Chapter 343

［First, I’ll give you the greatest and most powerful magic I possess.］

［You have acquired Magic Stacking.］

［You have acquired Magic Liberation.］

Magic Stacking.

It was the magic that Shayan used. Akisha spoke proudly.

［I created this magic. It separates the cores of multiple spells and fuses them, allowing you to stack different types of magic and cast them at once. It’s not just about increasing power—since it also inherits the properties of the spells, it will be incredibly useful.］

“I know.”

Akisha paused.

[You know?]

“Shayan used it.”

[……I see. So that’s how it is.]

Akisha chuckled.

[He wanted it so badly that he ended up creating it himself. Well, no need for me to explain further. Try it out for yourself.]

This time, Akisha handed over the staff and robe he had used. Taesan accepted them and checked their attributes.

—

［Staff of One Who Nearly Became an Archmage］
– [Magic +300]
– [Mana +5000]
– [Chanting Speed +12%]
– A staff belonging to one who had the potential to become an Archmage but perished due to a vile betrayal. The resentment and talent of its former owner linger heavily within it.

—

This was a high-tier item, far beyond what could be found on the floor where Akisha had perished. It seemed that the quality of the rewards scaled with the quest’s level.

The robe was of a similar grade. Though it wasn’t gear meant for a swordsman like Taesan, it would serve as a valuable offering to the God of Magic.

[That concludes my reward.]

Akisha’s form began to fade.

［I’ve fulfilled my wish… but it feels emptier than I expected.］

He murmured bitterly.

In the end, he was truly dead.

There would be no resurrection. His talent, power, and potential—all of it had come to an end.

［It’s truly a shame. You’re bound to this labyrinth by a wish similar to mine, aren’t you?］

In response to Akisha’s question, the ghost silently nodded. Akisha smiled wryly.

［A shared fate, then. You should brace yourself. This kind of ending… is truly empty.］

With those final words, Akisha vanished.

His soul no longer remained in this place. Having fulfilled his wish, the contract was completed, and he departed from the labyrinth.

[…]

The ghost stood silently, staring at the spot where Akisha had disappeared.

—

［Magic Stacking］
– [Proficiency: 1%]
– Allows multiple spells to be stacked together. Currently, only the same type of magic can be stacked, and the number of spells that can be stacked is very limited.

［Magic Liberation］
– [Proficiency: 1%]
– Releases stacked magic.

—

The skills Akisha had left behind—Magic Stacking.

Taesan tested it using various spells and quickly realized something.

“This works similarly to black magic.”

Black magic was fueled by demonic power. It required opening a channel to obtain the approval of higher beings, summoning the true power of black magic.

However, opening this channel took time, and its mana consumption was significantly higher.

Magic Stacking worked in the same way. While it amplified the power of spells by layering them together, its current proficiency was too low, making the stacking process slow and cumbersome.

Still, the increase in power was undeniable.

As someone who possessed Double Casting, Taesan could utilize this skill strategically in battle. Once his proficiency improved, he would be able to use it instantly—just as Shayan had. It was a valuable skill.

And then, there were the skills he had acquired from defeating Shayan.

—

［Forced Magic Calibration］
– [Proficiency: 1%]
– Allows the forced calibration of magic.

—

A vague description.

But from what he had seen of Shayan’s use, it appeared to be a skill that allowed the conversion of offensive magic into defensive magic, and vice versa.

For Taesan, whose abilities were mostly attack-based, this was a highly useful skill. The ability to manipulate magic freely significantly increased his versatility.

Additionally, through his enhanced magic proficiency, he had acquired an intermediate spell.

［Intermediate Magic: Distortion］
– [Proficiency: 1%]
– [Mana Cost: 150]
– Distorts space. Currently, the distortion is extremely minor and covers only a very small area.

Taesan tested the skill.

[You have activated Distortion.]

Krrrk.

Space warped.

It was a small area—barely enough to fit a clenched fist—but there was no doubt that a distortion had formed.

“This isn’t enough to make a big difference.”

Unlike Shayan, who had used it to negate attacks entirely, Taesan’s usage was still extremely limited. The area affected was too small to be decisive in battle.

However…

Taesan stroked his chin.

While he couldn’t control the range, he could specify the position and size of the distortion.

If he could master this skill, it might help him regain the abilities from his past life that he had yet to reclaim.

For now, he planned to experiment further to fully understand its applications.

—

［Passive Special Activation Skill: Rapid Judgment］
– [Proficiency: 1%]
– A skill that assists in making quick decisions during combat.

—

Rapid Judgment—one of the last skills he had obtained in his previous life.

During battle, countless possibilities needed to be considered, and one had to select the best course of action instantly.

This skill functioned like Enhanced Senses, but instead of sharpening perception, it accelerated decision-making.

One particular skill came to mind.

“Ten Thousand Possibilities.”

A skill that calculated ten thousand different scenarios to determine the optimal outcome.

It was an ability that only Lee Taeyeon had possessed—one that even Taesan had never acquired.

Now, however, he had the potential to obtain Ten Thousand Possibilities.

His magic skills and intermediate magic proficiency had also improved significantly.

After reviewing everything, Taesan moved.

Before descending further into the labyrinth, he sought out Lilith to offer a tribute.

—

［Intermediate Rune Magic: White Rune’s Protective Shield］
– [Proficiency: 1%]
– [Mana Cost: 70]
– Summons three protective rune shields that guard the body. The shields remain attached to the user, responding to incoming attacks.

—

The White Rune Shield, a beginner-level rune magic skill he had obtained as a reward for clearing the Giant’s World, had long since fallen out of use.

There were simply no attacks left that could be blocked by beginner magic.

But now, the God of Magic had strengthened it.

It had evolved into intermediate magic, and with its increased mana consumption, its protective power had also risen.

For Taesan, who was constantly on the move and fighting, it was an invaluable skill. The difference between beginner and intermediate magic was vast.

This made him recall the advanced magic that Shayan had wielded.

The advanced spell String of Ruin had enough power to kill Taesan effortlessly.

And not just once—it could be used five times in total.

Taesan had barely managed to survive through various skills, but even the slightest mistake would have meant instant death.

It was clear now.

Advanced magic wasn’t something a mere mortal should be able to obtain.

Having witnessed it firsthand, Taesan was convinced—advanced magic belonged in the realm beyond mortality.

Now, he descended further into the labyrinth.

The 73rd floor had yet to be cleared.

Beyond the place where he had defeated Shayan, a cave entrance awaited.

Taesan stepped inside.

The scent of damp moss filled the air, and thick, suffocating darkness stretched deep into the cave.

He recalled the 73rd-floor clearance requirements.

[73rd Floor Quest Begins.]
– Conquer the dungeon and defeat its master in the depths…
– [Reward: Shoes of One Who Left Footprints Across All Lands.]
– [Secret Reward: ???]

A dungeon conquest.

Taesan placed his hand on the cave floor.

Gathering Magi, he opened a channel.

[You have activated Leraje’s Domain Detection.]

Kiiing!

The detection waves spread throughout the cave, and information poured into Taesan’s mind.

From this, he confirmed that the cave was structured across five floors—and it was quite expansive.

“A dungeon inside a labyrinth, huh?”

He gripped his sword and stepped inside.

Not long after, monsters emerged.

[Decayed Swordsman, Draine, has appeared.]
[Decayed Spearman, Bayan, has appeared.]

They were withered skeletons, each wielding weapons.

They rushed toward him.

Kagagak!

Taesan moved his sword.

He parried a spear aiming for his head, twisted his waist to dodge, and narrowly avoided a blade that sought his thigh.

They were fast.

And they fought with the skill of seasoned warriors.

When Taesan counterattacked, they deftly deflected his strikes.

That was when he understood who they were.

‘The adventurers who perished on the 73rd floor.’

The deeper floors of the labyrinth were gruelingly difficult.

Even though he had managed to break through them now, it was telling that the Guides of Sin had remained stuck on the 74th floor for an extended period.

Many had died in the process.

And these were their corpses.

Kang!

Taesan tightened his grip on his sword.

The skeletons attempted to block, but they were flung away with their weapons still in hand.

In the end, they were failures.

They had no chance of stopping him.

He lunged forward.

Though the skeletons attempted to react based on their battle experiences from life, Taesan was simply faster.

Kwak!

Two of them fell instantly.

Taesan sheathed his sword with disinterest.

“Their movements aren’t impressive.”

Perhaps because their souls had long since departed, they lacked true presence.

They seemed to retain some sense of self, but that was their limit.

Unlike the Guides of Sin he had faced before, there was nothing unique about them.

He pressed on.

Clearing the first and second floors, he swiftly reached the third.

More fallen adventurers appeared, but they were no match for him.

[This wasn’t how it was originally designed.]

The ghost muttered.

Having descended through the labyrinth with a relatively normal level of strength, he understood the difference.

As Taesan had pointed out, the fallen adventurers lacked their former power, but even so, reaching the 73rd floor required immense talent.

If multiple adventurers of that caliber were appearing at once, an average explorer would have found this dungeon incredibly difficult.

The original intent of this floor was likely to have challengers analyze the undead adventurers’ movements, adjust their strategies, and take their time clearing it.

Depending on their skillset and affinities, some could have been stuck here for a long time.

But Taesan felt nothing.

He was clearing the Deep Floors as if taking a casual stroll.

Given the way the labyrinth was structured and its purpose, such a feat should have been impossible.

And yet, his steps never faltered.

As this was a dungeon, secret rooms were bound to exist.

Using Domain Detection, he quickly located one and retrieved its reward.

—

[Aegis Shield of Divinity]
– [Defense +150]
– A shield wielded by the great saint Aegis when he transcended humanity and ascended to godhood.
– [Grants complete immunity to all damage for one second. This effect has a one-month cooldown.]

—

“The upgraded version of Aegis’s Shield, huh.”

His previous Aegis Shield had granted the same one-second invulnerability but came with a penalty—he couldn’t move while using it.

That limitation was gone in this version.

Having used Aegis’s Shield extensively, Taesan fully understood how powerful this immunity effect was.

This shield was a true treasure.

Stowing it in his inventory, he resumed clearing the dungeon.

His progress was remarkably fast.

What would take an average adventurer an excruciatingly long time, Taesan completed in less than an hour.

And then—

He reached the dungeon’s final chamber.

The boss awaited him.

[Decayed Lich, Malakos, has appeared.]

A skeletal figure draped in a tattered black robe, clutching a staff.

A sorcerer who had died and returned as an undead—a Lich.

“Another magician, huh.”

Taesan drew his sword.

The Lich clacked its teeth together and raised its staff.

From the empty void of its eye sockets, an unmistakable malice burned.

[Malakos has cast Frost Arrow.]

A streak of ice shot toward Taesan.

He swiftly leaped aside to evade it.

Malakos brought down its staff, aiming directly at the rapidly approaching Taesan.

[Malakos has activated Frozen World.]

Crack!

A frigid blast surged outward. The narrow cave quickly became engulfed in frost.

“Even intermediate magic?”

Taesan muttered in admiration.

This was, after all, the Deep Floors. Even monsters wielded intermediate magic.

[You have activated Starlight Arrow.]
[You have activated Forced Amplification.]

However, that level of magic was hardly impressive.

The frozen air shattered upon impact with Taesan’s Starlight Arrow.

Malakos hurriedly raised its staff.

[Malakos has activated Guardian’s Iron Wall.]

Boom!

A blue barrier formed, clashing against Starlight Arrow, causing energy waves to ripple throughout the cave.

But Taesan had already closed the distance.

Malakos swung its staff in a desperate attempt to counter.

It wasn’t weak.

It handled intermediate magic with skill, launching attacks to pressure Taesan.

However—

Taesan had just fought Shayan, a man who had delved into the very essence of magic.

Compared to him, Malakos was nothing.

And with the sheer difference in their base strength, the battle didn’t last long.

Crack!

Malakos crumbled as shattered bone fragments scattered across the ground.

Taesan sheathed his sword and prepared to collect his reward—

Clatter.

The fallen skeleton began to move.

Though it had completely exhausted its health, it reassembled itself, regaining form.

Once again, malice gleamed from its empty sockets as it locked onto Taesan.

[Decayed Lich, Malakos, has resurrected.]