Ascension Through Skills

Chapter 247: 56th Floor (1)

It wasn’t the first time Taesan had seen a “?” on a skill.

However, it was the first time he had seen it accompanied by instructions to consult the labyrinth administrator due to a system error.

“Balbabamba.”

Taesan opened his mouth, and shortly after, the floor collapsed while bricks rose up.

[Again, you?]

A voice echoed, tired and weary.

[It must be the first time someone has summoned me repeatedly in such a short period. What do you want this time?]

“It says I should call you?”

[What are you talking about?]

Taesan opened the skill window and pushed it towards Balbabamba.

“Like this?”

[A skill? That’s a reason to call me...]

Balbabamba fell silent.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

[What is... that?]

“I’m asking because I don’t know either.”

There were a few skills the labyrinth couldn’t explain.

One was a conceptual skill he obtained from the world of blacksmith Harfran. As proficiency increased, more of its content was being unlocked.

The next was a black essence obtained from the high gods. It was written in strange characters, seemingly unexplainable.

But neither included instructions to call an administrator.

Balbabamba groaned.

[...There are a few cases where a skill’s description might be missing. The first is when the skill's level is much higher than the user’s power. As you increase your proficiency or power, a description will emerge. You have such a skill among yours.]

The conceptual skill.

That’s what he seemed to be referring to.

[And the second is when the power is known, but its nature isn’t fully understandable. Such as the power of the high gods.]

He was referring to the power of the high gods.

[The last is when the power and its effects are both unknown. In such cases, an instruction to summon me for verification is added.]

“Is that what this is?”

[What is it?]

Balbabamba’s voice was full of confusion.

[This place is the labyrinth, created by the magician and the gods. Even if it's the power of the high gods, its effects might be unknown, but the type of power should be identifiable. However, what you possess is... I can't understand anything.]

A power unknown to both the magician and gods.

That was the boundary line.

[I need to check it. Try using it.]

“It’s hard to predict the aftermath. It’s a power I can’t control either. Can you stop it?”

[You can't control it? Even with your abilities?]

Balbabamba muttered, baffled.

[...Has anyone witnessed you using that power?]

“The god of despair was watching.”

[Aphrodia?]

After a brief silence, Balbabamba spoke again.

[I should ask Aphrodia directly. Until then, let's put this on hold.]

Kugugung!

Balbabamba’s body crumbled to the floor.

Barkaza muttered in a captivating voice.

[Is that the labyrinth administrator? He's strong. No one within the labyrinth could likely match him.]

There was no issue with the skill he had acquired. It had been confirmed. Now, it was time to check the rest.

[Special Activation Skill: Inner World]

[Mana Cost: 1000]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Expands one's power and authority into a domain.]

“Should I consider it a barrier?”

[You have activated your Inner World.]

Taesan’s presence expanded.

His authority and power began to permeate the space, engulfing it.

Click! Click!

Like a puzzle fitting together, the room was enveloped by Taesan’s power. Seconds later, the room became Taesan’s domain.

[It's not just suppression... Is it a skill that forces a fight?]

[This place itself has become a sort of domain. Without considerable power, it would be difficult to escape.]

“That’s not bad.”

Taesan tapped the edge of his domain. Though the power had spread out and weakened slightly, it was still strong enough that an equal opponent couldn’t escape. Using Apostle Transformation or King’s Vessel would solidify the domain further.

It was a skill that could enforce a one-sided duel, quite useful indeed.

Next, it was time to check the skill evolved by Aphrodia.

[Special Activation Skill: Branches of Despair]

[Mana Cost: 50]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Implants branches of despair inside the touched opponent. The opponent experiences a terrible emotional turmoil.]

“A one-on-one dedicated skill.”

It seemed to be a skill that allowed him to influence and manipulate emotions.

Emotional interference skills often became useless depending on the opponent’s level.

However, this was an emotional interference skill bestowed directly by the god of despair.

Even a powerful individual, even if they were a leader of the Guides, could be affected. If truly so, the value of this skill was quite high.

The verification of acquired skills was complete.

Now, it was time to use the points.

“What should I do?”

Taesan sat on the floor, pondering.

The points he had gained were 2830. Converted to skill proficiency at a ratio of 1:10, that was 283%.

But none of the skills Taesan possessed now would allow him to apply that much proficiency.

Each point was very costly because each was incredibly valuable.

‘Conceptual skills or transcendent skills, and magic are definitely impossible.’

Very high-level skills did not allow for point application. That meant he had to invest in a slightly lower-level skill.

‘Intermediate magic is also terribly inefficient.’

He had considered raising the proficiency of Starlight Arrow, but it took 100 points to raise 1%.

Even if he invested all his points, it would only increase by 28%.

Of course, the skill was powerful enough with that increase, but it was still frustrating.

Taesan clicked his tongue. In his previous life, he hadn’t acquired skills of this level, so he hadn’t considered these drawbacks.

Taesan continued to ponder.

And then he decided.

“I should use it for the spirits.”

[Spirit Skill: Spirit Contract]

[Proficiency: 2%]

[Contracts with spirits are made to draw out their power and summon them. However, the full potential of the spirits' power has yet to be harnessed.]

Barkaza and Minerva were strong, but Taesan was still unable to fully harness their power.

Taesan invested points into the Spirit Contract.

As his proficiency significantly increased and consumed more points, he began to enhance the contract proficiency with Barkaza and Minerva. Barkaza, observing, was impressed.

[Oh, ohhh?]

Suddenly, his power was being enhanced. The total amount of power he could handle was increasing, and he was becoming smoother in managing it.

[What is this?]

Barkaza was astonished.

He had done nothing, yet his power was increasing. It was an experience he had never had before.

After using all the points, Taesan checked the changed details.

[Spirit Skill: Spirit Contract]

[Proficiency: 40%]

[Contracts with spirits to draw out their power and summon them. Can now freely use the power of the spirits and draw out some of their power.]

Taesan waved his hand. Wind and light mingled above it.

He had become much more flexible in handling power. With a bit more familiarity, he felt he could create a typhoon without using any mana.

[Spirit Contract: A top-class spirit of various colors, Barkaza]

[Proficiency: 20%]

[Mana Cost for Summoning: 30]

[Contracted with Barkaza. Barkaza can be summoned and commanded, and his power can be further drawn upon.]

[Spirit Contract: The King of Wind Spirits, Minerva]

[Proficiency: 26%]

[Mana Cost for Summoning: 100]

[Contracted with Minerva. Minerva's power can be further drawn upon, but she cannot be summoned due to the terms of the contract.]

There was no significant change in the content of the spirit contract.

However, the change felt by the spirits seemed to be substantial. Barkaza was stuttering in shock.

[What in the world...]

“It seems you’re really feeling it.”

[...Is this the labyrinth?]

Barkaza groaned.

Labyrinth.

A space where systems created by transcendents came into play.

Barkaza belatedly realized what that meant.

“Not bad at all.”

He had become noticeably stronger. The same must be true for Minerva. Given her current state, she could easily defeat any monster that had troubled her on Earth.

“The community is still a mess.”

Though the speed had decreased slightly from before, it was still difficult to converse.

Kim Hwiyeon and other leaders from different countries were trying hard to control it, but people were not easily listening.

Then, a familiar name caught his eye.

[Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Shut up before I kill you all! Let’s talk!]

The message clearly showed what kind of person she was.

Taesan chuckled.

“She’s alive. As expected.”

Taesan turned off the community.

It should calm down by tomorrow. That was when he planned to talk.

It was now time to descend further into the labyrinth.

Taesan moved forward.

The monster on the 56th floor was a Pegasus.

A horse flying in the sky had thrust its horn forward.

Taesan slammed his hand down.

The Pegasus crashed to the ground, spewing blood.

“It feels strange.”

It was a curious feeling to slaughter a mystical creature that seemed like it belonged in a fairy tale.

Taesan quickly cleared the 56th floor.

The rewards from the secret room, the clear reward, and the secret reward were all items related to black magic, which Taesan offered to the Demon God.

Unlike before, the Demon God did not appear. It merely collected the offerings with a black aura.

Taesan thought it must be due to some urgent matter and entered the 57th floor.

[57th Floor Quest Start.]

[Defeat the boss of the 57th floor and pass through.]

[Reward: A brilliantly shining golden necklace.]

[Secret Reward: ???]

“I’m starting to want it.”

[What do you want?]

“A new skill.”

The ghost was taken aback.

[What else is there to obtain?]

Taesan had obtained a lot. Compared to the ghost, it was incomparable.

Conceptual skills, transcendental skills, the boundary line, etc. There were many, and each skill was incredibly valuable. Other adventurers would be grateful for a lifetime to have just one of these skills.

But for Taesan, it was still not enough.

“I haven’t obtained the skill I want yet.”

The skills he acquired in Solo Mode were all excellent.

But they were not truly what he desired.

“I have a different foundation.”

Taesan has grown stronger here. With this power, he could easily surpass his past self.

Yet, he was lacking the most important things.

Addition, Multiplication, Copy, Temporary Time Stop, Absolute Judgment.

These skills made him comparable to Lee Taeyeon even in easy mode, skills he had obtained through his own effort and analysis.

They were literally the essence of his power.

He had not yet obtained even half of them.

“There are things I can’t obtain right now…

Skills like Temporary Time Stop or Multiplication required very special conditions. Even in his past life, it would have been impossible to reacquire them.

But some could be obtained now.

Taesan entered the 57th floor.

As he passed through the passage, the monster of the 57th floor appeared.

The first thing he noticed was that the air was different.

A huge flower-shaped monster was emitting an intangible energy.

“Found it.”

Taesan drew his sword.

[The intangible Laplacia has appeared.]