Ascension Through Skills
chapter-289

[The first thing I wanted to check was your strength.]

Arrogance cast a peculiar look towards Taesan.

[The other gods were making a lot of noise, so I was curious if you really had that much power. You had exceptional strength when you cleared my trial on the lower floors, but there have been a few like that.]

Those who were strong outside.

Those who reached the peak of their original world could descend to the 20th or 30th floors without any problems. The important thing was what came after that.

The forefront of the deep layers. While approaching the limit that a mortal can reach, do they possess strength superior to the current floor they are on?

[The reason I summoned you to a currently unused space and gave you a trial was because of that.]

“Did it satisfy your curiosity?”

[Enough.]

Arrogance gave a bitter smile.

[I thought you could clear it, but I didn't expect you to do it so easily.]

He murmured. Even to the transcendent, what Taesan did was unexpected, and his voice was tinged with admiration.

[Your current strength is overwhelming even throughout the long history of the labyrinth. No one has ever gained the strength to reach the deep layers from the 60th floor.]

Arrogance’s eyes sparkled.

[Furthermore, the type of power you have is also unusual. A mortal who has not yet reached the end possesses such power. I understand why they are interested.]

Arrogance spoke quietly.

[You are exceptional among the mortals I've seen.]

“Thank you for your words.”

[Don’t die and keep descending. You might reach a place no one else has.]

Arrogance clapped his hands.

[Another reason I called you was to propose a contract with a follower, but you won't accept it, right?]

“Yes.”

Taesan nodded. Arrogance spoke nonchalantly, as if he had expected it.

[If you were at the level of the labyrinth's entrance, it might have been different. But now, there is no reason for you to accept a contract. It would be a loss for both us and you.]

Taesan looked at Arrogance blankly.

He was telling him so much. Even information that Taesan did not know, Arrogance explained it freely.

It was a good thing for him, but it was somewhat surprising since the gods had always been restrictive with information. Noticing Taesan’s expression, Arrogance spoke.

[You are now in front of the deep layers. There is no point in controlling information any further.]

“What exactly is the deep layer?”

Taesan asked with curiosity.

He had heard rough explanations from the ghost and Lee Taeyeon. But he still could not know precisely. He only knew that it was extremely difficult and unusual.

Arrogance answered Taesan’s question.

[The second reason we settled in the labyrinth.]

“Second reason…?”

[There are those who settled here to witness the adventures and challenges of heroes and wizards. But do you think so many gods would abandon their worlds and make the labyrinth their residence for that alone?] [You will understand when you reach the deep layers. Let’s leave that for a future pleasure.]

Arrogance smiled.

[Then, it was enjoyable.]

Arrogance waved his hand. His power began to envelop Taesan.

[You have obtained the Ring of the One Who Passed the Trial.] [You have obtained the title [One Who Proved Their Ability].] [Goodbye. Let's meet again in a deeper place.]

Arrogance waved his hand. As the distance grew, Taesan’s body began to return to the labyrinth.

[Ah. One last thing.]

Arrogance’s voice was heard.

[I am quite close with the Demon Goddess. So I heard from her. Soon, those who call themselves Guides will come to you.]

With that voice, Taesan returned to the labyrinth.

The labyrinth her returned to was the 63rd floor, not the body of the Giant King.

Right in front of him was the staircase leading to the 64th floor.

Taesan sat down.

Initially, the fact that he had moved to the deep layers was surprising, but he resolved it without major problems. The rewards were also abundant, so it was actually a good thing.

[Red Shoes of Magubania] [Attack Power +100] [Defense Power +300] [Strength +300] [Agility +300] [Action Speed +14%] [Movement Speed +14%] [The red shoes worn by Magubania, who held the name of an Apostle, at the time of death.]

These shoes had high attack and defense power, and even additional stats. Although there were no special effects, it was still excellent equipment.

[Orb of Deep Darkness] [Dark Magic +150] [Magic Power +400] [Intelligence +1000] [An orb containing compressed deep darkness. The darkness is so strong that it seems capable of corrupting even a powerful dark magician.]

This was equipment for dark magic, suitable for mid-level dark magicians.

[Used the ??.] [Obtained a brown staff made from the remnants of a meteor.]

A magical staff. It was a tribute. Taesan’s eyes shone. With this, he could obtain another mid-level magic.

“Not bad.”

Overall, there was only good equipment. This time, Taesan checked the rewards given by Arrogance for clearing the trial.

[Ring of the One Who Passed the Trial] [Attack Power +200] [A ring given by the God of Trials to those who passed his trial. It has effects suitable for the recipient.]

“Oh-ho.”

Taesan’s lips curled up. It was a very simple effect, but it was exactly what Taesan wanted. The most important thing for him now was not defense or stats but attack power.

With this, the title would likely have a similar effect. Taesan checked it with anticipation, and his prediction was correct.

[Title: One Who Proved Their Ability] [Health +1000] [Mana +300] [Magic Power +70] [Attack Power +100] [A title given by the God of Trials to those who proved their ability.]

It even added to attack power and magic power. Although the numbers were relatively low, considering that titles were not something you could change like equipment but something you kept forever, it was a reasonable reward.

Taesan was satisfied. All his stats had now surpassed ten thousand. At this rate, he might surpass Lee Taeyeon’s stats by around the 70th floor.

‘Then, now.’

It was time to verify.

The biggest change that came with clearing the trial was the conceptual skill. He needed to understand its exact effects and limitations.

Arrogance had said that those who called themselves Guides would come to him soon.

The remaining Guides were the leadership.

It was time to fight those who had reached the end of mortality.

Before that, he needed to understand and organize the power he had gained as much as possible.

Taesan wandered around the 63rd floor. Since he moved to the lower layers during the attack, the monsters remained as they were.

Although he couldn’t get much from the monsters as he had already received the clear reward, it didn’t matter since his purpose was experimentation.

“Kkiruk!”

A dark crow discovered Taesan and rushed at him. Taesan focused his mind on the crow.

He spread his will to oppress the crow. The charging crow shuddered and trembled.

“Kki kkiik!”

The crow, facing its enemy, was in agony, unable to handle the situation. Inside the crow’s head, two emotions were clashing: the feeling of needing to kill Taesan and the feeling of needing to obey him.

“Kkiiik…”

In the end, the crow quivered and lowered its posture.

A monster of the labyrinth, which was supposed to kill adventurers, was now in a posture of submission.

Taesan, who had been watching the crow for a while, turned his gaze to the sword in his hand. He began to focus his will on the sword.

As his will enveloped the sword, it flew out of his hand and towards the crow as he willed it.

Thunk.

“Kkiiik!”

The crow, pierced through the chest, screamed. It writhed in pain and charged at Taesan.

“This is the limit.”

Taesan subdued the charging crow and conducted a few more experiments. As a result, he could roughly grasp his abilities.

Projecting his will onto the world. The meaning of those words was simple. It meant that he could physically and mentally influence the world with his will.

The monster on the 63rd floor submitted to Taesan with just his pressure.

And the sword he wielded also moved according to his will and pierced the crow.

If taken to the extreme, he might be able to issue a death sentence with just his will, like the gods.

At least, it wasn’t a power a mortal should possess.

‘But the limitations are clear too.’

The crow that submitted to Taesan charged at him after being pierced by the sword. It meant that the suppression would break when emotions peaked or when in pain.

The physical impact of his will on reality wasn’t that strong either. A skilled person could block it without much trouble, at the level of an arrow containing Taesan’s will.

And there was a bigger problem.

Every time he spread his will, his head throbbed. It felt as if he was forcibly handling a power that wasn’t yet permitted.

Even Taesan, who was used to pain, found it hard to ignore. It seemed to be a kind of restriction, not just simple pain. Unless it was a peculiar case like the centipede, it seemed difficult to use meaningfully in battle yet.

[Concept Skill: Will ??? Strike] [Proficiency: 62%] [The power of will ??? descends. Synchronizing with it allows you to see and feel the will of all things and adjust your own. You can project your will onto the world. You have obtained ???.]

Taesan looked at the concept skill.

He had obtained the concept skill in the ruined world of the commander Haferan.

“Shall I visit after a long time?”

He had obtained material items just in time. Taesan moved his feet.

Taesan returned to the 60th floor with a satisfied expression. After offering another tribute, he was able to obtain another mid-level magic.

[Mid-Level Magic: Earthquake] [Proficiency: 1%] [Mana Consumption: 500] [It collapses the ground. It can only cause localized damage for now.]

A skill that collapsed the ground. Its effects were hard to see inside the labyrinth. The floor of the labyrinth was a place that even deep-layer adventurers couldn’t scratch.

But for Taesan, who often wandered outside, it wasn’t a big problem.

Satisfied with the magic, Taesan visited Hafran.

“Oh? It’s been a while.”

Hafran was still there.

In a place where flames flickered, he was hammering something on an anvil, forging something.

“What brings you here this time?”

“I’d like to entrust these.”

Taesan took out the materials.

[Remnants of the Heart of the Dead Giant King] [Remnants of the heart of one who once rivaled gods. It holds immense power within itself.] [Blood of the Dead Giant King] [Blood of one who once rivaled gods. It holds immense power within itself.]

“Oh-ho?”

Hafran’s eyes sparkled.

“No matter how I see it, these aren’t materials you should have brought. How did you get these?”

“During the process of clearing a trial. Can you make equipment out of it?”

“It’s sufficient. What do you want?”

“An offensive piece of equipment that I can move with my will.”

“With your will? I can make it, but forgive me for saying this, but it’s going to be hard for you to handle with your current abilities.”

Hafran looked puzzled.

“Influencing something with just your will is something only those who look above can do. Even with the support of equipment, it’s difficult for a mortal to interfere.”

Hafran reached out his hand.

“I’m a blacksmith, so I’ll make it if you want… but I want to dissuade you. If you insist, hand over the materials.”

Taesan didn’t hand over the materials with his hands but focused his will.

“Oh?”

Hafran’s face stiffened.

The blood and heart remnants floated in the air and landed on Hafran’s hand.

“That power is…”

“You noticed immediately.”

Hafran’s world was destroyed by the will of the world itself. There was no way Hafran wouldn’t notice. Taesan was moving objects with just his will, not with magic or anything else.

“Your ruined world. I want to enter it once more.”