Leveling Up With Skills - Chapter 272: Floor 61, Trial Grounds (3)

“First, your reward.”

[You have cleared the first trial.]

Beldenkia tossed a potion to Taesan.

[You have obtained the *Superior Potion of Strength Increase*.]

*Superior Potion of Strength Increase*
[Permanently increases Strength by 200.]

Strength +200.

It was a significant reward. Unlike equipment, its effects were permanent, which was a considerable advantage.

“Not bad.”

“It’s a reward for Stage 10. You can expect even better rewards as you clear more trials.”

Beldenkia tapped the floor with his staff, summoning a small magic circle. From it emerged a bottle of alcohol and some dried snacks.

“Well then… I’m curious about you.”

Beldenkia took a sip from the bottle and asked.

“You’re the first adventurer to arrive here in a century. What is it you desire, and how did you come to this place?”

Taesan’s background.

There was nothing to hide, so Taesan spoke openly. About Earth. About the ancient gods that invaded it. About how they were invited into the labyrinth.

Of course, he omitted details about the labyrinth’s separation and his return to the past. Even so, Beldenkia found the fact that an entire world had been invited to the labyrinth intriguing, listening intently with a serious expression.

It was a long story. Each time the topic veered into the trials of the gods, Beldenkia asked various questions.

Taesan answered those he could and avoided those he couldn’t.

By the time the conversation ended, an entire day had passed.

“So, the ancient gods caused all that chaos.”

Beldenkia muttered as he shook the empty bottle.

“I didn’t know what was happening outside, but to think something like that was going on. Interesting. Are they trying to completely crush the world?”

[It’s not like it concerns you, right?]

“Well… that’s true.”

Beldenkia chuckled bitterly.

He was bound to the labyrinth. Whatever happened outside no longer mattered to him.

“What’s most interesting is that an entire world’s population entered the labyrinth. Fascinating. Could they possibly make it here…? No, probably not.”

“Some might make it… but the odds are low.”

Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk were potential candidates for clearing the labyrinth. Although they were currently on the 20th floor, with consistent effort, they might one day reach the deeper levels.

The rest, however, were a problem.

Most *Solo Mode* players hadn’t even passed the 10th floor yet.

Even if Taesan offered his help, it was unlikely the others would survive and break through Solo Mode.

What could they do to ensure their survival?

As Taesan pondered, Beldenkia smiled.

“You’re different from me. Incredibly kind. Just like her.”

“Her?”

Instead of answering, Beldenkia stood.

“A day has passed. Ready for the next trial?”

“Yes.”

Taesan nodded, and Beldenkia asked with a wry smile.

“What will you use this time?”

“Black magic.”

“And the difficulty, of course, is 10?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

[All abilities except black magic have been sealed.]

Beldenkia created a magic circle, from which a massive monster emerged.

*Roar!*

It was the size of a mythical giant.

The giant swung its house-sized arm, its strength exceeding even Taesan’s.

Taesan stomped the ground.

*Boom!*

He dodged the sweeping arm. Watching this, Beldenkia silently marveled.

Even restricted to black magic, Taesan’s stats were enough to hold his own.

What followed left Beldenkia even more astounded.

[You have activated *Mephisto’s Black Lightning*.]

*Crackle!*

Lightning pierced the giant. The brief moment its movements faltered was enough for Taesan to chain his black magic.

[You have activated *Eligos’s Thorny Rose*.]

Thorny vines wrapped around the giant, constraining its movements.

[You have activated *Marbas’s Pitch-Black Wave*.]

A black wave surged forward. The giant tried to smash through it with its fists, but the wave cackled as it engulfed its prey.

Staggering under the relentless assault, the giant couldn’t recover. Taesan opened a pathway.

Beldenkia’s pupils widened.

“No way!”

[You have activated *Naberius’s Golden Sword*.]

A golden sword materialized.

“What is this…”

Beldenkia let out a hollow laugh at the power manifesting before him. He knew Taesan possessed black magic, but he hadn’t expected it to reach this level.

He’d thought Taesan’s black magic was meager, considering it was a power humans could only obtain with a demon god’s permission. Compared to true demons, he assumed it would be insignificant.

But this was different.

Beldenkia recognized it. This was a power equivalent to intermediate magic—something even favored demons of the demon god rarely received.

In other words, the human before him was more favored by the demon god than most demons.

*Boom!*

The golden light collided with the giant, sending it flying.

Beldenkia smiled—a satisfied smile.

‘If someone like this wields such power…’

It might be possible. To fulfill his own desires.

The nails in his clenched fists dug into his palm. He continued to watch the battle. The giant resisted but soon fell.

*Thud!*

Taesan landed lightly on the ground, unscathed.

“Beldenkia welcomed him with a smile.”

[*Naberius’s Golden Sword proficiency has increased by 1%.*]
[*Mephisto’s Black Lightning proficiency has increased by 1%.*]
[*Eligos’s Thorny Rose proficiency has increased by 1%.*]
[*You have cleared the second trial.*]
[*You have obtained the Superior Potion of Magi Increase.*]

*Superior Potion of Magi Increase*
[Permanently increases Magi by 100.]

A 100-point increase in Magi. Considering that Taesan’s Magi was only at 600, this was a significant boost.

‘Not bad.’

Satisfied, Taesan used the potion.

Beldenkia sat down again and tapped the floor with his staff, summoning more alcohol and dried snacks.

“Well, why don’t we have another talk?”

This time, however, the conversation ended quickly. Taesan had already shared all he could.

“Hero, do you want to say something?”

[Why would I?]

The ghost refused. Beldenkia, as if expecting this, smiled knowingly.

“Then should I share my story?”

“You had that in mind all along, didn’t you?”

From the moment Beldenkia suggested talking, he had likely wanted to share his story.

Beldenkia chuckled.

“You caught me. Sorry. For my purposes, I need you to listen to my story.”

“I’m curious anyway, so go ahead.”

NPCs residing in the labyrinth all had their own desires.

Lilith sought the secret of magic, and the Hero sought vengeance.

What was Beldenkia’s desire?

Beldenkia sipped his drink and began.

“My wish is similar to that of the dwarf who manages the labyrinth shop. It’s tied to the Depths.”

“Given your abilities, wouldn’t that be possible for you?”

Though Taesan didn’t know Beldenkia’s exact power, he seemed capable of surpassing the 80th floor, possibly even reaching the 90th.

If Beldenkia needed help, it might be faster to achieve his goal himself.

“No.”

Beldenkia denied it.

“I can’t. It’s impossible for me.”

He laughed bitterly.

“That’s why… I need you.”

His laughter abruptly stopped.

With a vacant look, he began to speak.

“Hemrodia. A once-brilliant and beautiful world of magic.”

It was a story from before Beldenkia entered the labyrinth, a memory from thousands of years ago, so distant it was barely vivid.

“But it was a dying world.”

Plants withered, springs dried up, the sun lost its light, and black clouds covered the sky.

The cause was unknown. Their world was simply dying.

“I was the most gifted mage in that world. Though young, even those who had devoted decades to magic knelt before my talent. No one could surpass me. They said I could save the world… but how could that be possible?”

The end of the world. No matter how extraordinary, Beldenkia was still mortal and couldn’t solve it.

And Beldenkia had no intention of solving it.

“The world might have been dying, but it wouldn’t happen in my lifetime. So it had nothing to do with me. I just did whatever I wanted.”

He researched magic and conducted experiments. His talent was widely acknowledged, and support flowed freely. He lived as he pleased.

“And I wasn’t the only one. The world was clearly ending, but everyone believed their generation would survive. Extravagance and decadence filled the streets, and no one tried to stop it.”

They believed they were the final generation, that no successors would come after them.

This truth drove people into madness.

Their world became like the fabled cities of greed and excess from myth.

“But… the princess was different.”

The last heir of the empire. The only royal left to carry the dying world forward.

“She pulled me, a shut-in researcher, out of my study. Do you know what she said to me?”

‘Let’s go save the world, you decadent genius mage.’

That’s what she said, her golden hair shining brilliantly, her radiant golden eyes sparkling as she smiled brightly.

It was as vivid as if it had happened yesterday. Beldenkia chuckled softly.

“Isn’t it a ridiculous story? The princess was undoubtedly strong, but she was still just a human. Same as me. And yet she said we could save the world, just the two of us. She really meant it. Looking back, she was such a foolish woman.”

Despite his words, Beldenkia’s eyes were filled with nostalgia and longing. It seemed that the events of that time weren’t entirely bad memories for him.

“Of course, I refused… but she followed me around all day, nagging me to join her. I got so annoyed that I told her to find a way, and if she did, I’d help. And then she brought back information about the labyrinth.”

A labyrinth created by mages and gods. If they conquered it, one wish would be granted.

The gods could surely stop the world’s end.

And so, they entered the labyrinth.

“I was already frustrated about being dragged there, and then the princess told me to protect her so we could achieve our wish. I was annoyed. I hadn’t come willingly, and I didn’t care about wishes or saving the world. Still, since I was there, I gave it my all.”

Beldenkia laughed hollowly.

“For about 200 years.”

He lived a life much longer inside the labyrinth than outside. And he was never alone—he was always with the princess.

“That annoying girl eventually became the purpose of my life. I even thought I could die for her. But… I couldn’t.”

Beldenkia clenched his fist. The dried snack in his hand crumbled to dust, and his mana resonated with his emotions, pressing down on the surroundings.

“I’m a coward. In the face of overwhelming power, I couldn’t do anything. I begged for my life with my head to the ground. I… I couldn’t.”

Beldenkia smiled.

“So I’m asking you.”

With a sorrowful yet desperate expression, he looked at Taesan.

“Please save the princess, who is suffering in the deepest depths.”

[*Sub-Quest Initiated*]
[*The Mage Who Failed to Save the Princess*
Beldenkia wishes for the rescue of the princess whose soul is bound by the god.
*Condition:* Encounter the God of Fall, Essence, and make a deal with him.
*Reward:* Determined by your performance, with input from Beldenkia and Essence.*]