descending through the labyrinth.

Judging by the reactions of Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyuk, the locations of the gods’ altars were identical for all players within the labyrinth.

This meant Amelia hadn’t simply cleared an altar to gain recognition. Instead, the God of Fall had actively approached her.

“Hey, Ghost.”

**[Ghost]: “Hmm? What’s up?”**

“Can gods descend directly upon adventurers?”

**[Ghost]: “Well… it’s rare, but yeah, it happens.”**

Ghost explained.

**[Ghost]: “Gods are picky. They don’t just approach someone for talent alone. It’s only when that person’s ideals, values, and personality align perfectly with the god’s that they descend. It’s rare because no god wants to lose someone like that to another god.”**

Amelia must have been a perfect match for the God of Fall.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “Who are you? What floor are you on?”

**[Kang Taesan [Solo]]**: “I told you, someone you’ll hate.”

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “What nonsense are you spouting?”

She seemed flustered.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “Judging by the way you talk, you must be somewhere around the mid-10th floor. I’m not interested in talking to idiots.”

She dismissed Taesan and redirected her attention to Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyuk.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “Weaklings just die, but you two are different. If you need help, just say the word. I’ll share any information you need.”

She said this with pride, but Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyuk’s reactions were lukewarm.

**[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]**: “Uh… sure.”

**[Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]**: “Thanks… I guess?”

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “What’s with this reaction? You should be grateful!”

Amelia seemed baffled.

But Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyuk didn’t need her information.

**[Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]**: “Taesan, why aren’t you saying anything?”

**[Kang Taesan [Solo]]**: “Why would I?”

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “What’s going on?”

**[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]**: “Sorry, but we don’t need your information. Someone’s already helping us.”

Amelia’s message now carried a sense of caution.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “This ‘Kang Taesan’… is he ahead of you two?”

Her message carried a hint of wariness.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: What floor are you on?

**[Kang Taesan [Solo]]**: Who knows?

Taesan smiled. It was almost time for them to meet.

The God of Fall—Essence.

Taesan pondered. Soon enough, he would meet Amelia again.

**[Kang Taesan [Solo]]**: In the 36th floor. Be careful there. There’s a domain that hates people like you.

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: …What?

Amelia seemed confused, but she would understand when she arrived.

The 36th floor housed the Immortal.

That hunchback, who despised talented individuals, would undoubtedly try to kill Amelia.

Taesan remembered that Amelia hadn’t died on the 36th floor in his past life, so she should be able to handle it. That’s why he didn’t go into further detail and gave only a brief warning.

[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]: Who are you? How far have you gone? Answer me.

[Kang Taesan [Solo]]: You’ll find out soon enough.

Amelia Aerin was an American player.

Normally, they wouldn’t be able to meet until at least the next scheduled return.

However, a unique quest was about to occur—a temporary space where players from different nations could meet.

That was where Taesan and Amelia would cross paths.

**[Kang Taesan [Solo]]**: “I’ll be going now.”

**[Lee Taeyeon [Solo]]**: “Take care.”

**[Amelia Aerin [Solo]]**: “Hey!”

Ignoring her shout, Taesan disconnected from the community.

There was no need to reveal his exact floor.
Telling more than necessary would only make others wary. It was always better to show than to explain.

The God of Fall—Essence.

Taesan turned to Ghost for more information.

“Do you know anything about the God of Fall, Essence?”

**[Ghost]** hesitated before responding.

**[Ghost]: “How do you know that name?”**

“I encountered someone related to that god.”

**[Ghost]: “So, that’s what you were asking about earlier… Hmm. Essence… Yeah, I’ve met that one.”**

Ghost began his explanation.

**[Ghost]: “The God of Fall—Essence—has an altar on the 83rd floor.”**

The 83rd floor.

That was a deep level within the labyrinth.

**[Ghost]: “Among the gods, Essence takes a special interest in mortals. If someone catches its attention, it offers overwhelming support. It’s not a bad god, but its domain makes it an uncomfortable one to deal with.”**

Every god governed a specific domain.

The God of Victory. The God of Battle and Death. The God of Despair.

These gods acted according to the nature of their domains.

And Essence was the God of Fall.

**[Ghost]: “I once underwent a trial from Essence. It was… unpleasant. If you manage to impress Essence, it supports you thoroughly, but it’s not a god you’d want to meet again.”**

“Is that so?”

Taesan sifted through his memories.

It wouldn’t be long before they met again.

In his previous life, Amelia had demonstrated her capabilities unmistakably.

Their encounter might have been orchestrated by the God of Fall.

“This will be interesting.”

Meeting someone from the past whom he never expected to encounter again was always intriguing.

And among all his past rivals, Amelia had been particularly special.

She was the person Taesan had clashed with the most.

“She vanished around the 78th floor, didn’t she?”

He didn’t know whether she had died or become an apostle of a god. Amelia had always kept her personal information secret, unlike Lee Taeyeon.

But now, he intended to find out.

Taesan began his descent through the 58th floor.

The monster awaiting him on this floor was a stag with golden antlers. It charged at Taesan, aiming to impale him.

**[You activate Frost Arrows.]**

Dozens of Frost Arrows materialized simultaneously.

The charging stag was skewered and brought down.

Taesan cleared the 58th floor effortlessly.

Although the monsters grew stronger as he descended, his own growth was far faster.

Even the floor boss was dealt with swiftly.

The reward from the secret room was a magical staff. It would serve well as an offering.

**[Sword that Guards the Line of Death]**
– **Attack Power**: +140
– **Effect**: When crossing the line of death, attack power increases by 50 for 10 seconds.

This sword had synergy with the “Line of Death” skill, which activated whenever Taesan faced life-threatening situations.

With the right conditions, the sword could reach an attack power of 190—a powerful weapon indeed.

**[You used ???.]**

**[You obtained the Skull Staff.]**

**[Skull Staff]**
– **Dark Magic**: +50
– **Mana**: +50

**[Description]: Some wondered whether the remains of the great archmage still held magical power. When the archmage died, someone stole his skull and crafted it into a staff, proving that the rumors were true.**

It was a staff related to dark magic.

Taesan knelt and prayed.

A dark portal opened, and the staff disappeared into it.

“I’ve been making a lot of offerings lately.”

He had offered many items to the demon god. It was about time for something significant to happen.

At that moment, the space before him split open.

Taesan calmly observed the fissure forming.

**[???]**: “Hello.”

“It’s been a while.”

It had been quite some time since Taesan had last seen the demon god.

Even though he continued to offer tributes, the god hadn’t appeared. While it was typical for gods to rarely show themselves, the demon god usually appeared more frequently.

**[???]**: “I had some things to take care of.”

The demon god spoke, looking at Taesan with a somewhat annoyed expression.

Taesan immediately understood what was bothering her.

“It’s because of the power of the ancient gods, isn’t it?”

**[???]**: “That’s part of it… and it’s also because of the gray power you acquired.”

The demon god fiddled with her hair, her expression a mix of hesitation and discomfort.