Chapter 501
[Who… are you?]
Balbamaba addressed Arilnan with formal caution.
Despite her ordinary, mortal-like presence—no divine aura, no transcendent pressure—Balbamaba’s instincts screamed that this woman was not someone he could afford to treat lightly.
“I am Arilnan,” she said calmly.
[Arilnan…?]
Balbamaba rapidly sifted through the vast archives of knowledge within him. Countless records flickered before his mind.
And then, he froze.
There it was—information about Arilnan.
Fragmented, distorted, incomplete… yet undeniably present.
[This can’t be…]
He was shaken.
It wasn’t that he had forgotten her. It was as if her existence had been erased entirely from his perception, only to suddenly resurface now.
[…This is not for me to judge.]
Balbamaba made a swift decision. This was beyond his jurisdiction.
[When my master returns, I will report this. He will decide what to do about Lady Arilnan.]
“The Magician,” Arilnan murmured. “The one who created this domain? Interesting. I am intrigued.”
She nodded with a faint smile.
“Very well, I’ll wait.”
[Taesan… what is this about?]
“How should I know?” Taesan shrugged.
Balbamaba looked conflicted for a moment before sighing.
[Forget it. This is beyond my authority. The Magician will handle it. I’ll focus on my own duties.]
He turned toward Taesan, voice settling back into composure.
[You’ve cleared the 92nd floor. I’ll begin processing your rewards. It took longer than usual because the one responsible abandoned his duties and ran off.]
The reward for the 92nd floor was equipment from the shop. Normally, the shopkeeper had to be present, but he’d already returned to his own world.
[I didn’t expect a final thank-you, but I didn’t think he’d ditch us like this. Damn him.]
Balbamaba clicked his tongue in irritation.
“So, what now?” Taesan asked.
[The reward is the shop’s equipment. But you won’t receive all of it.]
“I figured.”
Taesan never expected to receive everything. The real question was: how much?
[You may choose up to five items.]
“Five?”
Taesan raised an eyebrow.
“That’s excessive.”
The shop’s equipment wasn’t ordinary. It was the pinnacle of craftsmanship—gear that had enabled countless challengers to overcome impossible trials.
Receiving five was extremely generous.
But Balbamaba remained indifferent.
[You are now a Faith God. How much value do you think the labyrinth’s equipment still holds for someone like you?]
Taesan had grown too strong.
The labyrinth’s equipment was ultimately designed for mortals. Even if Taesan could use it more efficiently due to his connection with the system, the equipment’s inherent rank was now far beneath him.
Weapons like the Crimson Giant’s Sword, which once obliterated S-rank monsters, were worthless when Taesan’s casual attacks could do the same.
The Obsidian Bracers’ 50% damage reduction? Irrelevant. Very few beings—only High Gods or Concept Gods—could even penetrate Taesan’s Chaos Cloak.
[They aren’t entirely useless. Stat boosts and special effects still matter. But they’re just tools.]
“I see.”
Taesan was no longer so weak that gear could define him. He had reached the level of those who once crafted such items.
After a moment of thought, he asked:
“What about the secret reward?”
[That’s also tied to the shop’s inventory. But you may choose any item, and I will create it.]
“So I have options.”
This was fine. Taesan still valued equipment that affected cooldowns or provided strategic utility.
He fell silent, thinking.
Balbamaba waited patiently.
After a while, Taesan spoke.
“I have a question.”
[Ask.]
“Can I receive a skill instead of equipment?”
[A skill?]
Balbamaba was caught off guard.
[You mean a specific skill of your choosing?]
“Exactly.”
[…Give me a moment.]
Balbamaba searched through his accumulated knowledge.
[…It’s possible.]
He answered at last.
[Depending on the skill’s effect, the system allows it.]
“That’s enough for me.”
[Skills are more versatile than equipment. But you’ll pay a price. Your limit of five items will decrease if you choose a skill.]
“That’s fine.”
[Very well. What skill do you want?]
“Something that changes the nature of my attacks,” Taesan replied steadily. “A skill that allows me to imbue my attacks with pure physical force.”
—
Balbamaba froze.
It was too unexpected.
Imbuing attacks with physical force?
Taesan clarified.
“More precisely, I want to convert damage into physical force.”
[…Ah. I see.]
Finally, Balbamaba understood.
[You’re talking about the system’s mechanics.]
In the labyrinth’s system, Attack Power was a numerical value. It determined the amount of damage dealt—but damage was abstract, not physical. Movement speed and strength came from different stats.
Until an attack landed, “damage” had no physical manifestation.
But Taesan wanted that abstract calculation to manifest as raw kinetic force.
Balbamaba understood the theory, but not the purpose.
[Do you need something like that? Your abilities already transcend the concept of “damage.” For someone like you, Attack Power barely matters.]
Taesan had grown far beyond any numerical metric. His abilities—especially the Chaos Cloak—existed on a conceptual level.
Even if physical force were added, the improvement would be small.
Still, it was possible.
[It’s doable.]
Skills, however, were serious business. Unlike equipment, they were direct extensions of the system—pieces of the Magician’s authority.
Balbamaba had to ensure the reward wouldn’t break the labyrinth’s balance.
Compared to Taesan’s accomplishments, this request was minor.
[…It should be fine.]
He made his decision.
[Very well.]
“You’re serious?” Taesan asked, surprised at the quick approval.
[It’s acceptable. But since this manipulates the system directly, you will forfeit all other rewards.]
Even if the skill wasn’t overwhelming, it was still system-level authority.
Taesan nodded.
“That’s fine.”
[What an unusual request…]
Balbamaba activated the labyrinth’s authority.
[You have acquired the special passive skill [Physical Force Conversion].]
[Special Passive Skill: Physical Force Conversion]
[Proficiency: 1%]
[Description: You can now imbue labyrinth-calculated damage with direct physical force. The physical force scales proportionally with the damage dealt. For now, the effect may appear minimal.]
Taesan grinned, satisfied.
Balbamaba remained perplexed.
[I may have made a mistake this time.]
“We’ll see,” Taesan replied, calm and confident.
For him, even the slightest improvement mattered.
[…I don’t understand it.]
Balbamaba shook his head and returned to his duties.
[Lady Arilnan, the Magician is currently away. Until he returns, I will prepare a place for you to wait.]
A rift opened.
Balbamaba gestured for her to follow.
“Thank you,” Taesan said sincerely.
Arilnan, who had been quietly observing, spoke with a faint smile.
“So that is the Magician’s authority? Peculiar.”
[You’ll meet him soon.]
“I look forward to it,” she said as she stepped through the portal, curiosity and excitement in her voice.
The rift closed, leaving Taesan and Akasha alone.
“How do you feel?” Taesan asked.
[…Not bad. No—good. I feel… fulfilled.]
Akasha’s voice held quiet joy.
[And… it’s clear now. My master is you.]
“That’s all that matters.”
He had worried that Akasha might reconsider after meeting her former master. Thankfully, she hadn’t.
Satisfied, Taesan examined the new blessing Arilnan had granted him.
[Divine Blessing: Arilnan’s Blessing]
[Description: The blessing of Arilnan. Despite her fragmented state, it contains immense power. It enhances all regenerative abilities, fortifies the will, and stabilizes one’s elevated rank. When Arilnan fully regains her concept, additional authority will be granted.]
Her previous blessings had been consolidated and strengthened. Taesan felt the tremendous boost immediately.
Though her current state limited the blessing’s power, once she regained her full concept, it would evolve into something far greater.
With everything settled, Taesan prepared to move on.
The 92nd floor was behind him. He had claimed rewards that would grow in usefulness over time.
It was time to descend to the next level.
From the depths below, he felt a familiar energy calling.
Taesan stepped onto the stairs leading downward.