Chapter 16
A chuckle escapes at the sight of the long list of system notifications.
Proof of one’s growth always brought a good mood.
Taesan methodically reviewed them.
The reward for defeating a formidable enemy: Agility increased by 2, and Mana by 3. As the need for using skills would only grow, the increase in Mana was always welcome.
The rewards for leveling up had improved as well. Agility by 3 and Strength by 1. A total increase of 4 stats. The increase in Strength, which had not risen until now, was particularly good news.
“I expected as much, but it’s satisfying.”
Rewards based on level consider what was done during the experience accumulation phase and which stats were predominantly used. If Strength was mainly used, it would increase, and if Agility was predominantly used, Agility would increase.
Since there was a fair amount of strength-based combat while facing the Giant Rat, the increase was expected. Though the stats are still in single digits, they will grow into tens with further leveling up.
This part was anticipated, so he could accept it calmly. However, the Soul Ascension was a slightly different matter.
“What kind of skill is this?”
Soul Ascension. Agility increased by 3, and Strength by 2. More than what was gained from leveling up. No matter how much he racked his brain, this was an extraordinary skill.
Simply put, it was far superior to skills like Endurance or Attack Nullification. It was comparable to multiplication in terms of its effectiveness.
“Right, rewards like this are only fair.”
As an Easy Mode player who defeated two S-ranked beings, gaining something was only natural. Whistling, Taesan checked his status.
[강태산] [Level: 4] [Health: 155/155] [Mana: 15/15] [Strength: 14] [Intelligence: 16] [Agility: 30] [Attack Power +2] [Defense +7] [The subject is in the best condition.] A sigh of admiration for his own stats. To have reached the 30s after clearing the 1st floor. He remembered all the futile efforts he made in Easy Mode to increase his stats.
Diving into nostalgia, Taesan began checking his rewards.
[Random Stat Increase Potion] [Randomly increases one stat.] The effect was as described. The value of stats always remained constant, making it a coveted item at any level. Without hesitation, Taesan drank the potion.
[Strength has permanently increased by 1.] “Yes.”
Taesan clenched his fist in satisfaction. The most needed stat had appropriately increased. Now only one more thing remained.
[You have used ???] [You have obtained two Designated Stat Increase Potions.] “Wow.”
Taesan exclaimed in surprise upon reading the description.
[Designated Stat Increase Potion] [Increases a designated stat by 1.] Exactly as described, and an item hard to come by even past the 50th floor. Leveling up was the basic way to increase stats. Other methods were either too difficult or depended too much on luck.
And the stat increase from leveling up depended on what was done during the experience accumulation phase.
Thus, the higher a stat is, the easier it is to increase, and the lower a stat, the harder it is to raise.
The Designated Stat Increase Potion was the best potion to even out those discrepancies, offering an overflowing reward. Taesan drank the potion.
[You have drunk the Designated Stat Increase Potion. You must designate one stat to increase.] “Strength.”
Taesan immediately answered. There was no reason to increase any other stat. He drank the remaining potion, also increasing his Strength.
In an instant, Strength increased by 3. Satisfied, Taesan checked his status again. With these stats, he could defeat the Giant Rat without using arrows if he faced it again.
“I also learned a skill.”
Taesan checked it out.
[Special Activation Skill: Counter] [Mana Cost: 5] [Mastery: 1%] [Counterattacks an enemy’s attack, dealing greater damage.] “Counter? Got it sooner than I thought.”
If the enemy’s attack can be evaded, it triggers an unconditional dodge, followed by a counterattack. The counterattack deals two to three times the normal damage, making it quite powerful.
Comparable to the skill “Dodge,” it was valuable in different ways. The high mana cost was a concern, but its worth was undeniable.
“Hmm.”
Taesan stretched and sat down.
The rewards from leveling up couldn’t alleviate mental fatigue. He planned to rest his brain a bit before entering the 2nd floor. While resting, he thought of the community.
“How’s it going?”
A few days ago, he had posted about the 1st floor’s strategy in the community. He provided the shortest route to the Fountain of Life.
However, the likelihood of his words being trusted was low. Trapped in an unknown space, and someone writes a strategy? Especially when it hasn’t been long since they were trapped? Even Taesan would be skeptical at first.
With low expectations, Taesan opened the community.
“Huh?”
A puzzled voice escaped him. The community was filled with posts, and most were about Alone Mode.
[Chanwoong[Park[Alone]]: Is there anyone who can mark the route to the Fountain of Life? I’m too anxious to go.] [Jaeseong[Moon[Alone]]: No choice but to be anxious. Since everyone’s location is different, you have to follow what the shopkeeper says.] [Taeyeon[Lee[Alone]]: Just get there first, and you’ll be safe. If you stay here longer, hunger will make it difficult to even move.] [Taejin[Kim[Alone]]: A race with our lives on the line. Quite interesting. ㅋㅋㅋ……] [Junhyuk[Kang[Alone]]: But at least there’s a possibility. It’s something.] “Huh.”
The community he remembered from Alone Mode was drastically different.
Previously, the community was filled with despair.
Day by day, people disappeared, and no one discussed strategies.
Eventually, everyone either died or broke down, leading to silence.
Only Taeyeon remained actively chattering.
But now, the atmosphere was entirely different.
[Sang[Lee[Alone]]: I’ve reached the Fountain of Life! Thank you for your support!] [Junhyuk[Kang[Alone]]: Congratulations. Now, if you’re careful, you won’t die on the 1st floor anymore.] The community was lively. Despair and fear occasionally peeked through, but it wasn’t entirely dead. There was visible hope for survival.
[Taeyeon[Lee[Alone]]: But that person, Kang Taesan, where did he go? Haven’t seen him since he posted that. Did he die?] [Sang[Lee[Alone]]: I’ve been watching the community every day and haven’t seen him.] [Junhyuk[Kang[Alone]]: Did he die?] [Taeyeon[Lee[Alone]]: Nah, doubt it. Would someone who broke through in just a few days die? He’s probably heading down by now.] “…What’s this?”
Taesan descended to the 2nd floor, where a dwarf awaited him.
“Did you catch it?”
“That’s why I’m here.”
The dwarf, having scrutinized Taesan, smiled contentedly.
“You look good. As expected, you should be at that level. Are you going to use the shop?”
“Of course.”
Before entering the 2nd floor, preparations were necessary. The dwarf puffed on his pipe.
“Buy what you need to buy, sell what you need to sell. By now, you should have something to sell, right?”
“You know well.”
“Seen it enough times. Got something to sell?”
“Yes.”
Taesan took out the meat of the Big Rat from his inventory.
“I’ll sell the meat.”
Meat spoils over time. Consuming spoiled food could lead to illness, not even covered by disease resistance, so it was best to sell it immediately. Up to the 10th floor, most enemies were creatures, so there was no need to save. The dwarf appraised the meat.
“That’s about five hundred gold. Not selling the hide? If you caught the Giant Rat, you’d have teeth too, which would be quite pricey.”
“Not selling.”
Monster hides and teeth were useful. The dwarf, seemingly catching on, smirked contentedly.
“Looking for a blacksmith, huh?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll find one as you go deeper. Usually, they die before reaching, but you shouldn’t have any problems.”
Having breached the 1st floor, the dwarf’s face held stronger trust than before. Taesan, who had a rough idea of who these NPCs were, was not surprised.
The dwarf was encountered when a system notification appeared.
[You have encountered the Lost King.] The Lost Dwarf King. Drifted into the labyrinth from his destroyed kingdom.
That must be the dwarf’s identity.
“So, what will you buy? Just show me around?”
“Would appreciate it.”
He had plenty of money. Including the sale amount, he had twelve hundred gold. Not an amount one accumulates on the 1st floor. Even if it was a bit more expensive, he could afford it without any burden.
The dwarf, sensing Taesan’s thoughts, pointed out.
“Let me tell you something. I only sell what’s decided. Even if you’ve gathered more money than needed, I won’t sell things you can buy on the 4th or 5th floors. Better not get your hopes up.”
“Understood.”
The dwarf, like Aintzhar, was willing to provide help but never to the extent that it led to complacency. There was a line they wouldn’t cross.
“Here’s what I have. If you need anything else, just say.”
The dwarf laid out his goods. Taesan examined each item.
He skipped potions this time. Even without access to the Fountain of Life after leaving the 1st floor, there was no reason to use them. It was better to buy something else with that money to conserve health.
Taesan looked at the arrows. He had more than enough basic arrows. What he needed were different types of arrows.
[Paralysis Arrow] [Attack Power +2] [Paralyzes the target. May fail depending on level and stats.] [30G] Watching him, the dwarf asked.
“Gonna buy that?”
“Thirty pieces, please.”
“Buying a lot?”
“Need them.”
If what Ireon said about the 2nd floor was true, this much was necessary. The dwarf, again pleased, handed over the arrows.
“Here. Now you have three hundred gold left. Anything else you wanna buy? Personally, I recommend equipment. Entering the 2nd floor with your current gear will be tough.”
Lacking armor and having only +2 additional attack power, relying on the Tower Shield’s defense wouldn’t last forever. Whether a weapon or armor, buying something before going was the right choice.
Among the items the dwarf showed, there were spears, shields, and armors, all under 300 gold and purchasable.
‘That’s a shame.’
But Taesan hesitated. Monsters drop what they have. Big Rats drop skin and meat, and enemies with equipment drop their gear.
Enemies on the 2nd floor use weapons and armor, meaning both could be obtained. Buying in advance felt slightly like a loss.
While pondering and browsing the items, Taesan’s eyes landed on a pair of gloves.
[Brawler’s Gloves] [Attack Power +1] [Protects the hands. Seems like it might hurt the enemy a bit more.] [300G] Brawler’s Gloves. He wouldn’t have given them a second glance before. Gloves only add damage when punching with fists.
But now it was different. Taesan picked up the gloves.
“I’ll take these.”
“Brawler’s Gloves? You gonna use your fists? Why buy that?”
“Because I can use them.”
The dwarf, staring as if to say, “What are you talking about?” realized.
“Ah, the old man gave you the Irock Weapon Technique. Yeah, I thought you’d be to that madman’s liking. But giving you the technique as well is beyond expectation?”
“You know?”
“I’ve been rotting away here with him, so yeah, I know. Not that I like him much.”
“Don’t like him?”
“Who’d like a zealot ranting about finding a god?”
The dwarf grimaced, his face expressing disgust. Taesan realized something from his expression.
The labyrinth’s NPCs were aware of each other but were not necessarily friendly. In fact, they seemed closer to being adversaries.
