8th Floor, God of Trials. Pride (3) The Shadow of the 17th Floor appears.
Clang! Heavy.
It was a tingling sensation he hadn't felt in quite some time. He could endure it if he tried, but there was a difference in power that would push him back over time.
‘It’s not a Difficult Foe, I see.’
Taesan parries the sword and moves. He presses forward with the Sword of the Storm Scar. Flustered by the Swordsmanship it couldn't counter, the Shadow makes a decision.
The Shadow takes a firm stance and strikes down. It was an attack that crushed with pure power, capable of shattering any swordsmanship or technique.
"Hmph."
Taesan calmly retreats. The opponent has higher Stats than him. It also possesses a Skill.
[The Shadow has activated Power Strike.]
It rushed in with a fierce momentum, as if to end it in a single blow. How should one deal with such an enemy? He asks the question and pulls out the answer.
The opponent is a Shadow. A duplicate of someone who once cleared the Labyrinth. Each one has different patterns and movements.
It seems they also possess some small measure of intelligence. Then it’s simple.
[You have activated Acceleration.]
Taesan rushed at the opponent. It was a charge that disregarded all defense. The Shadow flinched for a moment at the suicidal act.
But only for a moment. The Shadow immediately thrust its sword. If it had been naive enough to ignore such an obvious opening, it wouldn't have made it this far down in the first place.
However, this time, it was a mistake.
[Your Absolute Nullification of the First Attack has been activated.]
The attack is erased. The Shadow's body returns to the state it was in before it swung its sword. Even through its black form, a sense of confusion could be felt.
Taesan moves his sword. The first sword.
Wolf Fang.
The Shadow barely regained its senses after dozens of Damage Windows appeared.
Clang!
It parries the sword and stabs at Taesan's neck. Taesan didn't block this time either.
[Your Absolute Nullification of the Second Attack has been activated.]
The attack is erased. Taesan moves his sword. In an instant, over 200 damage is dealt.
[Seventeenth Trial passed. As a reward, Strength increases by 8. Agility increases by 9. Intelligence increases by 3. Mana increases by 10.] He turns off the Soul Rank Ascension window entirely.
It was a bother to see the same text over and over. The watching Ghost lets out a hollow laugh.
[That's a selfish skill you can't even find in the Labyrinth. There's no way to counter it, is there?]
Absolute Nullification of the Attack. It erases the attack itself, but that alone couldn't be considered a hugely amazing effect. After all, Deflection also forcefully deflects an attack, and Counter is similar.
There were quite a few Skills that interfered with the result of an attack. Of course, Absolute Nullification was an effect on a different level from other skills, as it erased the result of the attack itself, but that wasn't the most important factor. The greatest advantage of Absolute Nullification was that it was a Passive Skill.
When a Skill is activated, a System Window appears. Since the opponent can see it too, they can react in advance. That's what Taesan had done.
Seeing the Elite Goblins using Deflection, he quickly widened the distance and baited out the Deflections with Arrows and Fireballs. Against Hage-Ha who used Power Strike, he responded by activating Counter. Against the Goblin Chieftain who used Magic, he used Mental Magic to prevent its activation every time the activation window appeared.
All this was possible because the opponent's Active Skills were visible. How quickly each side could react to the other's skills was one of the important factors. Perhaps the creator of the Labyrinth had intended this, as most skills that could interfere with a situation were Active Skills.
But Absolute Nullification is a Passive Skill. It's a skill where the System Window appears after the result has already occurred. Unless the opponent knows about it beforehand, it's absolutely impossible to counter.
And Absolute Nullification was a hidden skill that not even the Ghost knew about. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that unless Taesan told them himself, they were bound to fall for it. The Shadow of the 18th Floor appeared, but this time wasn't much different.
The opponent attacked using all sorts of skills, and Taesan abandoned his defense.
[Your Absolute Nullification of the First Attack has been activated.]
The attack is erased. He pours everything he has into the confused Shadow. The Shadow comes to its senses and attacks again, but it's erased once more.
Another attack.
But this time, it didn't fall. It was clearly stronger than the one from the 17th Floor and endured the Damage.
[You have activated Deflection.]
But it's not a problem. He sticks to the flustered, retreating Shadow and cuts it down. He uses Magic and Skills to cram in damage.
The Shadow falls. And then, the Shadow of the 19th Floor appears. He rushes in just like before.
The Shadow attacks. The attack is erased by Absolute Nullification. Taesan delivers a sword strike.
In an instant, a stream of Damage Windows obscures his vision. The Shadow flinches. But it immediately attacks again.
Second Attack Nullification. This time, it attacks immediately without any hesitation. Taesan clicks his tongue and retreats.
He had attacked based on the Attack Nullification, but he couldn't cram in as much damage as before. It was because the opponent attacked right away instead of hesitating.
‘From here on, it gets real.’
As someone who had survived to the 19th Floor in Alone Mode, its judgment was fast. The Shadow sprinted. It slams down its sword at a speed that's difficult to react to.
Claaaang!
His arm is pressed down. His body slowly begins to be pushed back.
Strong.
He could feel a difference in power great enough that he would surely lose if he fought with strength.
[The opponent is an impossible foe.]
A Difficult Foe Judgment appears. Taesan uses Power Strike to push it back and create distance.
[Judgment bypassed! Your will did not break against an impossible foe.]
Difficult Foe Judgment bonus.
[Your An Honorable Duel has been activated.]
A Skill that raises Stats in a one-on-one fight.
[Your Craving for Battle has been activated.]
A skill that enhances everything when facing a Difficult Foe.
[You have activated Contempt for the Strong.]
A skill that grants a Judgment Bonus when facing a Difficult Foe. Taesan clashes swords once again.
Clang.
He isn't pushed back like before. A somewhat equal match is now possible. For Taesan, who had countless skills targeting Difficult Foes, this was actually better.
He presses forward based on his increased Stats.
[You have activated Scorching Orb.]
He uses Magic. The explosion obscures his vision. The Shadow retreats and swings its sword fiercely.
[The Shadow has activated Wild Strike.]
The sword creates afterimages, cutting in all directions. A skill that forcefully moves the body to slash in a 270-degree arc. Its drawbacks were greater, but it wasn't a bad skill to use when one's vision was obscured like this.
Taesan knew all the activation conditions and patterns of that skill. That it couldn't cut behind its back, and that its range was limited to the upper body. And that its activation couldn't be stopped midway.
He lowers his stance as if crawling on the ground. The sword barely brushes past the tip of his nose.
[40 Damage to the Shadow.]
[30 Damage to the Shadow.]
He drives his sword into its ankle. The Shadow's body trembles as if screaming, but its hands do not stop. Taesan moves behind it and pierces its chest.
[Nineteenth Trial passed. As a reward, Strength increases by 10. Agility increases by 12. Intelligence increases by 5. Mana increases by 10.] On top of this, there were the Soul Rank Ascension and the Difficult Foe victory rewards.
And there was also a bonus from the Craving for Victory skill. He became stronger in an instant. But it wasn't that easy.
The opponent didn't get flustered by Absolute Nullification of the Attack and immediately struck back. It meant that from the 19th Floor onwards, they possessed the skill to quickly deduce the correct answer even when faced with sudden variables. Taesan predicted that the next one would be his limit.
A Shadow appears. The Adventurer of the 20th Floor. The Shadow points its Greatsword at Taesan.
[The Shadow has activated Complete Victory.]
[Judgment bypassed! You have shaken it off with your strong Mental Strength.]
Complete Victory.
A skill that applies an Intimidation Judgment against an opponent with an overwhelming difference in power. Naturally, a Difficult Foe Judgment appears. Just like with the Shadow of the 19th Floor, he activates his skills to raise his Stats.
After watching Taesan for a moment, the opponent raises its Greatsword.
Vwoom.
The Greatsword, longer and thicker than a person, fills the room.
Clang!
His arm is pressed down and his body is pushed back. Even after raising his stats with skills, the gap is too large. Taesan put strength into his arm and kicked off the ground.
[You have activated Acceleration.]
Scraaaape!
With blades grinding, Taesan closes in on the Shadow. It swings its arm, trying to strike Taesan's head with the pommel. Taesan rushes in without slowing down.
[Your Absolute Nullification of the First Attack has been activated.]
The attack is erased. Taesan plunges his sword into the Shadow's chest. The Shadow attacks with its gauntleted fist.
This attack is also erased. The Damage Windows noisily obscure his vision. The Shadow strikes with its elbow.
Taesan activates Deflection. The elbow strikes his shoulder and glances off.
[The Shadow has activated Repulsion.]
"Ugh."
In that moment, a formless power pushes Taesan away. Taesan, who was forcefully pushed back, expresses his admiration.
“It has Repulsion?”
A skill that pushes back with a formless barrier in proportion to one's Stats. It was a skill that Taesan himself had learned quite late. It didn't end there.
[The Shadow has activated Rapid Strike.]
The Shadow's hands move. The Greatsword creates afterimages as it sweeps through the room at high speed.
“It has Rapid Strike, too.”
An upgraded version of Wild Strike. It attacks with great speed, and unlike Wild Strike, has no restrictions on movement or range. The storm of sword strikes forms a sort of defensive barrier.
Taesan narrowly avoids it and casts Magic.
[You have activated Madness.]
Flinch.
The tip of the sword wavers due to the mental interference. Taesan doesn't miss the opening and kicks off the ground.
[The Shadow has activated Repulsion.]
[You have activated Acceleration.]
He breaks through the formless barrier with speed. Since it pushed back based on Stats, it was possible to break through depending on the conditions. The Shadow activates Deflection.
He breaks through it with Power Strike and attacks. The opponent strikes with the pommel.
[152 Damage to you.]
An amount of damage that would make one gasp comes in. As expected of an Adventurer from the 20th Floor, it hurt quite a lot. As the battle continued, Taesan realized one thing.
‘It’s not a Monster.’
Those who came from the outside could only deal damage by attacking with a weapon that had Attack Power. The opponent isn't pushing with its feet or shoulders. That meant it couldn't deal damage with those actions.
The opponent has a Greatsword. It has the advantage in reach. In that case, it becomes simple.
He just has to stick close and not give it any distance.
[You have activated Fortitude.]
[You have activated Deflection.]
He activates the skills beforehand and begins the battle. Unlike the Shadow, Taesan, who possessed Airak Martial Arts, could deal damage by attacking with any part of his body. He makes good use of this advantage to chip away at it step by step.
However, the opponent didn't just stand there and take it. An adventurer who had reached the 20th Floor in Alone Mode couldn't possibly be that weak. The opponent puts away its Greatsword and takes out a Longsword.
Taesan is momentarily flustered, not expecting it to be able to switch weapons. The Shadow swung its sword as it was.
[The Shadow has activated Power Strike.]
[You have activated Power Strike.]
Scraaaape!
Taesan is pushed back. If it's the same Power Strike, the outcome depends on base Stats and Mana consumption. Taesan blocks the sword and activates Magic.
A Frost Arrow is drawn in the air.
Whoosh!
The Shadow barely tilts its head back. Aiming for that opening, Taesan moves his hand.
[26 Damage to the Shadow.]
He calculates the damage. He'd dealt close to 1,000 damage so far. The 19th Floor's Health was around 1,100. It's almost over.
Taesan abandoned his defense. The Longsword pierced Taesan's shoulder.
[210 Damage to you.]
[You have activated Unbreakable Will.]
Instead, he pushes his body forward, driving the sword deeper. Ignoring the sharp pain, he manifests magic and swings his sword. The Shadow takes out its Greatsword.
Taesan activates Power Strike.
Claaaang!
The Greatsword is flung high from the blow into which he poured almost all his Mana. The Shadow tries to push him away using Repulsion, but he uses Acceleration to stick to it. The sword pierces the Shadow.
The Shadow counterattacks. Taesan flapped his robe.
[You have activated the Robe of Shadowy Maneuvers.]
Robe of Shadowy Maneuvers. Effect: 1 second of stealth. As his body disappears, the Shadow's sword stops.
He aims for the moment it hesitates. Along with a series of System Windows, the Shadow disappears.
[Twentieth Trial passed. As a reward, Strength increases by 12. Agility increases by 13. Intelligence increases by 10. Mana increases by 14.] [Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. Proficiency for Power Strike increases by 7%.]
[Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. You have obtained the Special Active Skill [Repulsion].]
[Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. Strength permanently increases by 8. Agility permanently increases by 8. Mana permanently increases by 10.] [Your Craving for Victory has been activated. Strength permanently increases by 8. Agility permanently increases by 9. Health permanently increases by 10.] He was victorious.
The System Windows appear noisily. Beyond them, another Shadow appears.
Clank.
A sword is raised. An immense pressure washes over Taesan. In terms of simple intimidation alone, it was greater than anyone he had ever seen.
Taesan let out a smirk.
"This is as far as I go."
Any more is impossible. Once you break through a Theme, you become incomparably stronger. He had barely managed the 20th Floor; it was safe to say there was no chance of victory against the 21st Floor.
His current limit was the 20th Floor. He had grasped that clearly.
[The Trial of Pride is concluded.]
[Pride is silent about the result.]