Chapter 353
“Before that, I have something to ask.”
Taesan frowned.
“Why did you start reclaiming my power before I even returned?”
The transcendents were too hasty. If they had waited until Taesan returned to the labyrinth, there wouldn’t have been any issues.
But they reclaimed his power before he could even return, creating an opening for The Old gods to intervene.
If things had gone wrong, Taesan could have died.
Balbamaba spoke in an ambiguous tone.
[That’s an unfair accusation. To clarify, it wasn’t a group of transcendents who reclaimed Valhalluni’s power—it was a single transcendent. And that transcendent is not one who resides in the labyrinth.]
“…Is that so.”
Taesan realized something.
While he had gained the favor and attention of many transcendents, that only applied to those who had met and tested him personally.
A transcendent outside the labyrinth would have no reason to take an interest in him.
To such a transcendent, Taesan was nothing more than a mere mortal. Whether he lived or died wouldn’t matter to them.
[There are many transcendents outside the labyrinth who hold a negative view of it. From their perspective, a potential asset has slipped into the labyrinth instead of becoming their servant. In a way, their reaction is understandable.]
“I know that.”
Even among the transcendents he had met on the battlefield of the gods, many had shown hostility toward the labyrinth.
It wasn’t strange for them to dislike Taesan, who was favored by the labyrinth’s transcendents.
[The labyrinth’s transcendents tried to intervene, but The Old gods interfered, and they didn’t have the means to stop it. Allow me to offer an apology on their behalf.]
“It’s fine.”
Knowing the circumstances, he could understand.
Balbamaba continued.
[However, because of this incident, even the gods outside the labyrinth will start paying attention to you. At the very least, your existence will now be imprinted in their minds.]
After defeating the remains of the immortal, a system message had appeared. It mentioned that the gods outside the labyrinth were now aware of him.
[Whether that will be fortunate or unfortunate, I cannot say. It is beyond my domain. Still, I hope it brings you good fortune.]
Now, it was time to receive his reward.
Balbamaba looked at Taesan.
[You have resolved a problem that has long been a thorn in the side of the transcendents.]
The 74th floor had been a quest created at the request of the gods.
Even the gods had to rely on mortals to counter The Old gods’s influence.
Completing such a quest flawlessly was undoubtedly a great achievement.
[First, you’ll need a weapon.]
The black boundary, which was close to immortality, had proven too much and had broken his previous weapon.
Balbamaba gathered his power.
[Balbamaba has activated #000451.]
[You have obtained a sword crafted by the Magician of the Labyrinth.]
[Sword Crafted by the Magician of the Labyrinth]
– Attack Power +75
– A sword created during the design process of the labyrinth by the Magician of the Labyrinth. Though it wasn’t made with serious intent, it holds immense power.
– “The magician made this sword out of boredom. Even for you, it should be quite useful.”
Balbamaba gathered his power once again.
[I will also provide materials for your wrist guards.]
Balbamaba summoned gray soil.
The quiet wrist guards suddenly sprang to life, absorbing the material.
Karruk.
With a pleasant hum, the wrist guards returned.
[Wrist Guards of World Alteration]
– Crafted by a witch who imbued them with power. Using specific conditions and catalysts, they can alter the laws of the world around the wearer.
– Attack Power +600
– Defense +500
– If you have learned the Green Witch’s magic, you can use [Partial World Alteration].
His attack and defense had both increased by 100.
Since the wrist guards could be used until he cleared the labyrinth, they were a definite gain.
[And that ring.]
Balbamaba’s gaze fell on the black-and-white ring on Taesan’s finger.
[It has reached its limit. Consider this a small service. I’ll reinforce it.]
Balbamaba’s power wrapped around the black-and-white ring.
Karruk!
With a grinding sound, the power within the ring surged violently.
The ferocity contained in the black ring diminished. It now felt as if it was accepting Taesan rather than resisting him.
[That Which Is Drenched in Majestic Darkness]
– Attack Power +1,250
– A ring created from the fusion of a dragon’s claw and the ember of the Spirit King. It is overwhelmingly powerful. The immense energies within it clash, forming a singular consciousness. This consciousness is unstable, violent, and recognizes only its twin and its master. Those who perfectly tame it will unlock another power.
“Hoo.”
His attack power had increased by 250.
Additionally, the previous description, which stated that the ring rejected everything except its twin, now included the wearer as well.
[That Which Is Drenched in Elegant Mystery]
– Utilizes its inherent divine and spiritual energy to synchronize with its user and provide support. Additionally, it can store various forms of power for future use. It can also offer slight assistance in controlling the black ring.
– Created from the fusion of the Light of Origin and the Apostle’s Essence. The immense forces within it have clashed and merged into one. This consciousness is whole and dignified. Unlike the black ring, it is capable of accepting things beyond its twin. Those who perfectly tame it will unlock another power.
The white ring now included a line stating that it could slightly assist in handling the black ring.
Since the black ring’s power was something he would have to deal with continuously, this was a useful change.
[That concludes the equipment rewards. Are you satisfied?]
“I’m more than satisfied.”
Taesan nodded.
Just from the attack power increases alone, he had gained 600. That was more than enough of a reward.
But it wasn’t over yet.
[What you have accomplished is far greater than just this. Wait a moment.]
The bricks that made up Balbamaba’s body clashed together, as if sending a signal.
[It’s done.]
After a short pause, Balbamaba spoke again.
[I have received confirmation from the Demon God and the God of Magic. For what you have done for the transcendents, you will be granted magic and black magic befitting your deeds.]
Acquiring magic and black magic through Balbamaba was an unexpected turn of events.
Magi and mana flowed from Balbamaba into Taesan.
[You have obtained the intermediate magic [Focused Detection].]
[You have obtained the intermediate black magic [Arrow of the Tempest of Unthought].]
[This is the final reward for the 74th floor. Farewell.]
With those words, Balbamaba’s body crumbled.
Taesan examined the magic he had acquired.
[Intermediate Magic: Focused Detection]
– Proficiency: 1%
– Mana Cost: 50
– Allows the user to focus on a specific area for detection. It can bypass most interference and identify secrets and seals.
“A detection spell. Not bad.”
The deeper floors required broad information gathering, making detection abilities invaluable. Since he hadn’t yet obtained complete reconnaissance abilities, an intermediate detection spell would be highly useful.
[Intermediate Black Magic: Arrow of the Tempest of Unthought]
– Mana Cost: 70
– Base Magi Cost: 20
– Proficiency: 1%
– Summons an arrow imbued with the Tempest of Unthought. The violent storm is concentrated into a single arrow, piercing and grinding through everything in its path. However, the arrow, meant to pierce the world’s end, has been significantly degraded.
“A black magic version of Starlight Arrow, huh.”
[You have activated Arrow of the Tempest of Unthought.]
A tempest-infused arrow materialized.
Taesan fired it at the labyrinth’s wall. The arrow collided with the wall without leaving any residual effects.
[A concentration of power.]
All the magi had been condensed into a single arrow. The area of effect was extremely narrow, but that only meant the power concentrated in the arrow itself was immense.
It was similar to Starlight Arrow but with clear distinctions. It seemed useful in its own way.
That concluded the rewards for the 74th floor.
But the rewards themselves were not yet fully assessed.
Defeating the remains of the immortal had yielded many things.
[Special Activation Skill: Opponent of the Immortal]
– Proficiency: 1%
– When facing an immortal, the user’s presence and power are elevated to a level capable of contending with them. However, the burden must be endured by the user alone.
Judging by the description, it was an exceptionally powerful skill.
To be able to elevate his presence and strength to match an immortal—even with his current abilities, that meant he could somewhat contend with a complete immortal.
‘But…’
There was a condition—he had to endure the burden himself.
Simply facing an immortal made one’s mind erode. He would have to withstand it directly.
“I can’t use it carelessly.”
Still, the effect itself was remarkable. It was worth studying.
[Title: One Who Achieved the Unachievable]
– You have accomplished a feat that no one else in the world has achieved.
– HP +3,000
– Mana +1,000
– Strength +500
– Agility +500
– Intelligence +50
– Attack Power +30
– Achieving an impossible feat elevates one’s presence.
The stat boosts were useful, but the most significant part was the increase in presence.
Presence would be crucial in future battles. In some ways, it was far more important than raw stats.
Since presence was not something that could be raised through simple victories, any reward that boosted it held immense value.
“Just because I’m on the boundary doesn’t mean my presence won’t increase.”
After defeating the remains of the immortal, the system message had stated that his presence was on the boundary.
But that didn’t mean it wouldn’t grow.
Simply raising presence alone wouldn’t be enough to transcend mortality.
Finding the way forward would likely be his next goal.
After slaying the divine angel, he had gained divine power.
When he had slain a triple-digit monster, he had obtained Blended Spiritual Force.
When he had slain The Old gods’s slave, Hasak, he had acquired the transcendent skill, Black.
And now, after slaying the remains of the immortal, he had gained a soul skill—an increase in spirit presence.
What he had obtained was a soul skill—King of Machinery.
[Soul Skill: King of Machinery]
– Proficiency: 1%
– The king of Machinery. The authority possessed by their sovereign. However, the user’s presence and strength are far too insufficient to wield this power.
[This is…]
The ghost let out a groan.
Taesan silently examined the skill.
Despite acquiring a soul skill, he hadn’t changed in any significant way.
He hadn’t gained any new power. His presence and strength hadn’t increased.
That meant only one thing.
As the description stated, Taesan was not yet at the level where he could wield this skill.
Because of that, the skill had no effect whatsoever.
And if Taesan couldn’t handle it at his current level, there was only one explanation.
Immortality.
It was an authority that rightfully belonged to one who had transcended mortality.
Spirit presence elevation had even granted that authority.
‘I had some idea when I obtained Black, but…’
The ghost let out a dry chuckle.
Now, he was certain.
Taesan’s soul skill—his Soul Rank Ascension—
The authority contained within it surpassed even that of an immortal.
