Ascension Through Skills

[I am the caretaker of the labyrinth.]

The bricks collided, creating a loud noise.

[And I also serve as a guide for those who seek the labyrinth. Adventurer, as you descend to the deeper levels, there is something I must explain to you. Whether you choose to listen or not is up to you. What will you do?]

“I’ll listen.”

Taesan answered.

[You must have experienced many things while descending the labyrinth. You must have a rough understanding of what kind of place the labyrinth is and the strategies for conquering it. But from the deeper levels, it's different.]

The things Lee Taeyeon had told him. Balbabamba was speaking about that.

[Until now, the labyrinth was divided into new themes every 10 floors. But in the deeper levels, each floor is independent. There could be floors as vast as a single star, or floors so small that only one person can barely fit in. You may even be transported to entirely different worlds, or the concept of time might be distorted.]

Floors that escaped the concept of confined spaces, no longer even being called a labyrinth.

Balbabamba looked at Taesan for a moment and said,

[But perhaps, this is all meaningless for you.]

“You understand well.”

Taesan could not be considered an ordinary adventurer.

He had been to different worlds through the enhanced trials of the gods, and he had undertaken several quests on Earth as well.

If he thought of it as something similar, it wouldn’t be too difficult.

“Is that the end of the explanation?”

[What I have to say ends here. The rest, you'll have to discover as you descend the labyrinth.]

Taesan brushed past Balbabamba, heading towards the passageway.

But Balbabamba’s next words made Taesan stop.

[But before that, my master wishes to meet you.]

[What?]

The ghost hesitated.

Taesan turned to look at Balbabamba.

“Your master?”

[Truly?]

[I do not speak falsehoods.]

Balbabamba spoke bluntly.

[The wizard who created the labyrinth. The one who created me wishes to meet you, adventurer.]

A meeting with the wizard who created the labyrinth, aided by the gods.

However, the ghost spoke in a dubious tone.

[The wizard wants to meet an adventurer who has just entered the deeper levels? That’s strange.]

[Don't ask me. I have long grown tired of my master's whims.]

Balbabamba said in an annoyed tone.

[Answer, human. What will you do?]

“Can I refuse?”

[If you wish. Then I will simply inform the wizard that you have declined. It's that simple. Is that what you want?]

Taesan thought for a moment.

Lee Taeyeon had never mentioned anything about a wizard.

He wasn’t sure if she had deliberately avoided it or if she knew nothing, but Taesan knew almost nothing about the wizard.

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After some contemplation, Taesan spoke.

“I’ll go.”

To achieve his goals, he would eventually have to meet the wizard.

It only happened earlier than expected, so there was nothing bad about it.

[Troublesome, but I am his tool. I cannot refuse. Wait here.]

Boom!

A powerful force surged from Balbabamba.

Even Taesan, for a moment, felt the force that could raise his power.

The power spread, twisting and distorting the space.

Taesan could tell from the power he received.

It wasn’t just distorting space—it was interfering with the very rules of the labyrinth.

That seemed to be Balbabamba’s ability, allowed as the caretaker of the labyrinth.

[Balbabamba activated #000004.]

Crack.

The space twisted completely, revealing a warped dimension.

[The wizard exists outside the labyrinth. Creating a passage from the inside to the outside is a very laborious task.]

Fatigue was evident in Balbabamba’s voice.

Taesan looked beyond the space.

Balbabamba spoke with a weary voice.

[Hero, you are not permitted. Only this human can go.]

[Of course. Safe travels.]

The ghost, as if expecting this, calmly parted from Taesan.

Taesan began to step into the distorted space.

[You may be fine, but I have one piece of advice.]

Balbabamba spoke in a low voice.

[The wizard is the one who created the labyrinth. Keep that in mind.]

With those final words, Taesan entered the space.

What he saw was an endless, twisted, and distorted space.

Countless colors mingled together, creating a dizzying scene.

He looked around, but nothing was visible.

Taesan slowly began to walk. Eventually, the master would reveal themselves.

No matter how far he walked, the space seemed endless.

Like a rainbow, the colors continuously shifted, distorting their power.

‘Different.’

Taesan had visited countless realms and worlds of the gods.

And with his ability, which was specialized in observing and identifying the essence of things, he had grasped the characteristics of each realm to some extent.

The realm of the Demon God was dark yet peaceful.

Pavsha’s realm was intensely powerful, as if showing off its own strength, while the realm of the Spirit God Beatrice was harmonious, with everything working together.

But in this rainbow-colored space, the characteristics of the realms Taesan had seen so far were all mixed together.

‘Can things be mixed like this?’

It was a different issue from mere strength.

A being strong enough to have a domain should naturally have something built within themselves, something that would show the characteristics of their domain.

But this place was different.

Even though it was clearly the wizard’s domain, nothing about the wizard themselves could be found.

“Hello.”

Suddenly, a voice came from behind him, and Taesan stopped walking.

The distance increased in an instant.

Taesan, calming his breath, lifted his head.

The owner of the voice had gray hair.

With an average build and an unremarkable face, he had the kind of appearance that would be forgotten after a single glance if seen on the street.

“Nice to meet you, adventurer.”

He was smiling brightly.

And from him, Taesan felt nothing.

No human scent, no will that should naturally be felt from a living being, nor any aura of power that those with strength possess.

Nothing at all.

If one closed their eyes, they wouldn’t even know he was there.

“Do you know who I am?”

“The wizard.”

Taesan answered.

The wizard who created the labyrinth. The man nodded.

“I am the wizard of the labyrinth. The one who created this place and the master of this vast space.”

Taesan quietly observed the wizard.

But no matter how much he looked, he couldn’t discern anything.

Taesan instinctively activated a skill.

[You are attempting to discern the essence o#!©#]

Like a glitching graphic, the system window distorted. The wizard waved his fingers, smiling.

“No.”

The activation of the system itself was blocked.

“I am the wizard. The one who created and designed this place. Sometimes, there are those who, drunk on their own power, try to kill me and become the master of this place. Not even knowing where that power originates from.”

The wizard’s eyes narrowed.

Taesan realized why Balbabamba had given him that final warning.

The wizard was the creator of the labyrinth. There was no way skills originating from the labyrinth would work on the creator.

“Since it wasn’t an attack, I’ll overlook it. Sit down.”

Two chairs appeared in the rainbow-colored space. The wizard sat down and spoke.

“Curious, aren’t you? Why I wanted to meet you?”

Taesan nodded.

Judging from the ghost’s reaction, it seemed the wizard had never met an adventurer who had just entered the deeper levels.

“The wizard.”

“Feel free to speak casually. After dealing with arrogant folks for so long, I’ve grown tired of formality.”

“…Why did you want to meet me?”

“You intrigued me.”

The wizard answered.

He lazily rested his arm on the chair’s armrest.

“Nullifying attacks. Temporary time stop. Forced duels. Addition. Absolute Judgment…”

The wizard listed the skills Taesan had acquired.

“You didn’t just strengthen your own abilities. You understood the labyrinth’s system and created skills that could interfere with it.”

Powers that even the highest-ranked beings had not recognized, which had caused the ghost to exclaim in admiration.

“Many people have descended the labyrinth and gained numerous skills. But there have been almost no others like you who analyzed the system itself and created skills. You know, right? The kinds of skills others possess.”

Taesan understood the implication of the wizard’s words.

Shaman, who prided himself on his impenetrable defenses, possessed skills related to defense. The Spirit King wielded skills that influenced spirits and nature.

Lee Taeyeon was no different.

She descended the labyrinth by avoiding combat and taking detours.

Thus, most of her skills were related to evasion, hiding, and escaping from battlefields.

Strong people who descended the labyrinth all had their own unique abilities.

But Taesan was different.

Nullifying attacks. Absolute judgment. Temporary time stop.

These weren’t personal abilities but skills gained purely by analyzing and exploiting the labyrinth’s system.

“While others use their skills to supplement and strengthen their abilities, you manipulate and utilize the labyrinth’s system itself. You grasp something more fundamental.”

The wizard’s face lit up with interest.

“Is it due to the innate limitations of your world? Fascinating.”

He spoke again.

“There must be other things you’re curious about. Ask. I’ll answer what I can.”

Taesan gathered his thoughts and spoke.

It was a question that could potentially clarify everything, leading to the conclusion of the story.

“They said that if I conquer the labyrinth, I would be granted a wish. How far does that wish extend?”

“A wish, huh?”

The wizard murmured quietly.

“I can’t tell those who haven’t cleared the 100th floor, but… you’re an exception. You know the condition for the wish, right?”

“Conquering the labyrinth.”

It wasn’t just about clearing it.

One had to conquer the labyrinth itself.

And now, Taesan was approaching that conquest.

“I created the labyrinth. But it wasn’t through my power alone. Numerous gods, immortals, and powerful beings cooperated.”

The wizard tapped the armrest with his fingers.

“After collaborating with those who can create and destroy worlds on their own, this place was finally made.”

A deep, deep labyrinth.

A place where even those on the brink of mortality couldn’t guarantee a clear, where countless transcendent beings resided.

“We made a promise to grant the wish of whoever reaches the end. That’s the agreement.”

The wizard continued.

“The wish can be granted to the extent of the limits of those involved in the creation of the labyrinth.”

Taesan’s eyebrows twitched. The wizard quietly smiled.

“Anything permissible within the laws and order. That’s the reward for the conquest.”