Chapter 322
The Broken Man looked at Taesan with a satisfied expression, despite having had no involvement in the situation.
“A player who hasn’t reached the Deep Floors has defeated one who has. How interesting.”
The Broken Man chuckled as he cast his gaze upon Taesan.
“The kid I saw back then has grown up in an instant.”
He hadn’t expected much from Taesan.
Even if he descended into the labyrinth, the Broken Man believed he would eventually hit a wall and falter.
Yet, here he was. And he had even defeated Vishnu, the Fire Spirit King.
It was astonishing. Impressive.
Taesan spoke calmly.
“So, does that mean you’re next?”
“I suppose so.”
Taesan raised his sword and took a battle stance.
In contrast, the Broken Man did not lift his spear but instead waved his hand dismissively.
“Let’s take a break first. To be honest, I’m not really your match.”
The Broken Man stabbed his spear into the ground as if claiming the space as his own.
“I’m on the 70th floor. I was broken before I could reach the Deep Floors. Vishnu, who made it down there, is obviously stronger than me. And you, well, you defeated him.”
Simply being fast and strong wasn’t enough to guarantee victory.
However, even considering that, the Broken Man had no chance of winning against Taesan. The gap between them was simply too vast.
“So there’s no need to rush. Take your time. Leveling up must have removed your fatigue, but it’s always good to have a moment to gather your thoughts, right?”
“That sounds reasonable.”
There was no need to refuse a gesture of goodwill. Besides, there were a few things he needed to check. Taesan sat down.
—
[Kang Taesan (Solo)]: Have the other places still not been cleared?
[Kim Hwiyeon (Hard)]: No. Other than Korea, Japan, and China, all the other communities are silent. They might have been wiped out, but I don’t think that’s the case… It seems like they just haven’t made it back to Earth yet.
As of now, only Korea, Japan, and China had completed Earth’s quest.
This wasn’t unusual. Players from each country had to gather in designated locations, and there was no time limit on that quest.
Some countries had to cross oceans. Others had to traverse vast plains. Under normal circumstances, such a quest could take years to complete.
Without an abnormal factor like Taesan, it was bound to turn into a prolonged battle.
[Kim Hwiyeon (Hard)]: …Do you think they might target other countries?
Taking advantage of Taesan’s absence from Earth, targeting other players elsewhere—it was a possibility. But Taesan shook off the idea.
[Kang Taesan (Solo)]: He won’t have the resources for that.
The Old god had exhausted a great deal just to try and kill Taesan. He had even descended in person, interfering in the quest directly.
If that was the case, he wouldn’t have enough left to launch attacks elsewhere.
[Kim Hwiyeon (Hard)]: That’s really a relief.
It seemed like the possibility had been weighing on Kim Hwiyeon’s mind. Her messages carried an air of deep concern.
Afterward, Taesan exchanged information with Kim Hwiyeon and some Chinese players via the community. The relationships between different countries weren’t bad, and they shared various updates.
Once that was settled, Taesan called for Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok.
[Kang Taesan (Solo)]: How’s it going?
[Lee Taeyeon (Solo)]: Not bad. Thanks to the power we gained on Earth, we’re descending more smoothly.
Taesan recalled something and asked,
[Kang Taesan (Solo)]: Did you two form contracts with intermediate spirits?
[Kang Junhyeok (Solo)]: Yes.
[Kang Taesan (Solo)]: Are they helpful?
[Lee Taeyeon (Solo)]: Yes! Incredibly! They’re strong enough to assist in battle, and more importantly, they’re adorable! Just hugging them makes me happy!
It was rare for Lee Taeyeon to sound this excited. Taesan chuckled.
Descending through the labyrinth alone, without anyone’s help—that was mentally exhausting.
Taesan at least had ghosts to talk to. Kang Junhyeok and Lee Taeyeon didn’t even have that. They were truly alone.
In such circumstances, having a spirit as an absolute ally must have been a great source of comfort.
[Kang Taesan (Solo)]: Hang in there.
Leaving them with those words, Taesan closed the community chat.
‘That’s good.’
Taesan remembered how much Lee Taeyeon had struggled in his past life.
How many messages she had posted in the community as she descended into the labyrinth.
But now, she wasn’t showing any signs of that.
It was a good thing.
Taesan stood up.
The Broken Man, who had been waiting from a distance, spoke up.
“Finished resting?”
“Yes.”
The grip on the Broken Man’s spear tightened.
Taesan drew his sword.
They stood face to face.
The Broken Man spoke.
“Do you know why I call them my kind? It’s because I can see them ending up just like me.”
People descend into the labyrinth, but at some point, they break. They falter. They give up and become failures.
The Broken Man believed that the Guides of Sin were no different.
“I realized it early on. They realized it late. That’s the only difference. But you… you might be different.”
The grip on the Broken Man’s spear tightened.
With a sharp burst of sound, he accelerated. His spear lunged forward, aiming for Taesan’s head.
Taesan swung his sword to deflect it.
Clang!
The spear cut through the air in a sweeping arc.
[You have activated King’s Vessel.]
[You have activated Avatar of Nature.]
A surge of immense presence and power enveloped Taesan.
He advanced, swinging his sword. With a single strike, the Broken Man’s body was sent flying.
“Haha!”
The Broken Man laughed.
He quickly regained his stance, gripping his spear tightly. The weapon twisted as it traced a precise arc.
There was a clear mystique in the way he wielded it—something only those who had devoted countless years to mastering the spear could achieve.
Yet, it shattered.
The mysterious technique the Broken Man executed was crushed under overwhelming power.
As the sword’s force surged toward him, the Broken Man laughed.
He had not lost his fighting spirit.
Even as he was pushed back by sheer might, he desperately searched for a way to win.
Just like in the past, when he once descended through the labyrinth.
Yet, despite everything, he could not win.
The battle was both brief and long, depending on how one saw it. In the end, the Broken Man was defeated.
“So this is the power of someone who actually has a chance to reach the end. Not bad, I suppose.”
The Broken Man dropped his spear.
He was a failure—one who had deemed it impossible to descend further and had given up.
A failure looking at someone who kept moving forward could feel admiration, longing, or perhaps envy and resentment.
The Broken Man belonged to the first category.
“I may be stuck here, unable to move on… but I’ll be cheering for you.”
With a smirk, the Broken Man dissolved into light and disappeared.
He wasn’t dead. He had probably returned to the entrance of the labyrinth.
The Broken Man would once again guide those who attempted to descend into the depths.
Taesan sheathed his sword.
A cascade of system notifications filled his vision.
[Your level has increased.]
[You have reached the 70th floor. Title: ‘One Who Has Reached the Entrance of the Deep’ acquired.]
[You have perfectly cleared the 70th floor. Title: ‘One Who Has Entered a New Domain’ acquired.]
[You have completely conquered all floors up to the 70th. Title: ‘March Toward Conquest’ acquired.]
[You have arrived at the minimum location desired by magicians. Title: ‘One Who Earns the Magician’s Expectation’ acquired.]
[You have reached a place deep, deep within. Beyond this point lies the domain of the gods, a place where all horrifying things dwell, where the secrets of the world can be found.]
[Whether you advance forward or sit here, content with where you are, is your choice.]
[Based on your achievements up to the 70th floor, a new reward has been granted. Title: ‘One Who Has Earned Qualification’ acquired.]
[Reaching deep within bestows a profound enlightenment simply by arrival. Special passive skill: ‘Aura of One Who Has Reached the Entrance’ acquired.]
[Title: One Who Has Reached the Entrance of the Deep]
– [Reached the entrance of the deep.]
– [HP +500]
– [Strength +300]
– [Attack Power +10]
– [Defense +100]
The titles One Who Has Entered a New Domain and March Toward Conquest were not significantly different from One Who Has Reached the Entrance of the Deep. They mainly boosted stats and attack power.
The real difference came next.
[Title: One Who Earns the Magician’s Expectation]
– [A small reward given to those who reach the location desired by magicians.]
– [Magic +50]
– [Mana +1000]
– [Mana regeneration speed increased by 30%.]
As expected, a title granted by magicians revolved around magic. The boosts to magic and mana were significant, but the most striking aspect was the increased regeneration speed.
[Title: One Who Has Earned Qualification]
– [A proof given to those who utilized many means and gained their own strength while descending the labyrinth.]
– [Attack Power +100]
– [Skill proficiency growth rate drastically increased.]
“This…”
Taesan quietly read through the skill’s description.
A significant increase in skill proficiency growth rate.
“Did you get this one?”
[Huh?]
The ghost peered at the system window. After a moment, he frowned.
[…No. What the hell? I didn’t get a title like this.]
“What did you get?”
[I also had One Who Has Earned Qualification, but mine increased proficiency in swordsmanship and helped me grasp the essence of the blade.]
A title with different effects.
Taesan quickly understood why.
“A new reward based on achievements.”
The title’s effect varied depending on what was utilized and accomplished while descending the labyrinth.
For warriors who focused on swordsmanship, it enhanced sword skills.
Taesan, on the other hand, had used a vast variety of skills, so his reward boosted all skill proficiency growth.
“How effective was it?”
[Quite significant.]
The ghost responded.
[You’ll need to experience it yourself as you continue descending, so I won’t spoil the details. But you won’t be disappointed.]
“That sounds promising.”
The description specifically said drastically increased.
Considering how strict the labyrinth’s system explanations usually were, this likely meant that the boost was, as the ghost suggested, highly satisfying.
Given that spirit arts, intermediate magic, and black magic had all been progressing painfully slowly, this title would be a massive help.
[Special Passive Skill: Aura of One Who Has Reached the Entrance]
– [Reaching deep within grants profound enlightenment by itself. The user’s presence is enhanced.]
Another aura-enhancing skill.
It wasn’t unexpected.
The higher-ups had not been significantly overwhelmed even against Taesan, who possessed [Apostle Transformation] and [King’s Vessel].
That meant they, too, must have had some sort of skills or items enhancing their aura.
This title appeared to be one of them.
Having completed his review, Taesan descended the staircase.
Finally, he had reached the Deep Floors.
He immediately sensed something had changed.
And waiting for him, rather than the usual shopkeeper, was Balbamaba.
[You have arrived.]
Balbamaba spoke calmly.
[Welcome, adventurer. You have reached this place—the Deep Floors.]
