Ascension Through Skills

[Special Activation Skill: Absolute Judgement] [Mana Consumption: 10] [Upon activation, the next attack will ignore the opponent's defense power and penetrate all defense skills and means. However, it does not activate if the attack is offset.] [……Well then.]

The ghost chuckled dryly.

[What is this?]

“See for yourself.”

Taesan immediately moved to the next room.

The last deformed creature awaited. Taesan swung his sword while unarmed.

[You have activated Absolute Judgement.] [103 damage to the timid deformed creature with its eyes covered.]

Crack.

The deformed creature’s exoskeleton changed. Taesan raised his sword again.

[You have activated Absolute Judgement.] [99 damage to the timid deformed creature with its eyes covered.]

This time, Taesan did not respond at all. He did not target the weakened exoskeleton, just swung his sword normally.

Despite that, the damage was similar to before.

Taesan continued to press the deformed creature with Absolute Judgement. The deformed creature kept changing its exoskeleton to adapt, but the damage did not decrease.

Hum.

The deformed creature changed its pattern. A blue curtain formed around it. Taesan struck down with his sword.

[You have activated Absolute Judgement.]

The sword pierced the deformed creature, shattering the curtain without any resistance.

[This is ridiculous.]

The ghost murmured. Having accompanied Taesan thus far, it thought nothing would surprise it anymore. But that thought was shattered.

In the labyrinth, defense was one of the most important stats. Outside, no matter how strong someone was, they could die from the most trivial things.

The strongest person in the world could die from tetanus after being pricked by a nail, and a mercenary who had survived countless battles could die from a stray bullet.

Health and defense were stats that helped avoid such absurd deaths. They also allowed one to advance safely in situations where they had to risk their life.

No matter how dangerous the trap, as long as one had enough health, they could push through it. If defense surpassed attack power, one would only receive 1 point of damage.

Therefore, adventurers in the labyrinth invested a lot of time and gold in increasing their defense.

And the skill Taesan had just obtained made all that effort and time meaningless.

[It doesn't just ignore defense; it also ignores defense skills and means? Does this even penetrate fortitude?]

Taesan nodded. The ghost couldn’t hold back its laughter.

[This is crazy.]

Fortitude, which halves all incoming damage, was also meaningless before Taesan. The ghost groaned.

[This is absurd. Could this be the perfect counter to that guy?]

“That guy?”

[Yes. Among the top brass. The one with the highest defense. Even the top brass can't penetrate him. But he wouldn't be able to withstand you.] [Ignoring all defenses... Can you obtain something like that in the labyrinth?]

Barkaza couldn’t hide his shock either. Among the spirits, there were those who poured all their power into defense to protect their master. Their strength was meaningless before Taesan.

[And it only consumes 10 mana? That's ridiculously low. Makes me laugh.]

Crack.

Taesan defeated the deformed creature.

He smiled.

A skill that had made the Easy Mode player end up being called the strongest. He had obtained one of them again.

“Nice.”

Taesan shook his sword and moved forward.

The boss of the 59th floor was a black-colored deformed creature. It was larger and tougher than the previous ones.

But it meant nothing to Taesan.

[You have activated Absolute Judgement.]

Crack.

The sword shattered the creature’s body.

The creature responded, but all its efforts were nullified before Absolute Judgement. In just one minute, the creature fell.

“Status window.”

[Kang Taesan] [Level: 120] [Shield: 3899/3899] [Health: 40820/40820] [Mana: 3780/3780] [Magic: 653/653] [Strength: 8461] [Intelligence: 7261] [Agility: 7815] [Attack Power +2745] [Defense + 1622] [The subject is in optimal condition.]

He remembered Lee Taeyeon’s stats from when she cleared the labyrinth.

He had nearly reached that point. If he reached the deeper layers, he would surely surpass it.

The ghost murmured.

[These stats are insanely high.]

It was because of Soul Ascension. Each time he defeated an enemy, he absorbed their stats, resulting in more than double the increase.

Stats weren’t everything in the labyrinth, but they were the foundation. The higher they were, the more advantageous the conquest became.

“Are your stats higher than this?”

[Yes? They're lower than when I died.]

“Really?”

It seemed that reaching the deeper layers significantly increased the stat growth. This realization amused him.

Even in her final clear of Solo Mode, Lee Taeyeon’s stats were not significantly different from Taesan’s current stats.

[With these stats, you can handle the equipment of the deep-layer enemies. Even the higher-ups will have a headache.]

The ghost laughed.

Having defeated the boss, Taesan returned to the labyrinth and found the secret room. He cleared it and obtained the rewards.

He organized the rewards he had obtained.

[Belt containing the Echo of Pain] [Black Magic + 20] [Intelligence + 100] [Defense + 150] [A belt made by an excellent black magician after torturing demons and capturing their voices. If you listen closely, you can hear the screams of the demons from that time.]

It was a description that made him reluctant to wear it, but the effects were useful. Equipment that could increase his black magic stats was always welcome.

And it wasn’t the only one.

[Necklace of the Lich residing in the Western Forest] [Black Magic + 40] [Intelligence + 200] [A necklace that the Lich, who once ruled the forest, received as a gift during his lifetime. Even after losing his humanity, he couldn't part with it.]

This was also a good piece of equipment. Being a necklace, it greatly increased the black magic stats.

With this, the power of black magic would noticeably increase.

[Echo of the Forward March] [A horn for advancing. When blown during battle, it raises the morale of allies.]

A horn used in group battles. It might not be useful immediately, but it could be used after returning to Earth. Overall, the equipment was quite practical.

“Alright.”

Taesan descended the stairs.

[60th Floor Quest Start.] [Defeat the boss on the 60th floor and proceed.] [Reward: Soil of the Black Land.] [Secret Reward: ???]

60th floor.

It was the end of the theme where mysterious beings appeared.

The next theme would be the final one leading to the deep layers.

“We’re finally close.”

The place that once felt so distant was now within reach.

Taesan steeled himself and descended the stairs. The shopkeeper was, as always, waiting for him at the entrance of the floor.

“You’ve arrived.”

He spoke calmly, but an irrepressible yearning flickered in his eyes.

“Finally, here. Not much further to go now.”

“Indeed.”

“Yes, not much left. Until the day you reach that place…”

He muttered softly. His eyes were filled with desire.

Gathering his emotions, he spoke.

“Do you wish to buy something?”

“No.”

Taesan shook his head. Even if he wanted to buy something, it wasn’t now. He planned to save money until the deep layers.

“Then go down. Go down and reach that place.”

The shopkeeper bared his teeth in a grin.

Taesan turned his back on him and proceeded down the passage.

What did the shopkeeper desire?

The system window that appeared when Taesan met the shopkeeper called him the lost king.

He must have entered the labyrinth to retrieve what he had lost.

It was likely in the deep layers.

Taesan encountered the monster on the 60th floor.

The final mysterious monster was an Imoogi (a Korean mythical creature resembling a giant serpent).

The Imoogi, large enough to fill the room, lunged at Taesan to devour him.

Taesan drew his sword.

The Imoogi was strong.

Despite its massive body, it was faster than any monster Taesan had seen. Even those who had descended this far without difficulty would have to fight with death in mind due to its strength.

[Shaa!]

The Imoogi violently shook its body and lunged its jaws forward. Taesan spread his arms. The golden sword appeared in his hand.

[You have activated the Golden Sword of Nevarius.]

He drew a diagonal line.

The golden line sliced through the charging Imoogi. With a loud crash, the Imoogi collapsed.

Taesan clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly. As it was intermediate black magic, it was quite difficult to use. He needed to practice multiple times to get accustomed to it.

He cleared the 60th floor without any issues.

The Imoogi was certainly strong, but Taesan had already reached the initial level of the deep layers.

A mere common monster on the 60th floor could not threaten him.

He defeated them one by one and moved forward.

And the pace was noticeably slow.

[Why are you going so slowly?]

“I need to prepare too.”

[……Oh.]

The ghost understood Taesan’s meaning and closed his mouth. Barkaza asked in a hesitant tone.

[Master. I sense a strong power ahead. And... it seems to be a being close to me.]

“It probably is.”

Taesan cleared the labyrinth.

Invitations from the community had been ringing loudly for him since earlier, but he had no intention of talking now. It was too distracting, so he turned off the notifications altogether.

Taesan arrived at the secret room, cleared its traps, and obtained the reward.

The reward was a spear. The attack power was decent, but it was not a weapon Taesan, who used dual swords, would use. He put it in his inventory and continued to clear the labyrinth.

After dealing with and clearing the monsters, he reached the boss room.

[Shaa…….] [The Imoogi that could not become a dragon was coiled.]

Unlike the Imoogis he had encountered so far, this one had smooth and splendid scales. Its face had also slightly changed to resemble the dragons Taesan had met.

Moreover, unlike the other Imoogis he had faced, it also used magic.

Kwaaang!

He struck his sword towards the charging jaws. The Imoogi crashed into the labyrinth floor with a loud noise.

Breaking and cutting through all the magic manifested in the air, he deeply embedded his sword and struck down.

[Keieee!]

The Imoogi screamed and started thrashing around.

Taesan calmly dealt with the Imoogi.

It didn’t take long for the Imoogi to collapse with a scream.

Taesan sheathed his sword. The system window appeared noisily.

The rewards for clearing the 60th floor. He wanted to check them one by one, but there was no time.

Taesan turned his gaze to the stairs.

Thud. Thud.

With the sound of footsteps on the stairs, they appeared.

One was a knight-like being clad in solid armor with a faint glow. It held a massive shield in one hand and a sword in the other.

The other was a being holding a quietly flickering flame. The flame wasn’t wild or flashy, but it contained a discernible power and dignity.

There were two in total.

Taesan looked around.

“No matter how I see it, they’re not the Guides of the 6th hierarchy. Who are they?”

[We killed them all. They had no value whatsoever.]

The being with the sword spoke calmly.

“Really?”

Taesan looked at the two.

“Then you two are the last ones.”

The final guardians blocking the path to the deep layers and meeting the higher-ups.

The two spoke.

[I am the Great Spirit King of Fire. Vishnu's Shield.] [I am the Great Spirit King of Fire. Vishnu's Spear.]

A fierce energy surged. A violent torrent swept through the room.

[Come. Those who dare to oppose the king. Meet your death under our power.]