Chapter 275: Floor 61, Trial Grounds (6)
*[Supreme Attack Boost Potion]*
[Permanently increases Attack by 200.]
*[Supreme Defense Boost Potion]*
[Permanently increases Defense by 400.]
Taesan’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.
The increase in both attack and defense was enormous. While Taesan’s reliance on *Master’s Blade* slightly dulled the impact, for other adventurers, this potion would bring a highly noticeable boost in their offensive capabilities.
Even for Taesan, it was an extraordinary potion, far superior to most equipment. Unlike gear that would eventually be replaced, the effects of the potion were permanent, requiring no further attention once consumed.
Then there was the ring. Taesan examined the steel ring set with a blue gemstone.
*[Singing Gem and Echoing Steel Ring]*
– *Health +300*
– *Mana +30*
– *Strength +100*
– *Agility +100*
– *Intelligence +100*
– *Magic +30*
– *Attack +80*
– *Defense +80*
*[The gem sings, and the steel echoes. Their harmony amplifies and strengthens each other.]*
*[When using basic or low-tier magic, there is a 50% chance of triggering the spell twice consecutively.]*
Taesan couldn’t hide his satisfaction.
Rings could be equipped in up to ten slots, so their individual effects were usually less impactful than other gear. Even exceptional rings often specialized in enhancing a single attribute.
The pair of rings he had commissioned from Haphran were a rare exception, usable even beyond the Depths.
This ring, however, boasted well-rounded, superior stats comparable to equipment from other slots. On top of that, its special effect offered a 50% chance for basic magic to activate twice consecutively.
While Taesan primarily used intermediate magic for offense, this effect was invaluable for supportive spells.
If unrestricted, mobility spells like *Random Blink* or *Aerial Leap* could potentially be triggered consecutively, providing a significant advantage.
“You’ll be able to use this even in the Depths. I personally used it up to the 85th floor,” Beldenkia commented. Rings took longer to replace, and this one had performance suited for prolonged use.
*[You have obtained the Mage’s Music Box.]*
*[A music box crafted by the mage who failed to save the princess, infused with deep emotion.]*
*[It plays a song from a now-extinct world, bringing peace to the soul.]*
The description was simple. Taesan looked at Beldenkia, who spoke with a bittersweet expression.
“I made it. The princess likely isn’t in her right mind. Play it for her if you meet her.”
“I will.”
Taesan consumed the potions, equipped the ring, and carefully stored the music box.
Beldenkia gazed at him with a wistful look.
“You’ll leave now, right? Please, descend the labyrinth safely and… save the princess.”
“No.”
But Taesan shook his head. Beldenkia’s face stiffened momentarily.
“What?”
“It’s not that I won’t save the princess, but I have no intention of leaving just yet.”
This place was an exceptional opportunity.
The labyrinth’s monsters were no longer a challenge for Taesan. The labyrinth’s system required a certain level of parity with opponents for skill proficiency to increase effectively. Naturally, Taesan’s progress had slowed.
The 61st floor, however, was different. The Stage 10 trials were not to be taken lightly, even for him.
It was the perfect environment to refine his skills.
“The trials can be repeated multiple times, as indicated.”
“Well, that’s true, but there are some limitations…”
“You mentioned you had some leeway with the rules.”
“That’s… true.”
Realizing what Taesan intended, Beldenkia stammered. Taesan smiled and stated firmly.
“I’ll be staying here for a while.”
From then on, Taesan repeatedly challenged the trials daily. He focused on improving his skill proficiency rather than simply defeating the challenges. Though it took considerable time, the results were worth it.
He began by raising his magic proficiency, using a wide array of spells to clear the trials.
After three days of dedicated effort, his magic proficiency reached 60%.
*[Magic]*
– *Proficiency: 60%*
*[You can manipulate fire, ice, and wind with precision, harmonizing their strengths to produce the desired results.]*
“Finally.”
He had been stuck at the high 50% range for a long time, and only now did it finally reach 60%. Even Beldenkia couldn’t hide his amazement.
“You’re not even an adventurer who specializes in magic, yet you’ve already reached 60%? That’s incredible…”
“I’ve had several opportunities to improve my proficiency.”
His first return to Earth and the points he could use there were instrumental. During his initial return, he invested heavily in magic, achieving significant early gains. Although subsequent investments saw diminishing returns, the early boost was invaluable.
Reaching 60% brought newfound freedom to his magic. The casting speed and power increased noticeably.
[You have activated *Frost Arrow.*]
*Crack!*
The manifested Frost Arrow shot toward a lich. Struggling under the relentless barrage of magic, the lich failed to block the spell.
*Crash!*
[Damage dealt to Lich: 1332.]
Damage output had increased by roughly 30%, and the casting speed was significantly faster.
While this damage paled in comparison to Taesan’s larger-scale attacks, *Frost Arrow* excelled in its low mana cost and rapid casting.
Firing dozens of arrows in quick succession made it difficult for opponents to counter.
Reaching 60% also unlocked new magic-related skills.
*[Magic Separation]*
– *Proficiency: 1%*
*[Allows you to split spells into multiple instances.]*
*[Magic Focus]*
– *Proficiency: 1%*
*[Concentrates the effects of wide-range spells in a specific direction.]*
*Magic Separation* mirrored the technique Beldenkia had used. When Taesan activated *Star Arrow* followed by *Magic Separation*, the arrows split into numerous fragments. Though not as refined as Beldenkia’s, the quantity was sufficient.
*Boom!*
The scattered arrows bombarded the lich, breaking its magical barrier and shattering it entirely.
While the split reduced individual arrow power, the wider coverage allowed for greater spatial control.
*Magic Focus*, on the other hand, had a straightforward effect.
[You have activated *Frozen World.*]
[You have activated *Magic Focus.*]
The *Frozen World* spell concentrated its chilling effect forward.
*Crack!*
Ice waves surged, filling the frontal area with intense cold. Satisfied with the results, Taesan made his conclusion.
“Not bad.”
*Frozen World* typically spread in all directions, which wasn’t ideal for one-on-one combat.
This skill mitigated that limitation by intensifying the effect in a specific direction, enhancing its impact significantly.
Not only had his overall magic proficiency improved, but individual spells also showed marked progress. Across the board, his spell proficiencies increased by 3–4%, a significant gain considering how difficult it was to advance magic-related skills.
Beldenkia watched Taesan with a peculiar gaze.
‘This is the difference between him and me.’
Would he have been willing to repeatedly train like this to raise his proficiency?
No. To Beldenkia, the labyrinth was merely something to be conquered. As a mage, he analyzed and understood it to some degree, but he had never gone to such lengths.
The difference between simply viewing it as a challenge to overcome and systematically analyzing, understanding, and extracting everything it had to offer was stark—even to Beldenkia.
“Well then.”
Taesan finished his preparation, drinking a potion to fully restore his mana.
“Are you leaving now?”
“Is there any point in staying longer?”
“No, there’s not.”
Beldenkia shook his head firmly.
“Even granting extra trials to improve your magic proficiency was an overreach on my part. As a mage, I was able to allow it as a final favor. But I can’t give you more.”
“That makes sense.”
While Taesan would have liked to raise his proficiency in black magic or swordsmanship as well, that clearly wasn’t an option.
He had expected this. If it were possible, he could have spent endless time on the 61st floor, improving every skill to perfection.
“It’s time to move on. But before that, I have something to attend to outside the labyrinth.”
“Outside? Another trial?”
“Something like that.”
Taesan looked up into the air.
The *community* was abuzz with activity. Posts filled with excitement, anxiety, and exhilaration were flooding in at a rapid pace.
A week ago, it was announced that the *Colosseum* would open.
And now, the time had come.
“I’ll be away for a short while.”
A dimensional rift appeared, opening a passageway.
Taesan stepped through.
—
He found himself in a vast arena. While it wasn’t outdoors, the enormous walls and ceiling enclosing the space were so high and wide that it might as well have been.
The structure was large enough to house tens of thousands of people. A normal person would struggle to perceive its boundaries.
Players began appearing one by one around him.
“Whoa, whoa…”
“This is the first time I’ve been somewhere other than Earth or the labyrinth. Where are we?”
The gathered players murmured amongst themselves. A few of them spotted Taesan and lit up.
“Taesan!”
As some scrambled to bow to him, Taesan stopped them with a wave of his hand.
Their cry drew everyone’s attention to Taesan.
“Whoa…”
“It’s Taesan!”
People gazed at him with awe and reverence. However, unlike before, no one rushed toward him or tried to grab him.
While the attention was overwhelming, it was still far better than before.
—
[Your Divine Power proficiency has increased by 1%.]
Ignoring the notification, Taesan began scanning the crowd and soon found *Kim Hwiyeon*.
“Oh, Taesan.”
“People aren’t as overbearing as they used to be. Did you say something to them?”
“Yes, I told them not to crowd you—it would only inconvenience you. I didn’t think they’d listen this well, though.”
Though overshadowed by Taesan, Kim Hwiyeon had earned significant respect for her leadership and bravery in battle, which had saved many lives.
“Do you have any idea how this will play out?” she asked.
“No clue. It’s called a Colosseum, so it’ll probably involve some kind of combat. What’s the status with the nations?”
“France, Japan, the US, and us. The others are either ignoring this or making their own plans.”
Before their conversation could continue, a system notification appeared.
—
[The quest will begin in one hour.]
—
“I’ve always wondered—why does this system talk so casually? It’s so annoying. The labyrinth uses formal language when we’re back on Earth, so why is this different?” Kim Hwiyeon muttered as she began gathering people.
Meanwhile, Taesan moved to find *Lee Taeyeon* and *Kang Junhyeok*.
“Hey, you’re here?” Junhyeok greeted him.
“Yeah,” Taesan nodded. “How far have you two gotten?”
“We’re at the 23rd floor.”
“You’ve progressed quickly.”
“The Colosseum was coming up, so we pushed ourselves. What about you?”
“61st floor.”
Their mouths fell open in shock.
“…You’re close to clearing it.”
“Not really.”
Reaching the 70th floor would take time, but breaking through the Depths would take even longer. Lee Taeyeon had proven this.
—
From a distance, Kim Hwiyeon approached after handing out something to the crowd.
“Taesan, wear this on your arm. You two as well,” she said, handing them *yellow cloths*.
“What’s this for?” Junhyeok asked.
“To distinguish difficulty levels. Green for Easy, Blue for Normal, Red for Hard, and Yellow for Solo Mode. Honestly, Taesan doesn’t need something like this…”
Everyone in Korea knew who Taesan was.
“This way, people from other nations can recognize you too. I’ve already spoken to the representatives of other countries about marking players with these.”
Taesan accepted the cloth. Kim Hwiyeon resumed distributing them.
—
One hour later, the system message appeared again.
—
[Special Quest Begins.]
[This is the Colosseum. Prove your abilities and showcase your strength.]
[Various quests will be conducted in this space.]
[Points will be awarded based on performance. The amount of points depends on results.]
[First Quest Begins.]
[Participating Nations: USA, France, Japan, Korea.]
[In this quest, reducing a player’s health to 0 will incapacitate them rather than kill them.]
[Players from all nations will be randomly assigned to separate spaces.]
[Each space will contain a random number of players.]
[Each space will shrink over time until a single winner remains.]
[The more opponents you defeat and the longer you survive, the more points you’ll earn.]
[Final winners will be reassigned to new spaces, repeating the process until a specific number of players remain.]
—
The mention of *points* caused everyone’s eyes to gleam. Points used to increase stats and skill proficiency were incredibly valuable.
The stage was set for an intense competition.
