Chapter 318
4,139 points.
It was an incredible amount.
The quest from the God of Fall had rewarded him with around 2,800 points, but this exceeded that by 1,200.
The question now was what to invest these points into.
“Balancing, Earthquake, Forced Health Drain, Enemy of Those Who Tread the Deep, Partial World Alteration…”
Each of them was far from being ordinary skills.
When Taesan checked the skill proficiency-to-point conversion ratio, it was roughly 1:100.
This meant that even with 4,139 points, he could only raise a skill’s proficiency by 40%.
He needed to decide carefully. Taesan meticulously reviewed each skill.
Skills related to Word of Command, black magic, or divinity couldn’t use points.
The same went for Skill Acceleration and Absolute Judgment.
Only specific skills could benefit from point allocation.
Among them, Taesan had to choose the skill that would bring about the most significant change with his limited points.
After much deliberation, he made his decision.
He chose to enhance the proficiency of the Green Witch’s Magic, which created domains, and Partial World Alteration.
Since both were tied to the magic of immortals, their value would increase exponentially as their proficiency grew.
While other skills could be honed in battle, Partial World Alteration required a specific setup, making it harder to level naturally.
Additionally, the point expenditure was reasonable, which influenced his decision.
Using the points, Taesan raised the proficiency of both skills.
[Green Witch’s Magic]
[Proficiency: 23%]
[The unique magic of the Cursed Forest Witch, developed from her mortal years and completed upon becoming an immortal. It materializes her domain using a catalyst and influences the world in various ways.]
[Partial World Alteration]
[Proficiency: 22%]
[Sustained Mana Consumption: ???]
[Allows for the alteration of laws within a certain area. This can affect not only physical properties but also concepts like magic, black magic, and spirits.]
As the proficiency increased, additional explanations were unlocked, showing that the skill could interfere with a variety of concepts like magic and black magic. Ideas on how to wield it naturally emerged in Taesan’s mind.
“Not bad.”
Taesan nodded. As he anticipated, many things changed once the proficiency reached 20%.
Having completed his adjustments, Taesan decided against descending further into the labyrinth and instead turned back.
He sought out Haphran. Haphran welcomed him warmly.
“You came quickly. What’s the matter this time?”
“Can you repair broken weapons?”
“Repair?”
Haphran repeated, as though he hadn’t understood. Taesan answered by pulling out the Supreme Sword.
“…What is this?”
Haphran hesitantly took the sword, his expression uneasy.
The Supreme Sword was in terrible shape. The blade was entirely corroded, its shape distorted, and it had lost its functionality as a weapon.
Even its attack power had plummeted to single digits.
It had become a useless piece of equipment.
“What in the world did you do to this?”
Haphran looked at Taesan incredulously.
“The materials and equipment produced in the labyrinth are imbued with the power of magicians and gods. Mortal beings shouldn’t be able to corrupt or damage them…”
“That’s how it ended up,” Taesan replied calmly.
Haphran furrowed his brow.
“This is giving me a headache. And it’s fascinating at the same time.”
“So, can you fix it?”
“I told you already, the equipment of the labyrinth contains divine power. Mortals can’t tamper with it.”
Haphran examined the Supreme Sword closely.
“Except for beings like me, granted permission by the magicians. To give you the short answer, I can restore it to some extent.”
“That’s good enough.”
“But since it’s only a restoration, its performance will drop compared to the original. I’ll also need materials. Do you have them?”
“I do.”
Taesan opened his inventory, causing a pile of materials he had collected during his descent to spill out.
“…That’s quite a lot. Wait here. I’ve never repaired equipment before, so this is a first for me.”
Haphran took the Supreme Sword and the materials, then began hammering away.
Taesan observed the process, though he couldn’t fully understand what was happening. After some time, Haphran handed the sword back to him.
[Restored Supreme Sword]
[Attack Power: +200]
[The sword of the unrivaled swordsman, unparalleled and unmatched. Though it was once broken, it has been restored by a skilled blacksmith.]
“Not bad.”
Its attack power had dropped by 50, but it was still functional as a temporary weapon.
Haphran, setting down his hammer, spoke.
“If you want a proper weapon, bring me better materials next time. By the way, what kind of power could break a weapon like this…”
Curiosity gleamed on Haphran’s face.
“Can you show me? How did you do it?”
“Sorry, that’s impossible. It’s too dangerous.”
Taesan shook his head.
Even he couldn’t fully control the gray energy. Once it was unleashed, it had to explode; there was no stopping it.
“That’s a shame. If possible, I’d like to see it someday.”
Taesan nodded slightly and descended the stairs.
[70th Floor Quest Initiated.]
[Defeat the gatekeeper of the 70th floor and pass through.]
[Reward: Necklace of the Attained.]
[Secret Reward: ???]
The 70th floor.
The final threshold before entering the deep layers.
The ghost said nothing.
The shopkeeper, too, remained silent, merely curling his lips into a smirk as he looked at Taesan.
Passing the shop, Taesan arrived on the 70th floor.
The floor was vast, roughly the size of a soccer field.
Far ahead, he could see the stairs leading to the deep layers and the core.
Who would his opponent be this time?
Taesan tightened his grip on his sword and turned his gaze toward his foe.
“…Oh.”
His opponent chuckled quietly.
A man with jet-black hair and sharp eyes looked at Taesan and let out a sound of admiration.
“So, you’ve made it all the way here.”
Taesan frowned.
The man standing before him was someone from his memories.
“Broken Man?”
[The Broken One has appeared.]
Taesan stood face to face with a man he had encountered before entering [Solo Mode]—a man who once guarded the labyrinth.
He had called himself “the one whose spirit was broken,” an adventurer who had failed and, as a result, became a gatekeeper of the labyrinth after making a pact with the magicians.
Taesan glanced around. Apart from the Broken One, there was nothing else in sight.
“Are you the gatekeeper of this floor?”
“That’s right.”
The Broken One twirled his spear gracefully.
“It wasn’t supposed to be me. Someone else was assigned, but they had… other matters to attend to. They asked me to fill in for a while, and since there haven’t been any new challengers, I thought it’d be a nice way to kill time.”
He looked at Taesan with an impressed expression.
“It hasn’t been that long since I saw you at the entrance, and yet you’ve already made it here? How is that even possible?”
The Broken One had once been a conqueror of the labyrinth himself, so he understood exactly what it meant for Taesan to have reached the 70th floor so quickly.
“That’s just how it turned out.”
Taesan replied as he gripped his sword.
The Broken One.
When Taesan first met him, he had thought the man was stronger than Lee Taeyeon.
Now, seeing him again, he realized his earlier judgment had been exaggerated. Even so, the Broken One was no weakling—if he fought seriously, even someone as strong as Lee Taeyeon would have a hard time defeating him.
“I just have to defeat you, correct?”
“Exactly.”
The Broken One shook his spear.
“I am a failure. An adventurer who gave up and struck a deal with the magicians as I descended the labyrinth.”
A powerful aura surged from him.
The pressure, as sharp as a blade, pierced toward Taesan. The Broken One bared his teeth in a grin.
“If you can’t overcome even a failure like me, you have no right to descend into the deep layers.”
Taesan steadied himself, gathering his energy quietly.
The calm, deliberate way he readied himself made the Broken One smile in satisfaction.
But instead of initiating the battle, the Broken One began to suppress his aura. Taesan watched him curiously as his combat intent faded.
“Sorry, but a greater power has already made a prior arrangement. Our fight will have to wait until after.”
The Broken One stepped back.
“Come forth, fellow kind.”
“I am not like you. I am no failure.”
“Really? From where I’m standing, you don’t seem all that different.”
The Broken One smirked, and the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs.
A being of immense power was approaching.
It was fire itself.
A figure made entirely of flame took shape. A woman with hair of flickering fire and pale, contrasting skin descended gracefully.
[The Spirit King of Fire, Vishnu, has appeared.]
The Broken One leaned against the wall.
“You’ll fight me afterward. For now, I’ll just watch the show.”
Taesan turned to face Vishnu.
Her blazing hair danced wildly, while her pristine white skin seemed to shimmer against the light.
Her crimson eyes locked onto him, radiating rage and killing intent.
“This is going to be a headache,” Taesan muttered.
When he thought about it, among the higher beings, Vishnu was the one with whom Taesan had the worst history.
Taesan had destroyed the spirit domain she had fiercely protected. Spirits twisted by their hatred of her had been absorbed into his blade, and her spear and shield had both fallen to his hands.
Of all the leaders, Vishnu likely bore the deepest grudge against him.
“I won’t blame you. That’s just the nature of the labyrinth—a place where you must kill your opponents to survive.”
Vishnu spoke calmly.
“So, by the labyrinth’s rules, I will kill you.”
Flames erupted violently.
The crimson blaze clung to the walls, heating the air to an unbearable degree. For an ordinary person, standing nearby would be enough to set them ablaze.
Taesan’s invisible aura began to move, shielding him from the Spirit King’s fire.
He smirked.
“For someone who claims not to blame me, your emotions seem a bit out of control.”
The Spirit King of Fire.
Unlike the previous leader Taesan had faced—whose strength lay in defense—Vishnu was clearly an offense-oriented opponent.
Taesan could tell at a glance that this would be the first time he faced a leader operating at full strength.
“You’re a fitting gatekeeper for the path to the deep layers.”
[You have summoned the Shield of Vibrant Colors, Varkaza.]
[You have summoned the Spirit King of Wind, Minerva.]
A golem materialized, and swirling winds coalesced into the form of a woman.
[Hmm…]
“Oho.”
Varkaza let out a low hum, while Minerva’s eyes sparkled with energy. Vishnu’s expression hardened.
“…The King’s Shield and the Spirit King of Wind?”
“Hello, senior!” Minerva waved cheerfully, her bright demeanor contrasting sharply with Vishnu’s icy glare.
“You made a pact with someone who slaughtered spirits? And you call yourself a Spirit King? Shame on you.”
“That’s rich, coming from you,” Minerva retorted with a rare tone of aggression.
“You abandoned your own domain and entered the labyrinth to fulfill your selfish desires, and now you lecture me?”
Vishnu’s face froze, her expression turning stony.
“You’re quite rude.”
“And you’re quite shameless, defying your father’s will to flee to the labyrinth.”
“Enough.”
Vishnu waved her hand dismissively, signaling the end of the exchange.
Flames erupted once more. The fire expanded rapidly, consuming the walls and rushing toward Taesan.
It was fire capable of burning the entire world to ash.
Vishnu spoke coldly.
“Die, you insignificant insect.”
[Tch. A fight like this is way above my pay grade.]
Varkaza grumbled but clapped his hands together. A rainbow-like energy spread outward, while Minerva’s winds exploded, scattering the flames. Enhanced by Varkaza’s power, the winds grew fierce, pushing back Vishnu’s inferno.
Taesan raised his sword. A flurry of skills activated, infusing him with strength.
[You have activated Apostle Transformation: Darkness and Chaos.]
[You have activated King’s Vessel.]
Taesan planted his foot firmly and launched himself forward, charging down the path cleared by the winds.
