[Fourth Trial passed. As a reward, Agility increases by 2.] Each time he passed a Trial, it would transform into an Adventurer from the next floor.
The shadow took a human form, and the fifth Trial began. An Adventurer of the 5th Floor. Befitting that, its speed was considerable.
A sword strike came down upon Taesan.
Klang!
It was strong. With a monstrous strength that was clearly beyond human, it had enough power to easily send a car flying. Taesan put strength into his arm.
The sword held by the shadow screamed and then cracked apart.
[Fifth Trial passed. As a reward, Strength increases by 2.] And then, the sixth Trial began.
The Adventurer of the 6th Floor was faster and stronger. On top of that, it started using Skills.
[The shadow has activated a fierce thrust.]
"So it starts using Active Skills from here on?"
The 6th Floor. It was a section where using one or two wouldn't be strange. It wasn't a good Skill.
It was a Skill that only dealt about 10% additional Damage on a successful thrust, a Skill Taesan knew how to acquire but hadn't because he had no need for it. The method of acquisition was to thrust into the air 100 times in the same stance. Instead of swinging his sword, Taesan created distance and waved his hand.
[You have activated Frost Arrow.]
Shatter!
A huge chunk of ice flew toward the shadow. The shadow blocked it, but shattered along with its sword.
[You have activated Scorching Orb.]
Fwoom! Two spells.
And the shadow disappeared.
[Sixth Trial passed. As a reward, Mana increases by 2.] It was still at a level where it could be handled with Magic alone.
Taesan checked his Mana. All the consumed Mana had been restored. Every time he passed a Trial, his entire condition was restored.
From the feeling of it, even his Mental Fatigue seemed to disappear.
‘I can try various things.’
Gurgle.
A shadow appears. An Adventurer of the 7th Floor.
Swoosh.
It was definitely fast. A speed that would be difficult for an ordinary person to follow with their eyes. It could easily dodge something like an arrow, but Taesan calmly used Magic.
[You have activated Scorching Orb.]
Fwoom!
Another ability he gained while learning Magic. He had become able to control the speed of his Magic. The Fireball, which would normally have a speed similar to an arrow, rushed forward so fast it felt like it had vanished for a moment.
The shadow violently twisted its body to dodge. But its arm was grazed, and it couldn't help but catch fire.
[You have activated Frost Arrow.]
[You have activated Frost Arrow.]
[You have activated Confusion.]
Crackle!
Activated along with Mental Magic, it couldn't dodge. It was skewered and disappeared.
[Seventh Trial passed. As a reward, Strength increases by 3.] "This is pretty good too."
The individual amounts were small, but since there were many, it added up to quite a lot. The Trial of Pride was about sequentially facing Adventurers from the 1st Floor onwards. With this kind of method, it would be fine to let the community forums know.
They could just try it until they couldn't go further and then quit. But that was a story for after he cleared it. Taesan activated Magic against the newly appeared shadow.
[You have activated Scorching Orb.]
The shadow dashed forward. It narrowly dodged the Scorching Orb. The 8th Floor.
In terms of floors, it was his equal. It seemed it could dodge at least one spell. The shadow that approached Taesan swung its sword and activated a Skill.
[The shadow has activated Deflection. The next attack will be deflected.]
"Hoh?"
It seemed that from here, they started using useful Skills. Taesan swung his sword. The moment it made contact with the shadow, his body was forcibly twisted.
He twisted his body to match it and swung his arm back. His attack chaotically tore the shadow apart.
[Eighth Trial passed. As a reward, Mana increases by 4.] Deflection was a Skill that forcibly made an attack miss.
The moment of contact, the direction of the force would be bent. However, that direction was more or less fixed. If you've used it a lot, it becomes predictable, allowing you to attack with minimal loss.
[Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. Proficiency for Deflection increases by 2%.]
[Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. Strength permanently increases by 1. Agility permanently increases by 2.] It seemed that Soul Rank Ascension also activated from this point on.
It was an unexpected Stat increase. With a pleased expression, Taesan awaited the next shadow, but nothing appeared.
"What?"
If it was over, a clear window should have appeared, but that didn't happen either. Taesan looked at the Altar. The power he felt from within it was quietly wavering.
"Why isn't it coming out?"
[This is funny.]
The Ghost chuckled as if it had an idea what was happening.
[The domain of interference granted to Pride is only for shadows of the same floor. To proceed with Trials beyond that, a tribute must be offered. I told you before, didn't I? The Gods treasure their domains of interference greatly.]
"There was no sign of that until now."
Rakiratas and Balthazar both readily reduced their domains.
[That's because you're special. And because they are strong enough, they could accept that level of loss.]
"But Pride is not?"
[Because a gap certainly exists between the Merciful Beings. It's probably having a headache right now. The two thoughts of wanting to see more of your potential and not wanting to chip away at its own domain must be clashing.]
Taesan crossed his arms and waited. The power of the Altar was still wavering back and forth as if it were still contemplating.
"Should I just go?"
It seemed like it would stay that way all day if he just waited. It was the moment Taesan showed signs of leaving.
[Pride's domain of interference is reduced.]
[Pride proposes an Enhanced Trial to you.]
[This is really funny.]
The Ghost burst into laughter. He could feel a sense of urgency, as if it were telling him not to go. It was a moment that shattered his thoughts about gods up until now.
Taesan reluctantly accepted the Trial.
[Pride feels a complex emotion.]
[Trial of Pride: Prove your strength.]
The shadow coalesced again. It pointed its sword at Taesan. An Adventurer of the 9th Floor.
A Player who had reached a place he had not yet reached. The shadow ran toward Taesan.
Klang!
He could feel the weight in the sword. He could parry it if he wanted, but it possessed a power that made it impossible to cut through it along with the sword. But it was no match for him.
He parried the sword and pushed forward. The shadow tried to block, but it couldn't even put up proper resistance against the storm of sword strikes and collapsed.
[Ninth Trial passed. As a reward, Strength increases by 4.] [Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. Proficiency for Deflection increases by 3%.]
[Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. Strength permanently increases by 3. Agility permanently increases by 2.] Once again, a shadow appeared.
Seeing it take form, he became curious.
"What are these things?"
They were not simple toys created by a god. Each shadow had its own habits in movement. It meant they were the remnants of someone.
[They're all different. Those who challenged a Trial and were defeated. Or those who made a Contract. Those who perished in vain and offered their souls. They are their shadows.]
"And they're gathered for each floor?"
[The history of the Labyrinth is long. There are even gods who have hundreds of slaves. Rakiratas is just like that.]
The shadow formed. This time, it was the 10th Floor. Taesan activated Magic.
[You have activated Scorching Orb.]
The shadow dodged the Magic. It rushed toward Taesan at an incredible speed.
"Is the 10th Floor of Alone Mode about the same level as clearing Easy Mode?"
Klang!
Taesan parried the sword.
[You have activated Madness.]
[You have activated Scorching Orb.]
[You have activated Scorching Orb.]
[You have activated Frost Arrow.]
Magic manifested in the empty air. It filled the space and incinerated the shadow.
[Tenth Trial passed. As a reward, Strength increases by 5.] Soul Rank Ascension activated this time as well.
It seemed it didn't give Experience, but the increase in Stats was such that he felt no disappointment. And now, the 11th Floor. The strength of one who had broken through the 10th Floor.
The shadow that had been staring at him blankly stamped its foot on the ground.
Kuung! Fast.
It had definitely gotten stronger. He blocked the sword. The sensation of 'heavy' traveled up his hand.
The theme of the Labyrinth changes every 10 floors. If the 1st to 10th Floors were the living, then the 11th to 20th were the dead. The 21st to 30th were the strange things.
It went on like this. As such, breaking through the final floor of a theme makes one significantly stronger. Taesan flicked the sword away.
[The shadow has activated Deflection. The next attack will be deflected.]
[You have activated Power Strike. The next attack will deal great Damage.]
Power Strike ignored Deflection and attacked. The shadow that had been pushing forward with its body was cut down. It flailed and resisted, but Taesan swung his sword.
He knocked aside its defense and sent it flying. With a small commotion, the shadow collapsed.
[Eleventh Trial passed. As a reward, Strength increases by 4. Agility increases by 2.] [Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. Proficiency for Deflection has risen by 3%.]
[Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. Strength permanently increases by 3. Agility permanently increases by 4.] It was no longer a one-sided push.
This time, the shadow rushed in immediately without any time to observe. Taesan met its charge.
Swords clashed.
This time, he faced it with only Swordsmanship, not Magic. The shadow didn't just stand there and take it, moving its body, but it couldn't easily respond to a superior Swordsmanship. After five minutes, the shadow disappeared.
And then, the 13th Floor. This time, it began to use Skills other than Deflection, one by one. Taesan used Magic alongside his attacks.
It took 10 minutes. The 14th Floor was easier than that. It used many different Skills, but perhaps it was an Adventurer who relied on them, as its movements were clumsy.
For Taesan, who knew how to counter them, it was rather simple. He was able to win after 20 minutes. And then, the 15th Floor.
Kaaang! Heavy.
Even when he tried to push it back, it wouldn't be pushed easily.
"Is this where it begins?"
At the level of the 15th Floor, their Stats were equal. This meant that Lee Tae-yeon or Kang Jun-hyeok would have to reach the 15th Floor to barely be on par with his current self. But Taesan had his Skills.
[You have activated Scorching Orb.]
Magic at point-blank range. It was impossible to dodge. The flames exploded.
[You have activated Power Strike.]
The attack crushed the shadow. The shadow blocked, but Power Strike also added Strength. Its sword was pressed down, and its knees touched the ground.
The shadow barely deflected it and attacked. Taesan didn't block.
[Your Absolute Nullification of the First Attack has been activated.]
The result of an 'attack' was erased. Taesan moved his sword.
[Fifteenth Trial passed. As a reward, Strength increases by 6. Agility increases by 5. Mana increases by 4.] Combined with Soul Rank Ascension, his Stats increased by nearly 20. The increase in Proficiency was a bonus.
"This is insane."
It wasn't just 'pretty good'. The amount of increase was crazy. Every time he caught one, his Stats increased noticeably.
He had repeated that fifteen times. His Stats had risen by over 60 compared to when he first took the Trial. Normally, it wouldn't have been this much.
Since the Trial only proceeded up to one's own floor, it would have been at a decent level. But Taesan had Soul Rank Ascension. On top of that, after long deliberation, Pride had also enhanced the Trial.
It was too good. Rakiratas and Balthazar had also given considerable rewards, but this was even more. Coupled with his Skills, it was an insane level of growth.
With a whistle, a new shadow appeared.
Clank.
An Adventurer of the 16th Floor. The shadow pushed him. The shadow's Stats were higher than Taesan's. The shadow, possessing Deflection, No Breath Attack, and Unbreakable Will, pressured Taesan.
Taesan also moved his sword with a serious expression.
Screech!
He swung his sword and parried. Using the Sword of the Storm Scar, he blocked the opponent's movements and took an advantageous position. On top of that, he also manifested Magic from time to time to obstruct the opponent's vision and restrict its movement.
[You have activated Acceleration.]
[You have activated Power Strike.]
Screech!
With an accelerated body and enhanced strength, he struck down fiercely. The shadow smoothly moved its sword to deflect and counterattack.
[Your Absolute Nullification of the First Attack has been activated.]
The attack was erased. He unleashed all his attacks on the shadow, which showed signs of being flustered. He used all his Magic, Swordsmanship, and Skills.
The shadow collapsed.
[Sixteenth Trial passed. As a reward, Strength increases by 6. Agility increases by 5. Intelligence increases by 3. Mana increases by 5.] [Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. Proficiency for Unbreakable Will increases by 4%.]
[Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. Strength permanently increases by 5. Agility permanently increases by 5.]