Root-Ra meekly accepted death. Not only that, he even threw his own weapon over. It was the same with the Orc, but the Monsters did not resent Taesan or burst out in anger.
Taesan checked the Improvised Spear.
[Improvised Spear] [Attack Power + 10] [An Improvised Spear. It is very sharp, but it will break easily if not handled with care.]
An Attack Power of 10. It was a considerably high value. Although it had to be handled carefully and was a two-handed weapon, it was worth switching to.
[Sword of the Storm Scar has movements for the spear as well. They're probably in your head?]
“A rough idea, yes.”
It was stored as knowledge. It was still awkward, but it was a problem that could be solved by moving his body a few times to close the gap. And the 10th Floor's Clear Reward.
[Boots of Swiftness] [Defense Power + 7] [Agility + 5] [Movement Speed + 10%] [Action Speed + 5%] [Light and sturdy boots. Optimized for swift movements.]
The stats matched the name and description. Agility and movement speed. On top of that, it even had action speed.
Taesan swapped his boots. He also checked the Secret Reward.
[You have obtained the Frostlight Sword.]
“Oh.”
It was a sword. Moreover, its length was not much different from the sword he was currently using. It seemed he could finally change his weapon.
[Frostlight Sword] [Attack Power + 11] [A sword that once held the chill of the depths. Though it has lost that power now, the blade still seems to carry the light of frost.]
It was high. An Attack Power of 11. Taesan laughed cheerfully and unequipped the brilliantly decorated ornamental sword. When he opened the Status Window, the stats lined up very nicely.
[Attack Power + 30] [Defense Power + 40] It didn't mean much, but it personally made him feel good.
And for the first time in a while, he also received a Title.
[Title: One Cursed by the Goblins] [The one who killed their master.]
[All Stats of Goblins who oppose you will increase.]
[All rewards received upon defeating a Goblin will increase.]
A Title where the opponent becomes stronger, but the rewards improve accordingly. He didn't know when Goblins would appear again, but the Title's effect activates just by possessing it. There was no harm in having it.
[Title: King Slayer] [The one who killed a king.]
[When facing a race's Lord, King, Sovereign, etc., your Stats will increase and rewards will be enhanced.]
It was a Title he hadn't obtained in his previous life. That was because he had never faced a being called a Lord. Stat increase and reward enhancement.
It was the best effect a Title could have. After finishing his checks, Taesan went back before heading to the next floor. He helped Lilith, who was struggling to carry things to the Safe Zone.
“Phew! Thanks! I guess I should buy a Spatial Storage or something from the Shop.”
He gave the Magic Staff to her, who was panting as if exhausted, and offered the Tribute.
[You have learned Veil of Concealment.]
[Basic Magic: Veil of Concealment] [Mana Cost: 4] [Proficiency: 1%] [Conceals one's presence.]
With this, he had learned all the magic except Invisibility. After checking, Taesan spoke.
“And I won't be here for a while.”
“Huh? Are you going outside?”
“For about one or two months.”
“Ah… It's tiring to be cooped up here all the time, so it makes sense to get a change of pace.”
Lilith nodded her head with a look of understanding.
“Get some rest and come back!”
“See you later.”
Taesan headed for the stairs leading down again. As always, the System Window appeared.
[10th Floor Quest begins.]
[Defeat the Boss of the 10th Floor and pass.]
[Reward: Ring of the Ogre] [Secret Reward: ???]
[It's ending soon.]
The Ghost said. His tone was calm, having gathered his emotions.
“Yeah.”
Taesan met the Dwarf. This time, instead of going down right away like before, he browsed the Shop. He buys many different things.
Arrows.
Health and Mana Recovery Potions. Besides those, Swiftness, Rage, and so on.
Numerous potions.
One by one, they slowly went into his Inventory. It was an amount that surprised the watching Dwarf.
“How much are you buying?”
“The more, the better.”
He had suffered quite a bit before for not preparing potions in advance. With his current Stats, it wouldn't be a problem, but there was no harm in being prepared. As a result of selling some of his materials to cover the cost, he used half of his total Gold to purchase potions.
The shop's stock was noticeably depleted.
“Well then, take care.”
“Heh.”
Leaving the Dwarf who let out a hollow laugh behind, he headed for the 10th Floor.
“Kuaaaargh!”
[An Ogre has appeared.]
Huge muscles came into view. A hulking figure, nearly touching the Labyrinth's ceiling, let out a monstrous roar.
Ogre.
People called that monster a muscle monster. A monster whose strength was in a league of its own, it was equivalent to a Boss of the Depths. It was hard to find anyone who could face it even in Normal Mode, and in Easy Mode, it was a monster that represented a kind of final stage.
“Kuaar!”
The Ogre slams down its muscle-swollen arm. A pressure that would render a weak person immobile descended upon Taesan. Taesan nonchalantly extended his arm.
Kwoooong!
The wind exploded. Taesan did not retreat a single step.
“Kua?”
He grabs the bewildered Ogre's arm and throws it. The giant's body flies across the small room. The Ogre was dumbfounded.
Why am I flying? Why is that tiny thing throwing me? It realized something was wrong, but the Ogre lacked the intelligence to deduce what it was.
Beneath its shallow intellect, the Ogre charged again with a monstrous roar.
“Kuaaaargh!”
Taesan swung his fist. His hand blurred for a moment, and the Ogre's chest caved in like crumpled scrap metal.
“Keeeeargh!”
The Ogre flew like a thrown baseball. After that, it was a repetition of the same scene. The Ogre would shake its head, come to its senses, and charge, and Taesan would knock it down.
[You have won against the Ogre.]
He had beaten it with his fists without a single slash of his sword. Taesan wore a sentimental expression.
“To think I could beat it like this.”
He had faced an Ogre before. With its monstrous strength and hide that swords could barely penetrate, he had to fight for his life before obtaining higher-level skills. Even after getting skills, it was a monster he struggled with quite a bit until he acquired Multiplication.
Now, he could beat such a monster with just his fists. He recalled the time when he would rejoice and despair over every single stat point. Of course, he didn't miss it.
Taesan leisurely cleared the 10th Floor. Unlike the 9th Floor, the pace was yawn-inducing. He used methods like defeating them with only his fists without using a weapon, or conversely, using only his weapon to attack only vital points.
The watching Ghost asked in a puzzled tone.
[Why are you going so slowly?]
“I have to match the time.”
[Time? Is there something like that?]
“You'll find out soon.”
How will it turn out? Even Taesan didn't know. After that, while hunting monsters, he found a Secret Room.
This time too, his movements were very leisurely. He disarmed all the traps and opened the Treasure Chest.
[Blue Ring] [Mana + 10] [Contains a very small fragment of Mana inside. It seems only a remnant is left now.]
He changes his equipment and moves again. Leisurely and slowly. But he steadily clears the Labyrinth.
A day passed like that, and Taesan arrived at the Boss Room.
[This is the place.]
The Ghost said in a subdued tone.
[He's beyond this point. Defeat the Ogre Fighter and find the second room behind it, and there'll be a big guy inside. Kill him, and it's over.]
The Ghost's Quest was to kill the Boss of the 10th Floor. That was why it was sticking to Taesan. Once a quest is cleared, the remnant is bound to disappear completely.
[Thank you.]
“For what.”
[Because I was able to leave a trace of my existence with you.]
The Ghost spoke calmly.
[My world was destroyed, and I died too. We are finished. My role is to at least leave behind that remnant.]
The Ghost looked somewhat relieved.
[Someone like you can probably make it to the Depths. As long as you don't let your guard down and continue down as you are… you might even conquer this place someday. I taught such a person the sword. I should be satisfied enough with that.]
A voice tinged with slight regret echoed.
[It's a shame I couldn't teach you the second form of the Sword of the Storm Scar… but you'll reach it someday. You might even obtain the final form. You can do it.]
A small laugh spread.
[Hahaha… It was enjoyable, in its own way.]
The Ghost bid farewell, and Taesan silently opened his Inventory. He applies a Scroll of Engraving to the Frostlight Sword. Along with it, he also uses Marnius's Rune.
[Frostlight Sword] [Attack Power + 11] [A sword that once held the chill of the depths. Though it has lost that power now, the blade still seems to carry the light of frost.]
[Imbued with the lightning attribute.]
[Has a low chance to inflict a Forced Slow Judgment on the enemy upon a parry.]
The Scroll of Engraving applied a Forced Slow Judgment. An effect that noticeably slows down movement. A parry is a judgment that occurs when weapons clash.
Since it happens dozens of times during a battle, there was a high chance of using it often. And the lightning attribute.
“Not bad.”
This was also close to a jackpot. The attribute applied to a weapon activates when it collides with something. And regardless of whether they were monsters or players, metal weapons were used the most.
The lightning attribute flowed through the opponent's weapon, making them tingle, creating quite a few openings during battle. All preparations were complete. But instead of heading to the Boss Room, Taesan opened the community forums.
[Lee Sang (Alone): Ah, this feels strange.]
[Lee Tae-yeon (Alone): Hmm… What's going to happen…]
[Kim Tae-jin (Alone): Well, we should think positively. I'm going to go open a can of food.]
[Kang Jun-hyeok (Alone): But where are we being summoned to? Will we be summoned to the same location we were at before entering the Labyrinth?]
[Moon Jae-seong (Alone): Probably?]
The community forums were bustling. Many messages were exchanged on a normal day, but now, three times that number of posts were being uploaded. Taesan, who was watching, posted a message.
[Kang Taesan (Alone): Junhyeok, where did you live?]
[Kang Jun-hyeok (Alone): Me? I'm from Gyeonggi Province. Do you know a place called Anyang?]
Then there's no problem.
[Kang Taesan (Alone): See you in a bit.]
Taesan closed the community forums. He stared blankly at the Boss Room and waited. The impatient Ghost opened his mouth.
[What are you doing, not going in?]
From the Ghost's perspective, it would be baffling. All he had to do was clear the boss, yet he was just waiting without going in. Without taking his eyes off the door, Taesan asked the Ghost.
“You're a being that belongs to the Labyrinth, right?”
[Huh? Technically, yes?]
Though flustered by the sudden question, the Ghost answered meekly.
[If I were alive, it might be different, but in my dead state, I'm bound to the tomb. I was freed thanks to your existence, but my fundamental nature hasn't changed.]
“That's the part. You're bound to me because of the quest.”
The Ghost never left Taesan's side for a moment. It would probably stay by his side until the quest was cleared. If so, a question arose.
“If I go down without fighting the boss, will you stay by my side?”
[…Probably.]
The Ghost said in a stiff tone.
[But that's not good. To abandon the reward you rightfully deserve and go down. If you're comparing it to the information I have, it's meaningless to you. You're an Adventurer who doesn't need my information. Think about the value properly. I'm grateful for your consideration, but it's unnecessary.]
“I have no intention of doing that.”
Of course, he intended to fight the boss and then go down. What he was aiming for was something different.
“In any case, as long as I don't clear the quest, you're tied to me. In that case, I wonder which judgment takes precedence?”
The side bound to the Labyrinth. Or the side progressing through a quest. The Ghost, still not understanding the situation, asked.
[What are you….]
Crack.
Just then, space split apart. Beyond the Rift that had begun to distort, a glimpse of the world could be seen. It was Earth.
The Ghost is startled.
[What is this?]
At the same time, a Quest Window appears.
[A Special Quest will now begin.]
[Prepare for impact.]
Craaack!
The crack in space widens. It expands with enough force to swallow the room. As the Labyrinth's presence gradually fades, the bewildered Ghost flusters about.
[Wait. Hey. What in the world is….]
Taesan closes his eyes.
Craaaack.
With the sound of shattering, he felt a breeze. It was a natural wind he hadn't felt in the Labyrinth. The scents of greenery and asphalt wafted through the air.
It was a strong scent he hadn't recognized in the past. Taesan opened his eyes. He saw buildings.
Huge human structures made of brick and concrete were either destroyed or decorating the landscape in their intact forms. He had returned. To this place.
But he was not alone.
[…What.]
The Ghost is horrified. Leveling up through battle