[Kang Taesan [Alone]: It's a hassle to explain one by one, so I'll pass. Just listen.]

Taesan began his explanation.

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: I'll only tell you about the Skills you can obtain through effort. Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyeok should know what I mean.]

[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Yes.]

Insight, which can only be obtained by grasping the essence of things. Composure, which can only be possessed by maintaining an unshakable mind. Sense Enhancement, which requires keeping one's senses sharp.

All of these could only be obtained with innate talent. In a way, talent was expressed under the name of a Skill. These were Skills that couldn't be learned just by being taught, but had to be acquired on one's own.

Taesan planned to tell them about Skills that even an ordinary person could obtain with enough effort.

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: First, I'll assume everyone already has the Disease Resistance Skill, so I'll skip it.]

Emergency food was too expensive for a Player on the First Floor to buy. Until they could buy a torch, they had no choice but to eat raw meat. In that process, they would get food poisoning and recover at the Fountain of Life.

Naturally, they could acquire Disease Resistance. In fact, most of the Skills the Alone Players mentioned was Disease Resistance.

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Then, the easiest Skill to get. It's Pain Reduction.]

[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Ooh. That sounds good.]

Anticipation spread through the community forums. They were all modern people, frail to pain. A Skill that could reduce pain.

It sounded incredibly alluring.

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: You've all gotten a Skill or two, so you should know the conditions for obtaining them.]

[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Recreate the Skill's effect to some extent. I know that much. ...... Huh?]

As he spoke, Kang Jun-hyeok realized something. Taesan calmly posted.

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Just as you said, the method is simple. You just have to endure pain.]

[Lee Tae-yeon [Alone]: That's easier than I thought. Should I just let a Big Rat bite me?]

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: You think that'll be enough?]

The Big Rat's attack was more of a sting. The Labyrinth's Judgment didn't consider it pain.

[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Then how can we get it?]

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Stab a knife into your arm.]

[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: ...... What?]

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: You all have a Rusted Sword, right? Stab it deep into your arm. It has to reach the bone to get a proper Judgment, so don't get scared and do it half-heartedly.]

The only Monster on the First Floor was the Big Rat. If he told them about the Secret Rooms, only those who would go there to die would emerge, so this was the only way.

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Why is no one talking?]

The community forums, which had been so noisy just a moment ago, fell silent.

[Lee Tae-yeon [Alone]: ...... You're telling us to stab ourselves with a knife?]

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Yes. All the way to the bone, for sure. The Fountain of Life is right there, so what's the problem?]

No matter how much it hurt, they could recover. Taesan thought there was no problem.

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: If you fight a Big Rat in that state, you can also get a Skill called Unbreakable Will that lets you ignore injuries and fight, so be sure to do it.]

Silence fell again. After a long while, Kang Jun-hyeok barely managed to ask.

[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: How long do we have to endure it?]

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: About 1 minute?]

[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: ...... Wow.]

It was an exclamation filled with numerous meanings. It was the reaction Taesan had expected, so he continued to post.

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: I'll continue. The next Skill is called No Breath. Go into the Fountain of Life and hold your breath. You can get it if you wait until you're on the verge of death. After you get that, use the Skill and swing your sword to your limit to acquire No Breath Attack. It's a very useful Skill that gives you freedom in your breathing, so it's good to learn it.]

[Lee Tae-yeon [Alone]: Until the verge of death?]

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: How did you learn Line of Death?]

[Lee Tae-yeon [Alone]: I was fighting in a passage when two Big Rats suddenly jumped out. I ran as soon as I saw them. I got the Skill when I reached the Fountain of Life with 2 Health left.]

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: It's that kind of feeling. You'll probably get No Breath and Line of Death at the same time.]

[Lee Tae-yeon [Alone]: Ah.......]

Realizing it was literally a life-threatening crisis, Lee Tae-yeon shut her mouth.

[Moon Jae-seong [Alone]: ...... Is there anything else?]

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: There's a Skill called Fortitude that nullifies damage leading to death and makes you immune to damage for a few seconds.]

Just from the description, it was a Skill of considerable performance. But the community forums were silent. Lee Tae-yeon asked as if she had given up.

[Lee Tae-yeon [Alone]: How do you get that one?]

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: With 1 Health left, just block a Big Rat's attack about thirty times. Then you can get it. As a bonus, you'll also get a Skill called Block. It's a gamble worth taking.]

[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Hah.]

[Moon Jae-seong [Alone]: ...... Aren't you lying?]

[Park Chan-woong [Alone]: No matter how hard it is, do you really have to go that far just to get a Skill?]

The initial trust, faith, and joy had vanished without a trace, and only disbelief remained. Taesan checked the posts that were appearing with an indifferent expression.

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: I have no intention of forcing you to learn them. I have no reason to. The choice is yours.]

[Moon Jae-seong [Alone]: I, I can't do it. How could anyone do something so insane?]

[Kim Yo-han [Alone]: Me too. No matter how much I need a Skill, I don't think that's the way.]

The majority of the reactions were rejection. They couldn't accept the fact that they had to go to such lengths to obtain a Skill. And it was the reaction Taesan had expected.

They were people who had lived in the modern era. War was a story from history, and starvation was something that happened in a faraway country. They had never once in their lives risked their lives for anything.

Even if they were suddenly thrown into the Labyrinth, their fundamental nature wouldn't change. There was no one who would try to gain something by enduring pain. Even if they knew it would save their lives.

They would only realize it after experiencing some hardship. The problem was, by that time, most of them would be dead. Those who knew before experiencing hardship were extremely few.

[Lee Tae-yeon [Alone]: ...... Is there no other way?]

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: None.]

[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Wow. This is crazy.]

He was complaining, but his words contained determination.

[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Sigh. Still, I have to try.]

[Lee Tae-yeon [Alone]: I've lived a long time, but I never thought I'd be doing something like this.]

[Moon Jae-seong [Alone]: Hey, hey. Jun-hyeok. Are you really going to do that crazy thing?]

[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Then what else can I do? It will definitely be helpful if I learn it.]

[Moon Jae-seong [Alone]: It could be a lie, you know?]

[Lee Tae-yeon [Alone]: Mr. Taesan? For what reason?]

At Lee Tae-yeon's words, Moon Jae-seong was at a loss for words. Taesan had proven himself by posting the guides.

[Lee Tae-yeon [Alone]: Why would someone who's doing so well on his own lie? I'll just try to learn the safe Skill first. No Breath isn't that dangerous, right?]

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: It's fine if you get out as soon as you see the System Window. But you'll have to struggle a bit, right? Instinct isn't something you can easily suppress.]

Excluding him, even Jung-geun, the only other one who had learned No Breath, had succeeded only after trying dozens of times. The fear that you would die if you held on any longer was no simple matter. The only one who could easily endure it would be someone who was a little strange in the head.

[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: Ugh. I have to try.]

Only Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyeok showed determination. This too was as expected. Only those with talent and a challenging spirit would advance.

The rest would rot away in the Labyrinth. Or they would realize it too late and try their best then. 'I hope at least one or two of them make it.'

[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Work hard. I'll tell you about the rest of the Skills when you're ready to learn them.]

Taesan closed the community forums. The remaining people would probably chatter noisily about something, but it had nothing to do with him.

[Are you done? What were you doing?]

"Just some simple advice."

He didn't know what the community forums were, but he must have guessed from Taesan's actions. The ghost grumbled.

[You're doing such a pointless thing. This is a place where those who are meant to die will die, and those who are meant to live will live.]

"Still, even those on the fence might be able to live."

That was why he was telling them various things. The next time he opened the community forums, something would have changed. The ghost urged Taesan on.

[You're all done, right? Let's go, quickly!]

Taesan stood up, opened the door right in front of him, and looked inside.

"Kkireuk."

"Ki-ek."

Inside were four Goblins. And just as Taesan expected, beyond them was a Red Door. These were probably the last Monsters on the 2nd Floor.

Taesan calmly opened the door. He took out his Bow against the terrified Goblins.

"Kek!"

"Kak!"

He shot Paralysis Arrows at three of them. The ghost asked in a puzzled tone.

[What are you doing, wasting arrows?]

"Just wait and see."

Taesan drew his sword.

"Kkik, kkiiik."

The only Goblin not hit by a Paralysis Arrow nervously raised its shield. Taesan struck at the Goblin with his sword.

Jjeo-eong!

[10 Damage dealt to the Shield-Wielding Goblin.]

"Kkiiiiik!"

The Goblin screamed and collapsed. With a little more force, it would be sliced in two along with the sword. But Taesan pulled his sword back.

The Goblin, which had sensed death and closed its eyes, was bewildered.

"Kek?"

Taesan took off all his Attack Power Accessories. After making his Attack Power 1, he swung his sword haphazardly. The Goblin frantically blocked the attacks.

"Ka-ak!"

"Kareureuk!"

The moment the paralyzed Goblins recovered and stood up, Taesan took out his Bow again.

"Ki-ek!"

"Kkak!"

The three Goblins froze again. Taesan continued to beat up the one Goblin left alone stupidly.

[What is this nonsense?]

"You don't know?"

[I know. You're doing this to get a Skill, aren't you?]

"You know well."

Taesan shot another Paralysis Arrow. He had already been beating up just one Goblin for nearly two minutes. The ghost pounded its chest as if frustrated.

[Knowing something half-heartedly is this scary. It's true that Skills are obtained in this way. But there's no Skill you can get like this.]

"There is."

There was a very good Skill. Taesan nocked another Paralysis Arrow. The ghost scoffed.

[Do you know how far down I've gone? To the 80th Floor. The 80th Floor! There's nothing I don't know!]

"Then shall we make a bet?"

[A bet? What is there for me, already dead, to gain?]

"If you win, I'll become your puppet. I'll follow everything you say. Even if you tell me to die."

[Ooh?]

"Instead, if I win, you have to answer my questions without lying. That's the bet."

[Ha. This is one bold bastard.]

The ghost laughed as if amused.

[A guy who just entered the Labyrinth wants to challenge me, an old-timer among old-timers, with information?]

"So, you don't like it?"

To Taesan's relaxed reply, the ghost nodded its head vigorously.

[Of course I like it! I swear on the name of the great royal family of the Carbert Empire! On the name of Alkeright! If you win, I will not utter a single lie in response to your questions! But if I win, you are my slave!]

"Good."

Even while they talked, Taesan continued to torment the Goblin with his sword. The Goblin, as if it had half given up, was moving its shield carelessly.

"Can you see the System Window?"

[If you want me to see it, I can.]

"Then that's settled."

Taesan nocked another Paralysis Arrow. A look of annoyance began to appear in the eyes of the frozen Goblins. The ghost muttered cheerfully.

[What will I make him do? I'll be able to have fun with this guy until he's on the verge of death.]

Taesan ignored him and kept moving his hands. Like that, four minutes passed.

[Shouldn't you give up soon?]

Instead of answering, Taesan opened his mouth.

"Do you know the Duel Skill?"

[It's a Basic Skill, why wouldn't I know it?]

It was a Skill used when Players fought each other; once both parties agreed, no other Player could interfere. It was a Skill used more often outside than inside the Labyrinth.

"You can get something similar here."

The difficulty of obtaining it was quite low. But because of its uniqueness, it was a Skill no one knew about until Taesan acquired it. The ghost seemed to be no different.

[What kind of nonsense is that......]

Just as the ghost was asking what he meant, a System Window appeared.

[While facing multiple enemies, you continued to fight with only one. You have acquired the Special Active Skill [Forced Duel].]

Got it.

Taesan swung his sword down. The Goblin disappeared without even a scream. The ghost muttered stupidly.

[...... Huh?]

[Special Active Skill: Forced Duel] [Mana Cost: 10] [Proficiency: 1%] [Duel the target. For 10 seconds, nothing except the target can deal Damage to you.]

Taesan smiled with satisfaction after checking the Skill's details. It was a Main Skill. The Mana cost was high, but it prevented anything from interfering.

The interference it prevented was, literally, from everything.

Continuous damage.

Damage over time.

Poison Judgement. Confusion Judgement. Pressure Judgement.

It erased all Judgments, effects, and substances. Depending on how it was used, Forced Duel could allow one to survive even if thrown into lava or flung into outer space. Its value dropped slightly because it didn't have its own buff, but it was powerful enough to be a Main Skill.

[...... This is ridiculous.]

The ghost muttered blankly.

[Where did a Skill like this come from. To get a Skill of that level in such a way......]

"That's why no one else got it."

When facing multiple opponents, exclude the rest and only beat on one. And do it for over five minutes without killing it. It was a method no normal person would use.

But Taesan had tried and challenged all sorts of things. The act of obtaining Forced Duel was a relatively less insane thing he had done.

"You remember the bet, right?"

If he lost, he would become the ghost's slave. If he won, the ghost would tell him everything it knew.

[...... Yeah. Let's say that's that. Unlike other guys, I don't have those kinds of restrictions anyway.]

The ghost looked at Taesan with a sour expression.

[But what kind of person are you?]