Chapter 399
Everything began to collapse around Acurus’s Sword. Even the labyrinth’s walls, boasting nearly absolute defense, couldn’t withstand the power of collapse and started to crack.
But Taesan did not retreat.
He wrapped [divinity] tightly around his whole body and charged at Acurus’s Sword. The power of collapse rushed over Taesan, but it was blocked by [divinity] and [Absolute Blessing].
“Minerva. Go back.”
“It looks like it’ll be hard to help from here. Good luck.”
Acurus’s gaze was filled with irritation and anger.
Acurus’s Sword, as a tool, began to carry out its master’s will.
Kwaaaang!
The sword was swung. Contained within was the condensed power to collapse everything.
[Acurus’s Sword has activated Collapse.]
Zzeojeong!
“O—”
Taesan let out a small groan as his sword clashed. He didn’t take damage, but a strange sensation flowed into him through his blade.
If he took it head-on, his body itself would collapse. It was an almost instinctive premonition.
‘But it doesn’t matter.’
No intelligence could be felt from Acurus’s Sword.
In that case, breaking through was simple. Taesan pressed in even closer to Acurus’s Sword.
[You have activated Restricted Blink.]
Taesan moved behind Acurus’s Sword. Acurus’s Sword twisted and thrust its blade. Taesan twisted his neck to avoid it and drove his sword deep in.
[You have activated Addition.]
[You have activated Critical Point Designation.]
[You have activated Absolute Judgement.]
[54,231 damage to Acurus’s Sword.]
It was a remarkably high amount of damage, even without using Blade of Fighting Spirit or Conversion.
Taesan gripped his sword and pushed it in even deeper. Because the attack disregarded defense, Taesan also exposed an opening.
Acurus’s Sword didn’t miss that gap, which was just what Taesan wanted.
[You have activated Choice Exclusion.]
Acurus’s Sword’s attack is erased.
It’s rewound to before the attack.
Acurus’s Sword looked visibly flustered.
[Choice Exclusion]. With Maria’s authority, you can select and erase one of the opponent’s attacks. The effect was almost identical to [attack nullification].
While Acurus’s Sword was shaken, Taesan kept stabbing toward the designated critical point. Acurus’s Sword regained its senses and swung its greatsword again.
But even that did not land.
[Your First Absolute Attack Nullification has activated.]
Acurus’s Sword’s body returned to before the attack.
Taesan pressed harder with his sword.
The Lion King had fully understood Taesan’s power.
Having observed Taesan’s battles, he would have analyzed how to overcome Taesan’s abilities. He simply lacked the strength to do so.
In contrast, Acurus’s Sword was certainly stronger than the Lion King, but had lost all intelligence and reason, acting only on instinct.
Taesan’s abilities show nearly absolute power if the opponent is unaware. Especially against an enemy relying on instinct without intellect—
Acurus’s Sword started to rampage. The power of collapse scattered like blades of wind from the greatsword.
A force that collapsed everything it touched. Even the Guide of Sin’s core would be erased without resistance.
But now, Taesan was strong.
Even if it was the will of a transcendent being, the power of a mere tool could be overcome.
Taesan stepped under the greatsword.
[You have activated Leap.]
His body soared into the air. Using [black magic], he pressured his opponent fiercely. Acurus’s Sword slashed apart everything with the power of collapse, but Taesan never missed a gap.
[You have activated Call of Ruin.]
He immediately wielded the power of ruin.
The will to destroy the world itself.
The [rank] contained was by no means low. In its essence, it surpassed the power of mortality.
Acurus’s Sword scattered the power of collapse everywhere, but [Call of Ruin] hungrily tried to devour it. Taesan aimed and pierced its head.
Kaang!
He blocked the greatsword and widened the distance.
“That was a mistake.”
Taesan murmured softly.
Normally, it wouldn’t have ended at this level. To kill Taesan, Acurus would have used even stronger means.
But due to the demon’s intervention, interference beyond the set limits was impossible. Thanks to that, Acurus’s Sword was only using restricted power.
He stabbed the critical point again.
But Acurus’s Sword did not fall. It moved exactly as before, swinging its greatsword at Taesan.
Taesan twisted his sword and slipped away.
“Ridiculously tough.”
He’d dealt nearly a million in damage, yet it still wouldn’t fall.
But it seemed the end was near. The Lion King’s form was collapsing.
Kwa-deudeuk.
At the same time, power erupted.
As if there was no longer any need to maintain its shape, the body collapsed and only raw power exploded out.
Taesan sensed it. This was the end.
There was no need to hold back any cards.
Black and [divinity] blended on Taesan’s sword, creating an ashen [boundary].
The twisted power of collapse charged at Taesan.
Taesan raised his sword and swung the [boundary].
Kuuuuung!
Power clashed with power. Taesan’s brow twitched. The power of collapse clashed with the [boundary] and didn’t yield easily.
That was a transcendent’s authority.
At that level, even the [boundary] could be resisted.
Taesan drew out more blackness. Now that he had attained immortality, he could wield it more skillfully than ever before.
He thrust the ashen sword. The shockwave alone shook the labyrinth. He split and shattered the power of collapse surging toward him.
At the end of his advance, Taesan reached the core of collapse.
Taesan stabbed his sword. The core burst forth with even greater power.
Taesan responded by drawing out more blackness.
As the ashen color deepened, collapse was devoured.
Power exploded, shaking the labyrinth.
Kugugugung!
The floor of the labyrinth trembled and the walls collapsed. Taesan sheathed his sword. Only Taesan remained in this place.
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
[Your Soul Rank Ascension has activated. Special Active Skill [Collapse] has been acquired.]
[Your Soul Rank Ascension has activated. HP is permanently……]
Taesan looked at the altar and spoke.
“It’s all over.”
[……]
What he felt from Acurus’s altar was anger.
There was a powerful will to kill Taesan. Any ordinary adventurer would die just from being exposed to that emotion.
But that didn’t apply to Taesan. Taesan let it pass calmly.
Acurus did not want to accept the outcome, but as long as the demon was watching, there was nothing more he could do.
The demon was the god of the Demon Realm itself. The god of all demons in the world. She possessed tremendous power.
Acurus himself was strong enough as a transcendent, but the demon was on the same level as Rakiratas or Maria.
In the end, Acurus swallowed his anger and fulfilled his duty.
[Acurus’s sphere of interference has diminished.]
[Acurus gives you a reward. You have received [Helmet of Collapse].]
[You have cleared the enhanced trial. Additional rewards follow.]
[You have acquired [Necklace of the Gem Gained from the Source of Collapse].]
Quest cleared.
And that meant the 80th floor had been cleared.
[80th floor clear.]
[Thread of Collapse acquired.]
[??? acquired.]
[You have reached the 80th floor. Title [One Who Walks the Depths] acquired.]
[You have perfectly cleared the 80th floor. Title [One Who Dominates Even New Domains] acquired.]
[You have completely mastered and cleared every floor up to the 80th. Title [Throne of the Deep] acquired.]
[Not only have you set foot in the depths, but you have achieved remarkable accomplishments there. All beings in every world will respect and marvel at your feat. Title [Indomitable Body and Mind] acquired.]
[Where you go next is the domain of those who have surpassed mortality. They will show more direct interest in you, and sometimes even hostility. Special passive skill [Unyielding Mind] acquired.]
It was all over.
Taesan leaned against the ruined labyrinth wall and began to organize things.
—
[Only one remains now.]
The endlessly troublesome Guide of Sin now had only one left.
The last one was the Ashen Woman, Sociét.
She was the ghost’s goal.
[I wonder where she’ll be waiting. Makes me curious.]
Taesan opened the skill window.
[Special Active Skill: Collapse]
[MP Cost: 2,000]
[Proficiency: 1%]
[Collapses whatever is touched by your weapon. If the user’s rank is insufficient, it cannot be controlled. This skill can only be used once per battle.]
Like [Choice Exclusion] from Maria, it was a skill close to a god’s authority. When Acurus’s Sword used it, it had affected Taesan even with [divinity] protecting his body. Its value as a skill was more than sufficient.
[Helmet of Collapse]
[Attack +500]
[Strength +500]
[Defense +500]
[A helmet containing the power of collapse. If the wearer’s rank and strength are insufficient, their body will collapse.]
[Necklace of the Gem Gained from the Source of Collapse]
[HP +2,000]
[Strength +500]
[Attack +25]
[Defense +250]
[Reduces all incoming damage by 10%.]
[A necklace crafted from a gem that remained intact in the place where everything collapsed. If the wearer’s rank and strength are insufficient, their body will collapse.]
The descriptions were brutal. Taesan equipped the items.
A strange sensation washed over him.
It felt as if something was crawling inside, collapsing his body from within.
“Get rid of it.”
Taesan exerted a bit of strength. The power flowing in from the equipment was cleanly pushed away.
It wasn’t a problem for Taesan. In terms of performance, they were outstanding items worthy of a god’s reward.
[Title: One Who Walks the Depths]
[Proving one’s strength while advancing into the depths.]
[HP +800]
[Strength +500]
[Attack +200]
[Defense +200]
The title itself wasn’t much different from before. The overall stats went up, but that was it. The new titles, [One Who Dominates Even New Domains] and [Throne of the Deep], also greatly increased his stats.
The interesting part was the two titles he gained afterward.
[Title: Indomitable Body and Mind]
[A title given to one who advances through the deep layers. The body and mind have reached such a high level that they do not waver easily and are as sturdy as a fortress.]
From the description, it was a title that transformed one’s body and mind into something extremely robust. But Taesan didn’t feel any change.
The same went for the always-active skill.
[Special Passive Skill: Unyielding Mind]
[Proficiency: 100%]
[When facing a being who has surpassed mortality, your mind will not yield as long as your spirit does not break, and you will withstand their pressure.]
The common point of both skills was that they were for mortals.
But Taesan had already attained immortality. Having already surpassed mortality, there was no reason to feel pressure when facing those beings.
The same applied to the [Indomitable Body and Mind] title. Having already surpassed limits both physically and mentally, reaching a higher level meant nothing.
“This is a problem too.”
Attaining immortality was causing various errors in several aspects.
It was when Taesan was about to check the last remaining floor clear reward.
Drdrdrd.
The broken floor of the labyrinth rose up. It was Balbamaba’s entrance. He looked around, let out a small sigh.
[Looks like I’ll have to work hard again.]
“Sorry about that.”
[Of all the things you’ve done, this is the least troublesome, so it doesn’t matter. For now, congratulations. You’ve cleared the 80th floor. You’re getting closer to the end of the labyrinth.]
Balbamaba looked at Taesan.
[And the magician has returned.]
When Taesan met Balbamaba on the 79th floor, he’d said the magician was away.
[I told him about you. He said he wants to meet you. Follow me, adventurer. The magician wants to see you again.]