Chapter 327

Boom!

Winds and light surged as the Shadow Maw greedily opened its jaws, consuming everything in its path.

The other shadows had long fled in terror.

“What kind of monster is this?”

Minerva swung her hand in frustration. A massive gust gathered, forming a storm that hurled itself toward the shadow.

Clang!

The colossal shadow was torn apart by the storm. Its body twisted as chunks of shadow peeled away like clay.

Yet, the Shadow Maw opened its maw even wider.

Crunch.

The storm began to be sucked into its depths. The explosion of force within the shadow shook its entire form, but rather than breaking, it swallowed the storm whole.

[Grrrk.]

A satisfied chuckle escaped.

Minerva scoffed.

“This is ridiculous.”

Boom!

The shadow charged.

Varkaza clapped his hands, and Minerva stomped the ground. Wind and a multicolored barrier formed in front of them.

Boom!

The shadow slammed into the wall.

Even Taesan would have struggled to break through Minerva’s defense when supported by Varkaza. This shadow could not breach it either.

Creak.

But instead of breaking through, the shadow rubbed against the barrier, its maw wide open.

The wind barrier Minerva had summoned was slowly being absorbed into the shadow’s body.

“Master, something’s not right,” Minerva muttered, frowning.

They had inflicted considerable damage. Any monster, no matter how durable, should have been weakened by now.

But the shadow remained unscathed.

Not only that—

“It’s getting bigger.”

It wasn’t just absorbing attacks. Defense, offense—everything was devoured and added to its own mass. Even as its health was chipped away, it simply replenished itself by consuming more.

The shadow, having absorbed Minerva’s barrier, lunged forward.

Taesan extended his hand, shaping Magi into a solid form.

[You have activated Amon’s Jet-Black Spike.]

Boom!

The shadow was repelled, but it quickly recovered, charging at Taesan once more.

“You two, go back for now.”

[We have no choice.]

“This is frustrating. My pride is taking a hit,” Minerva grumbled.

Even with their combined power, they couldn’t stop this creature.

Worse, their abilities were being consumed, making them a liability. Minerva shook her head and vanished.

“Seriously, the things that appear in this place… See you later, Master.”

Their presence disappeared.

The shadow let out a disappointed whimper.

[Grrk.]

Taesan quietly observed it.

A monster that absorbed attacks, making them its own.

[So? What’s your plan?]

“I’m thinking.”

The shadow swelled even larger, surging toward Taesan like a tidal wave. There was nowhere to escape.

[You have activated Restricted Blink.]

Taesan teleported directly above the shadow, descending with his sword.

[You have activated Landing.]

[You have activated Strong Strike.]

[You have activated Addition.]

[You have activated Absolute Judgment.]

Boom!

A thunderous impact rang out as the shadow crashed into the ground.

[You have dealt 16,043 damage to the Shadow Maw.]

Sixteen thousand.

Not an insignificant amount.

But Taesan’s expression remained neutral.

Slosh.

The shattered pieces of shadow reformed, restoring its original shape.

It had absorbed the attack itself, reducing the damage.

“So even Absolute Judgment doesn’t work.”

It wasn’t blocking the attack—it was eating it. That was why no attack could be absolute against it.

The shadow cackled.

Its body split into dozens of tendrils, all rushing toward Taesan.

Rumble!

Taesan flicked his hand.

[You have activated Embers of Calamity.]

“Let’s see if you can consume this too.”

Flames erupted like a bomb.

This was the power of a beast that once devoured the world itself. The fire engulfed the shadow, causing it to writhe in pain.

For the first time, the shadow failed to immediately absorb the attack.

Taesan prepared to strike—

Then, suddenly, the shadow expanded.

It wrapped itself around the flames.

And in an instant, the world-ending fire vanished.

“It really eats everything.”

[Grrrk.]

The shadow laughed.

For the first time, it felt joy.

No matter how much it had consumed before, its hunger had never been sated.

But now, it was finally being fulfilled.

Yet it still wasn’t enough.

It could eat even more.

Its stomach was still empty.

If this being could satisfy its hunger—

Then what would happen if it devoured him entirely?

Black droplets fell from the shadow’s body, like the saliva of a starving beast.

The shadow swelled.

Dozens of tendrils rained down like a storm.

[You have activated Distortion.]

Taesan moved, his sword slicing through the air. The trajectory of the shadow’s attacks twisted and scattered in all directions.

Boom!

The shadow grew agitated.

Taesan wasn’t being devoured.

Frustrated, it moved even more violently. Thousands of shadowy limbs smashed into their surroundings, destroying everything.

[You have activated Perfect Fairy Wings.]

Spreading his wings, Taesan took flight, weaving through the onslaught.

He needed time to think.

‘How should I handle this?’

He considered every possible method to suppress the shadow.

Partial World Alteration was out of the question—he had used all the necessary catalysts when defeating Vishnu.

Manipulating the Boundary Line was too risky.

It was immensely powerful, but it could just as easily harm Taesan.

Without the direct divinity of others, he could only use it once. It had to be reserved for the perfect moment.

After a moment of contemplation, Taesan made his decision.

“I’ll keep it simple.”

[Huh?]

Boom!

Dodging the incoming tendrils, Taesan widened the distance between them.

The shadow laughed as its presence slowly expanded.

[You have activated Frozen World.]

[You have activated Magic Focus.]

Crackle!

A fierce cold surged toward the shadow. Its entire body froze, only to shatter moments later.

[You have dealt 10,143 damage to the Shadow Maw.]

The Shadow Maw gleefully began consuming the remnants of the frozen world.

Taesan silently observed.

He had confirmed something when he used Embers of Calamity.

The Shadow Maw was taking full damage from attacks.

However, after receiving damage, it would absorb the attacks, restoring its health.

And most importantly, it took time for the shadow to fully devour an attack.

[You have summoned the Spirit King of Wind, Minerva.]

[You have summoned the Multicolored Shield, Varkaza.]

Taesan summoned his spirits once more.

Minerva, startled by the sudden call, blinked.

“Why did you summon us again? We’re not much help against that thing.”

“I changed my approach.”

Taesan gathered both Mana and Magi. The two forces converged at once.

[You have activated Starlight Arrow.]

[You have activated Decarabia’s Twisted Vegetation.]

Boom!

The Starlight Arrow pierced through the shadow. Twisted roots erupted, binding it.

The shadow laughed as it consumed the energy attacking it.

But Taesan only gathered more Mana.

[You have activated Starlight Arrow.]

[You have activated Forced Amplification.]

A maximized Starlight Arrow formed. Taesan clenched his fist.

[You have activated Magic Acceleration.]

Boom!

The accelerated Starlight Arrow struck the shadow, exploding on impact. The massive form trembled.

[Starlight Arrow proficiency increased by 1%.]

Rumble…

The shadow slowly forced its maw open.

It began consuming the power directed at it again, but this time—it was slower.

“Ah. Simple, but effective,” Minerva grinned as she finally understood Taesan’s strategy.

She stretched out her arms. A tempest surged forward, tearing through the shadow.

The shadow attempted to consume the attack, but the overwhelming barrage of energy was too much to process all at once.

“Varkaza, help me.”

[As you wish, my king.]

Multicolored light merged with the wind.

With a delighted smile, Minerva unleashed her power. Taesan poured his strength into the effort as well.

[You have activated Eligos’s Thorny Rose.]

[You have activated Frozen World.]

[Magic proficiency increased by 1%.]

Crack!

A surge of overwhelming energy engulfed the shadow.

Before it could fully digest the previous attacks, another wave of force crashed into it.

For the first time, the Shadow Maw realized something was wrong.

No matter how much it consumed, the energy kept coming.

Taesan swung his hand again.

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

[Marbas’s Pitch-Black Wave proficiency increased by 1%.]

[Black Magic proficiency increased by 1%.]

“…What?”

It was rare for Black Magic and Magic proficiency to increase.

Even Frozen World, a skill he had used countless times, hadn’t reached 20% proficiency yet.

But now, they were increasing at an incredible pace.

It wasn’t because the shadow was strong.

Soon, Taesan understood why.

[Title: One Who Has Earned Qualification]

[A mark bestowed upon those who descend through the labyrinth, wielding power and acquiring strength through their own efforts.]

[Attack Power +100]

[Skill proficiency gain rate dramatically increased.]

A reward for clearing the 70th floor—a title that greatly boosted proficiency gain.

“This makes such a huge difference?”

His proficiency gain rate was now at least twice as fast.

The ghost murmured in amazement.

[A deep-floor reward… The effect is no joke. But… it’s strange. I thought the increase would be minor since it applies to all skills instead of just one.]

The ghost’s own title had only boosted his proficiency in swordsmanship-related skills. A mage would have received a proficiency boost for magic alone.

But Taesan’s title affected all skills.

Since it had broad applicability, it should have had a weaker effect.

Yet, its growth rate was nearly identical to the ghost’s own experience.

“So that’s how it works.”

Taesan smirked.

He gathered Magi once more.

[You have activated Naberius’s Golden Sword.]

A golden sword manifested in Taesan’s grasp.

With a powerful step, he charged toward the shadow, still struggling to consume the overwhelming force attacking it.

Boom!

The shadow quivered from the impact.

[Naberius’s Golden Sword proficiency increased by 1%.]

A notification appeared.

The shadow still stood.

It continued absorbing energy, showing no signs of falling anytime soon.

That only made this fight even more enjoyable.

[You have activated Frozen World.]

[Frozen World proficiency increased by 1%.]

Magic surged again.

Taesan unleashed a relentless storm of magic and black magic.

When his Magi ran dry, he used divinity to replenish it.

When his Mana was depleted, he drank potions.

Hundreds, then thousands of skills were cast, hammering the shadow over and over again.

And still, the shadow refused to fall.

It absorbed everything, growing larger and larger.

For Taesan, this was a gift.

By the end of it all, many of his skills had leveled up significantly.

And in the process, he had gained a new skill.