Ascension Through Skills

4,139 points.

It was truly a lot of points.

The points he received from the Fallen God’s quest were about 2,800, but this was 1,200 more.

So, what should be raised with these points?

“Balancing. Earthquake. Forced Vitality Drain. Enemy of the One Who Stepped into the Depths. Partial World Modification…”

Each one was not an ordinary skill.

Therefore, when checking the proficiency and point conversion rate, it was almost around 1:100.

This meant that even with 4,139 points, only 40% proficiency could be raised.

Taesan had to decide carefully. He reviewed the skills one by one.

The same went for Skill Acceleration and Absolute Judgment.

There were only limited skills where points could be used.

Among those, Taesan had to choose the skill that would bring the most significant change with the limited points.

After much thought, Taesan made his decision.

He decided to raise the proficiency of the Green Witch’s Magic and Partial World Modification.

Since it was the magic of an immortal, the more proficiency he gained, the more its value would rise exponentially.

Other skills could easily increase proficiency during battle, but Partial World Modification required preparation, which was a problem.

And the fact that the points consumed were reasonable also played a role in his decision.

Taesan used the points to raise the proficiency of the two skills.

[Green Witch's Magic]

[Proficiency: 23%]

[A magic that the Witch of the Cursed Forest accumulated during her mortal days and completed when she became an immortal. It materializes her domain based on an object containing a catalyst and has a significant influence on the world.]

[Partial World Modification]

[Proficiency: 22%]

[Continual Mana Consumption: ???]

[Can modify the laws within a certain range. It can intervene in not only physical concepts but also magic, black magic, spirits, and more.]

As proficiency increased, additional descriptions about interfering with various concepts like magic, black magic, and spirits were added. How to handle them naturally came to Taesan’s mind.

“Not bad.”

Taesan nodded. As he expected, once it reached 20%, many things changed.

After organizing his thoughts, Taesan didn’t descend further into the labyrinth. Instead, he turned back.

He went to see Hafran. Hafran welcomed Taesan.

“You’ve come back quickly. What is it this time?”

“Can you repair a broken weapon?”

“Repair?”

Hafran asked back as if it was an absurd question. Instead of answering, Taesan handed over the Supreme Sword.

“…What is this?”

Hafran hesitantly took the Supreme Sword.

The Supreme Sword was severely damaged. The blade was completely corroded, and its shape was distorted, making it unusable as a sword.

Its attack power had dropped to single digits, reflecting its ruined appearance.

It had turned into equipment that could no longer be used.

“What did you do?”

Hafran looked at Taesan with a face full of confusion.

“The materials and equipment that come from this place, made by wizards and gods, contain their power. Mortal beings can never corrupt or destroy them…”

“That’s what happened.”

Taesan replied calmly. Hafran frowned.

“This gives me a headache. And it’s troublesome.”

“So, can you do it?”

“I told you. The equipment in the labyrinth contains the power of gods. Mortals cannot touch it.”

Hafran examined the Supreme Sword closely.

“Unless it’s a few entities like me, who have been granted permission by wizards, it’s impossible. To sum up, it’s possible to restore it to some extent.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“However, since it’s just a restoration, its performance will be lower than before. You’ll also need quite a lot of materials. Do you have them?”

“Yes.”

Taesan opened his inventory. The materials he had collected while descending through the labyrinth fell out one by one.

“…You sure have a lot. Wait here for a moment. Good grief, repairing equipment, this is a first for me.”

He took the Supreme Sword and the materials and began hammering away. Taesan watched the process, though he didn’t understand it. After a series of incomprehensible actions, Hafran handed the sword back to Taesan.

[Restored Supreme Sword]

[Attack Power: +200]

[A sword once wielded by the undefeated warrior who stood above all. It was destroyed but restored by a skilled blacksmith.]

“Not bad.”

The attack power had dropped by 50, but it was still usable for the time being. Hafran, after laying down his hammer, spoke.

“If you want a proper weapon, bring me better materials. By the way, to wield enough power to destroy a weapon like this…”

Curiosity spread across Hafran’s face.

“Can you show me? How did you do it?”

“Sorry, but that’s impossible. It’s too dangerous.”

Taesan shook his head. He couldn’t control the gray force either.

Once drawn out, it had to explode, so it was difficult to demonstrate.

“That’s unfortunate. If possible, I’d like to see it sometime.”

Taesan nodded and descended the stairs.

[Quest for the 70th Floor begins.]

[Defeat the gatekeeper of the 70th floor and pass through.]

[Reward: Necklace of the One Who Arrived.]

[Secret Reward: ???]

70th Floor.

The last floor before entering the deeper layers.

The ghost said nothing.

The shopkeeper did the same, only raising the corners of his mouth as he looked at Taesan.

Taesan passed the shop and arrived at the 70th floor.

The 70th floor was incredibly vast.

It seemed to be about the size of a football field. Far away, stairs leading down to the deeper layers were visible.

Who would the enemy be this time? Taesan gripped his sword tighter. He turned his gaze toward his opponent.

“…Oh.”

His opponent smiled quietly. The man with black hair and sharp eyes looked at Taesan in admiration.

“So, you’ve finally made it this far.”

Taesan frowned. This was a man he remembered.

“Broken Man?”

[The Broken One has appeared.]

The man Taesan had met before entering Solo Mode, the one who had guarded the labyrinth.

He called himself the Broken Man, saying he had challenged the labyrinth but failed and then became its gatekeeper.

Taesan looked around. Besides the Broken Man, there was nothing else in sight.

“Are you the gatekeeper of this place?”

“That’s right.”

The Broken Man smoothly twirled his spear.

“Originally, it wasn’t supposed to be me, but something came up, and they suddenly asked me to take over. There’s been no one new coming in, and I was bored anyway, so I accepted.”

He looked at Taesan with admiration.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long since I saw you at the entrance, and you’re already here? How is that even possible?”

The Broken Man had once attempted to conquer the labyrinth himself. Thus, he knew very well what it meant for Taesan to have already reached the 70th floor.

“That’s how it is.”

Taesan answered as he gripped his sword.

The Broken Man.

When Taesan first saw him, he thought he was stronger than Lee Taeyeon.

Seeing him again now, Taesan realized that his initial thought had been an exaggeration. But even so, the man was by no means weak.

If he fought seriously, even Lee Taeyeon wouldn’t easily defeat him.

“I just need to defeat you, right?”

“That’s correct.”

The Broken Man swung his spear.

“I am a failed one, an adventurer who descended into the labyrinth but gave up and made a contract with a wizard.”

His aura surged with vigor.

It was a pressure like a sharp blade that pierced Taesan. The Broken Man bared his teeth.

“Anyone who can’t even overcome a failure like me doesn’t deserve to descend into the deeper layers.”

Taesan calmly gathered his energy.

Seeing him organizing his strength with such composure, the Broken Man smiled in satisfaction.

However, instead of starting the battle, the Broken Man slowly began to calm his aura. Taesan watched him quietly as his will to fight faded.

“Sorry, but a great one has already made an appointment. The fight with me will come after that.”

The Broken Man stepped back.

“Come on up, my fellow.”

“I’m not your fellow. You’re a failure.”

“Well, from where I’m standing, you don’t seem all that different.”

As the Broken Man grinned, footsteps began to echo from the stairs.

A being of immense power was ascending.

It was fire itself.

A figure, her entire body radiating flames, appeared. A woman with flickering hair made of fire descended quietly.

[The Spirit King of Fire, Vishnu, has appeared.]

The Broken Man leaned against the wall.

“You’ll fight me after this. I’ll just watch for now.”

Taesan looked at Vishnu.

Her flaming hair and her contrasting white skin caught his eye.

Her red pupils focused on Taesan.

Within them were rage and murderous intent.

“This is troublesome.”

Taesan muttered.

Upon reflection, among the top powers, Taesan had the worst relationship with the Spirit King of Fire.

Taesan had destroyed the domain of the spirit she had fiercely guarded. The twisted spirit that bore grudges against her were embedded in his sword, and even her spear and shield had fallen into Taesan’s hands.

Of all the top powers, Vishnu was likely the one who most desired Taesan’s death.

“I don’t blame you. This is the nature of the labyrinth. It’s a place where you must kill your opponent to win.”

Vishnu spoke quietly.

“So I, too, will follow the rules of the labyrinth and kill you.”

Fire exploded.

Scarlet flames clung to the walls, heating the air. The heat enveloping Taesan was enough to ignite the body of any ordinary person nearby.

An intangible aura moved around Taesan, shielding him from the Spirit King’s fire.

Taesan smirked.

“For someone who claims not to blame me, your emotions seem to be running wild.”

The Spirit King of Fire.

She was different from the previous top powers he had faced. Shaman, whose strength lay in defense, had lost his advantage due to Absolute Judgment and fought Taesan without his primary strength.

But it was clear at a glance that the Spirit King of Fire was focused on offense rather than defense.

She was probably the first top power Taesan would face at full strength.

“Fitting as a gatekeeper to the deeper layers.”

[You have summoned the multicolored shield, Barkaza.]

[You have summoned the Wind Spirit King, Minerva.]

A golem appeared, and the wind gathered to form the shape of a woman.

[Hmm…]

“Oh?”

Barkaza groaned while Minerva’s eyes gleamed. Vishnu scowled.

“…A King’s Shield and the Wind Spirit King?”

“Hello, senior?”

Minerva waved brightly. Vishnu clicked her tongue, clearly displeased with her attitude.

“You dare to make a contract with the one who killed spirits? And you call yourself a king of spirits? You should be ashamed.”

“You do realize that’s not something you should be saying, right?”

Minerva chuckled. It was rare for her to show such an aggressive attitude.

“Someone who abandoned her world and entered the labyrinth to fulfill her desires is in no place to say such things to me.”

Vishnu’s face hardened.

“You lack manners.”

“That’s something you should say to yourself. You’re the king who abandoned her mother’s will and fled to the labyrinth.”

“That’s enough.”

Vishnu waved her hand as if she had nothing more to say.

Flames exploded. In an instant, the flames swelled, burning the walls as they rushed toward Taesan.

It was a fire that could literally burn the entire world.

Vishnu spoke.

“Die, you worm.”

[Good grief. I’m far too weak to be involved in this kind of fight.]

Though Barkaza grumbled, he clapped his hands. Multicolored light spread in all directions, and Minerva’s wind burst forth. Amplified by Barkaza’s power, the wind blew wildly, scattering the flames.

Taesan raised his sword. Numerous skills activated, imbuing him with power.

[You have activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].]

[You have activated King’s Vessel.]

Taesan pushed off with his feet.

Following the path carved by the exploding wind, he charged forward.

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