Chapter 428
“You know about the Old gods too, right?”
“I do.”
Beldenkia nodded. As they went through the labyrinth, they’d gained a lot of information. They knew about the Old gods, and that those gods were invading worlds.
“My world is a world being invaded by the Old gods.”
“……Then you also entered the labyrinth to save your world, Taesan?”
“No. I’m different. I entered the labyrinth in a slightly different way.”
“A different way?”
“It’s a complicated explanation. To be exact, at the moment of destruction, the labyrinth invited people from my world.”
“Invited?”
Beldenkia’s eyes widened.
Taesan slowly explained. They had been invited by the labyrinth, and at set intervals, they returned to Earth to fight the minions of the Old gods.
“We’re managing to hold on, more or less. But a lot of people died. And a lot more will die.”
The number of survivors would only be a handful.
Taesan intended to save as many as possible, but the limits were clear.
“So you need our help.”
“You and the princess are strong. If you help my world, the number of deaths will be much lower. What do you say?”
Taesan spoke calmly.
“I won’t force you. You’d have to risk your life. But let me know if you’re willing.”
“Hmm. I owe you more than my life, so of course I want to help……”
Beldenkia looked at Diana.
“In the end, the most important thing to me is the princess. I can’t put her in danger again.”
“I know. I don’t want to force you because you owe me, either.”
The princess had been trapped in the Model Garden for hundreds of years.
She’d just barely escaped and found happiness. For her to risk her life and fight the Old gods, whose power even transcendents couldn’t suppress, was a despairing thought.
Taesan was about to give up and withdraw.
“It’s fine, Beldenkia. We will accept it, Taesan.”
Diana spoke as if it were nothing.
“Princess?”
Beldenkia was surprised.
“If it wasn’t for Taesan, I would never have escaped the Model Garden. I was as good as dead. Beldenkia already repaid his debt, but I had nothing to give. This is perfect.”
“Are you sure, princess? You know better than anyone what it means to face transcendental beings.”
“I told you, I was as good as dead. Besides, Beldenkia, remember why we entered the labyrinth in the first place.”
“……To save our world.”
To save their dying world, the princess had led Beldenkia into the labyrinth.
“But we failed. So many lives were lost. We couldn’t save the world. So this time…… even if they’re people from another world, I want to save them with my own hands.”
Beldenkia was at a loss for words.
Diana clasped his hand.
“There are people in his world who need our help. People who aren’t finished yet, people we can save with our own will. I don’t want to turn away from the weak.”
“……Even if it puts your life at risk?”
“Yes.”
Diana smiled gently. At her unwavering answer, Beldenkia gave a wry laugh.
“That’s just like you, princess. I’d forgotten.”
“Of course, I don’t intend to force you. You have your own life—”
“No. My life belongs to you anyway, princess. Your will is my will. Don’t worry.”
“You don’t have to call me princess. Call me by my name, Beldenkia.”
“……Diana.”
“O-oh.”
Lilith, who had been quiet, made a sound. Her face turned red with embarrassment, and she glanced aside.
Ahem.
Only then did Beldenkia and Diana gently put some distance between them.
“Alright, Taesan. Diana and I accept your offer.”
“Thank you.”
Taesan expressed his gratitude. Going up against the Old gods meant risking their lives. Saving them was one thing, but this was certainly something to be thankful for.
“But what should we do now? Is there a way for us to go with you when you return?”
“If I could summon Minerva and the ghost, it should be possible if we make a contract.”
Taesan called for Balbamaba to discuss the contract.
[Not bad. Beldenkia also fulfilled his wish and had to leave the labyrinth, so it’s fine. I’ll act as the agent for the contract.]
Balbamaba readily agreed.
According to the labyrinth system, a contract was formed between Taesan, Beldenkia, and Diana.
[Summoning Contract.]
[When Kang Taesan returns to Earth, Beldenkia and Diana will return with him. If he doesn’t return to Earth, they’ll reside temporarily in the labyrinth.]
[You may remain in the labyrinth for now. I’ll allow that much. But until then, you’ll need to take on the 61st floor’s quest.]
“Got it.”
“Thank you, Balbamaba.”
Everything was settled. Only Lilith scratched her cheek with an awkward expression.
“Taesan, what about me?”
“Talk it over with them. See if you want to stay, or follow me.”
“You don’t really need me anymore since you’re offering tributes directly to Zervand instead of me…… ugh.”
Lilith groaned. She had her own worries.
Taesan said his goodbyes and descended the labyrinth again.
He thought about buying equipment at the shop but didn’t have quite enough gold yet. He decided to save up a bit more and decide later.
And finally, it was time to check the things he’d acquired.
—
The first thing he checked was Black Magic.
[Black Magic Creation]
[Proficiency: 6%]
[You can create Black Magic using a portion of the power in your world, handled through a contract with the Demon God.]
Taesan had created a Black Magic called Domain Liberation. It opened the domain itself, manifesting the Magi within as Black Magic.
He still hadn’t fully grasped it, but it seemed it could be used in a wide variety of ways. And through its use this time, he’d realized something.
“The Demon’s Domain can be used together with the Boundary or the Magic of Negation.”
It wasn’t strange, since all three were related to the Old gods. By mixing and fusing these three powers, it was possible to neutralize the authority of a transcendent with the might of a mortal.
He’d gained a bit of direction on how to handle the Demon’s Domain.
[Special Triggered Skill: Denial of Law]
[MP Cost: 3,000]
[??? Cost: ???]
[Proficiency: 1%]
[Negates the authority of a transcendent, allowing you to ignore the laws inscribed in the world to some extent.]
‘So there are skills like this……’
The ghost clicked its tongue. To deny authority itself.
This was a skill only Taesan had acquired in the labyrinth—no one else could have guessed it existed.
Honestly, Taesan couldn’t quite gauge the skill’s level. He knew it was powerful, but it was too high-level to be sure until he actually used it.
Taesan checked the next skill.
[Special Always-Active Skill: Undying One]
[Proficiency: 1%]
[The lower your HP, the much faster your HP recovers.]
“So that’s one reason the Apostle was able to hold out so tenaciously.”
The Apostle had recovered from wounds almost instantly. Taesan’s proficiency was still low, so he wouldn’t perform as well, but it was still valuable. As long as he didn’t die in one blow, he could somehow endure and rapidly restore his HP.
[Shoes of the Free One]
[Attack +700]
[Defense +400]
[Agility +20]
[Action Speed +20%]
[Movement Speed +20%]
[Shoes once worn by one who wandered the world freely, bound by nothing.]
[You can move freely under any circumstances.]
The overall stats were decent. Plus, there was a special effect.
“It doesn’t seem like it ignores immobilization skills or situations, but it probably means you’re free from speed-reducing effects.”
[That’s probably it? Complete freedom of action would be way too high-tier.]
Even so, it was a solid effect. He could move unhindered even in places like swamps or space, and wouldn’t be affected by movement speed reduction skills. It was definitely worth rescuing over a thousand adventurers for.
He’d not only obtained equipment, but also a new authority, but first Taesan checked the reward for clearing the 83rd floor.
[Ring That Falls into the Endless Abyss]
[Attack +700]
[Defense -20]
[Strength -10]
[Agility -10]
[Intelligence -10]
[Wearing the ring grants tremendous martial power, but everything else decreases.]
It was the first piece of equipment that reduced stats. But the attack increase was high enough that losing 100 stat points meant nothing to Taesan now. He put on the ring.
[You used ???.]
[You obtained the Thick Ooze That Had Sunk to the Bottom.]
[Thick Ooze That Had Sunk to the Bottom]
[Ooze that wriggled unseen in the deepest part of the world.]
The moment he thought it was a material item, Taesan’s wrist guard moved. It instantly devoured the ooze and made it its own.
[Wrist Guard of World Alteration]
[A wrist guard crafted with the power of a witch. Using certain conditions and catalysts, it can alter the laws of the world around the equipment.]
[Attack +800]
[Defense +800]
[If you’ve learned the Green Witch’s magic, you can use [Partial World Alteration].]
Attack increased by 200, defense by 300. Not a bad gain.
“And now.”
All that was left was one skill.
[Special Triggered Skill: Fall of All Things]
[For a certain time, everything within range except the user falls. You can’t cause something with a higher rank than you to fall. After use, the skill has a one-week cooldown.]
Essence’s authority: Fall of All Things.
From the description, it seemed different from the Apostle’s version. He’d need to check. It was difficult for Taesan to confirm by himself.
That’s why he went to the Library of All Things and met Ainzhar.
“I need to test a skill. Could you help me?”
“For something like that, anytime!”
Ainzhar readily agreed.
Taesan gave a rough explanation of the skill. Ainzhar’s eyes shook as he listened.
“That’s…… hard to comprehend. To gain the authority of a transcendent.”
“It was that kind of deal.”
“The God of Fall must have really wanted to deal with you. Gods rarely give such authority even to their apostles.”
Ainzhar was amazed.
“So, you need to test it? Go ahead. I’m curious too.”
No reason to hesitate. Taesan activated the skill.
[You activated Fall of All Things.]
“Ugh……”
“Oof—”
Groans filled the air.
Ainzhar’s eyebrows twitched.
“This is…… a strange sensation.”
Ainzhar gathered golden light. Normally, it would shine like it could burn the world, but now the light was faint. The power he felt inside was clearly weaker than usual.
“So it’s an authority that causes manifested power itself to fall.”
With Ainzhar weakened by Fall of All Things, Taesan could block and counterattack even if Ainzhar attacked with full force. That it affected Ainzhar meant that unless one was a transcendent, they couldn’t escape it.
“Oh. It’s over. The duration isn’t long.”
Not long after, sunlight-like golden light shimmered once again on Ainzhar’s sword. He gave a wry smile.
“That’s an absurd skill.”
There was no restriction on its use. Unless you were a transcendent, you couldn’t resist. The target of the fall was all manifested power.
It was a skill that bound all the opponent’s limbs.
“So that’s divine authority…… I once wielded it too, but it’s been so long I can barely remember.”
Ainzhar gave a bitter smile.
“The very next floor.”
Taesan spoke.
The 84th floor, as Ainzhar said—the floor where Levinenov could be saved.
It was right in front of them. Ainzhar’s eyes shimmered.
“……I’ll be waiting. Please, I’m counting on you.”