Ascension Through Skills

Crash.

The boss fell to Taesan’s sword. Rewards were given along with the notification of clearing the floor.

[You have obtained the Potion of All Stat Increase.]

[You have obtained ???.]

[Potion of All Stat Increase]

[Increases all stats.]

[You have used the Potion of All Stat Increase.]

[Permanently increased Health by 300, Mana by 100, Magic Power by 50, Strength by 200, Agility by 200, and Intelligence by 200.]

He cleared the 67th floor.

His level also increased by 2. The secret rewards and secret room rewards were all related to dark magic equipment. When he offered them to the Demon God, he was able to learn an intermediate dark magic spell for the first time in a while.

[Intermediate Dark Magic: Sabbnack's Pitch-Black Thread]

[Mana Consumption: 500]

[Base Magic Power Consumption: 150]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Summons the pitch-black thread formed by Sabbnack's power. Although it's a thread that can slice through the world, it's currently deteriorated to the level where it can only slice through the earth.]

Without hesitation, Taesan immediately descended.

The return to Earth quest was only noted to begin in a few days, without specifying exactly when. Until then, his plan was to descend as quickly as possible.

[68th Floor Quest Start]

[Conquer the labyrinth of the 68th floor and defeat the boss.]

[Reward: Bracelet Enchanted by Crimson Blood]

[Secret Reward: ???]

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The 68th floor was not significantly different from the 67th. As there was nothing particularly unusual, Taesan quickly cleared the labyrinth.

He proceeded towards the boss while dealing with the monsters and raising his proficiency.

At some point, the regular floor monsters became insignificant opponents, so Taesan focused more on increasing his proficiency.

As a result, upon reaching the 68th floor, several skills showed changes due to proficiency increases.

[Top-Class Skill: Airak Martial Technique]

[Proficiency: 40%]

[A technique for handling weapons and the body. As it became fairly skilled, there’s no longer any loss in the transmission of power, and it can slightly adjust the values of attack power and defense.]

One of the skills that changed was the Airak Martial Technique.

It was an incredibly difficult skill to increase in proficiency. Taesan had obtained it as soon as he entered the labyrinth, but it had only now reached 40%.

Considering that Perception reached 100% and Reconnaissance surpassed 60% proficiency, the fact that this skill barely increased was astounding.

However, the changes upon proficiency increase were equally significant.

When the Airak Martial Technique reached 40%, an additional effect was added, allowing adjustments to attack and defense values.

Taesan experimented directly on a monster. The method of handling the Airak Weapon Technique that changed with proficiency naturally settled into his mind, so there were no problems.

The 68th floor’s monsters were dinosaur-like creatures resembling Tyrannosaurus. Taesan focused his energy and swung his sword at a charging monster.

Slash.

“Kaaah!”

[You dealt 5581 damage to the Guardian of the Deep Lair.]

The monster screamed and was flung away. Taesan observed the damage window and assessed the change in damage.

His current attack power was about 4900. The recent attack was purely based on attack power without any fluctuations, aside from using the Airak Weapon Technique. Yet, the damage displayed was 5581.

“Around a 10% variance?”

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A 10% increase in attack and defense. Taesan chuckled.

The proficiency was only at 40%, yet it increased attack and defense by 10%. Indeed, the Airak Weapon Technique was a skill of a different caliber.

“With something like this, I was able to deal 35,000 damage.”

And that was with a casual, not even serious, attack. Even though Taesan had reached the early depths and defeated the leading figures of the guides, he still wasn’t confident he could overcome Ainzhar.

‘Beloved Goddess, Levynenoff.’

Ainzhar was descending the labyrinth in search of that goddess.

In his past life, he had never found the goddess. At least, that’s what Lee Taeyeon had known.

But this time, Taesan had informed him of the goddess’s location.

The 78th floor, The Library of All Things, the 24th secret room.

As he was nearing that place, he was growing curious. Whether Ainzhar had achieved his goal.

And how he would act after meeting the goddess.

[Special Activation Skill: Breathless Attack]

[Mana Consumption: 2]

[Proficiency: 81%]

[Allows movements that disregard breathing during battle. It lasts for about 3 minutes, allowing full power movements.]

Though small, the proficiency of Breathless Attack had also significantly increased.

And the Sensory Enhancement skill had reached 100% proficiency as well.

[Special Passive Skill: Sensory Enhancement]

[Proficiency: 100%]

[Enhances senses. You can perceive killing intent or blind spots. It increases your ability to sense the unseen. It allows you to observe a certain range of space centered around yourself.]

The content itself hadn’t changed from when it was at 80%. But upon reaching 100%, a new skill had emerged.

[Special Passive Skill: Sensory Synchronization]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Your senses synchronize with a certain range around you. You cannot yet grasp a very wide area.]

A certain range. Specifically, within a room of the labyrinth centered around Taesan.

It was as if everything was directly sensed, touched, and detected, all within his senses.

Until now, there had been several skills that allowed him to observe his surroundings, but Sensory Synchronization was much more direct. It felt as if the very range where his body could reach had expanded.

Naturally, his already sharp senses became even sharper. Now, it would be impossible for even the upper echelon to approach him unnoticed.

‘Maybe Lee Taeyeon could manage it.’

Her skills included many evasion techniques. Some of them were not inferior to Taesan’s main skills.

Although Taesan often sparred with Lee Taeyeon in his previous life, he had never been able to find her when she deliberately hid herself.

She was truly specialized in evasion.

However, in her previous life, there were few opportunities for those skills to shine. Since only Taesan and Lee Taeyeon could face the constantly attacking S-class threats.

If she hid herself immediately, many others would die, so she had no choice but to seal most of her evasion-related skills.

“A pitiful woman.”

Taesan muttered.

Apart from that, the proficiency of many minor skills had also significantly increased. As he neared the deep layers, the number of skills reaching 100% was also increasing.

Taesan finished clearing the 68th floor. The boss of the 68th floor was a monster resembling a crimson Tyrannosaurus. Taesan focused his magic on the charging monster.

[You have activated Sabbnack's Pitch-Black Thread.]

Whirr.

A thread formed in Taesan’s hand. Moments later, the thread unraveled and began to shake the surroundings. Taesan quickly drew his shield.

[You have activated the Aegis Shield.]

Clang!

The thread split the entire space. Even Taesan was harshly battered, but thanks to the effect of the Aegis Shield, he took no damage.

Boom!

The charging Tyrannosaurus was chopped into dozens of pieces and collapsed.

The newly acquired Sabbnack’s Pitch-Black Thread sliced everything around it into pieces.

Even the user, Taesan, was not spared.

The first time he used it, unaware of this, he lost about 20% of his health.

The power was undeniable. It possessed greater strength than any other skill Taesan wielded.

However, its stability was lacking. If used carelessly, it could become a self-destructive skill.

Fortunately, there was a certain amount of time before the bundled thread unraveled and spread. He could escape and avoid damage with random blinks or other means.

Having grasped the power and usage of the skill, Taesan began to check the rewards for the 68th floor.

[Bracelet Enchanted by Crimson Blood]

[Strength +400]

[Agility +200]

[Attack Power +200]

[Defense +200]

[A bracelet soaked in the blood of a holy figure. The person who killed this great and merciful saint carried this bracelet throughout their life.]

As always, it was a decent piece of equipment. As he approached the deep layers, the performance of the equipment was gradually improving.

Both the secret room and the secret reward were rings.

[Ring of the Black Witch's Pitch-Black Magic]

[Dark Magic +50]

[Magic Power +50]

[Intelligence +100]

[A ring once used by a black witch who worshiped a Demon God that ruled over the blackened earth. After her death, the ring was absorbed into the labyrinth.]

[Ring of the Ruthless Tyrant]

[Strength +200]

[Attack Power +100]

[Defense +100]

[A ring belonging to a tyrant who conquered the world alone. He exterminated the entire family of anyone who opposed him and killed even the last dog of any group that resisted him. Until his death from old age, the world was engulfed in darkness.]

Taesan replaced his equipment and descended the labyrinth once again.

The 69th floor began.

Taesan drew his sword.

Crash.

In the midst of a lush forest, Taesan swung his sword down. The beast charging at him, trying to trample him, was cut in half and disappeared.

The quest on the 69th floor was to find a single flower in the dense forest. As he crossed the forest, hidden monsters would leap at him, and the floor was so vast and thickly vegetated that finding the flower was a difficult task.

Of course, it posed no problem for Taesan.

With his enhanced senses, he could block the monsters’ attacks without even looking. Thanks to his reconnaissance and essence analysis, he could immediately pinpoint the location of the treasure, so he headed straight for it.

And Taesan discovered the golden flower. The moment he was about to pick it, the space suddenly split, and darkness appeared.

[Hello?]

“It’s been a while.”

Taesan bowed his head in respect.

Pitch-black hair. A youthful face.

It was the Demon God.

[Do you know why I’ve shown myself?]

Taesan nodded. The Demon God revealing herself meant it was time to fight the Guides of Sin once again.

[Your next opponent is on the 70th floor. The last place before the deep layers. I’ll be waiting there.]

“Understood.”

[And from now on, I’ve changed the rules a bit. Your power has nearly reached theirs.]

It wasn’t hard to understand what she meant.

Up until now, the Demon God had given Taesan many conveniences in his battles against the upper echelons. It wasn’t because she favored Taesan but to ensure that their fights were worth watching.

In other words, Taesan had now reached a level where the Demon God no longer needed to offer him those conveniences. The Demon God spoke.

[I’ve made sure until now that your information didn’t reach them.]

This was a significant advantage for Taesan. Many of his skills had effects that made a big difference depending on whether they were known.

[But from now on, that restriction will be lifted. The Guides you’ll face in the future will understand your skills, and that information will flow to them.]

“I understand.”

Taesan nodded. The Demon God chuckled softly when he accepted it so easily.

[I thought you might complain a little. This condition is highly unfavorable to you, isn’t it?]

“It’s a decision made by you, Demon God. That means it’s necessary for a fair fight between us.”

If that’s the case, Taesan would simply follow.

The Demon God smiled in satisfaction.

[You’re returning to your hometown this time?]

“Yes.”

[As always, win and return. I’ll be waiting for your victory report.]

With those words, the Demon God vanished.

The next leader of the Guides he would face. Who would the opponent be?

There was someone who came to mind.

Taesan grasped the golden flower.

69th floor clear.

At the same time, a system window appeared, announcing his return to Earth.

[You will return to Earth in one hour. Please finish your preparations.]

“How considerate.”

One hour. It was an awkward amount of time to descend another floor. It seemed he would have to return to Earth before stepping on the 70th floor.

And coincidentally, there was something he needed to do with the remaining hour.

Taesan ascended the labyrinth. The 65th floor. There, he found Hafran hammering away.

“You’re here.”

Hafran looked exhausted.

“Is it finished?”

Taesan had commissioned Hafran to craft equipment using the materials he had obtained from the destroyed world.

Given the nature of the materials, it seemed Hafran had struggled with the crafting. Hafran nodded.

“The timing is good. I just finished it a little while ago.”

“Faster than I expected. I thought it would take longer.”

“Most of the materials were from my world. But I thought I was going to die. That damn equipment kept rejecting my touch and causing all sorts of trouble.”

Hafran grumbled. Taesan’s eyes gleamed at his words.

Equipment that rejected Hafran’s touch.

It might not be on the level of the pair of rings he made before, but it meant this was equipment that could be used even after reaching the deep layers. Hafran handed Taesan a bracelet.

“Take it. It’s the equipment you wanted, something that can be controlled by will.”

[You have obtained the Bracelet of Despair Containing a Fragment of the World.]