"I'm at 20%. In terms of stages, that's the first one."
She said proudly, waving her hand. A flame flickered to life.
"As I said earlier, even at this level, the class of magic changes. But still, in the grand scheme of things, it's only 20%. And while you can use any magic just by learning it, the limit to what you can use properly is Basic Magic."
"A limit?"
"Magic in the Labyrinth is divided into Basic, Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Highest-grade. There might be more beyond that, but these five stages are the only ones known."
Lilith puffed out her cheeks.
"As long as the Labyrinth allows it, you can technically use all magic... but the level you can use properly depends on your proficiency. At 20%, you can draw out the full power of Basic Magic, but you can only use half the power of Beginner Magic. You can pretty much consider Intermediate and above unusable."
It seemed that it wasn't just about learning it; if your proficiency wasn't high enough, it was difficult to use it at all. But there was something he didn't quite understand.
"I'm at 2%, but I've used Beginner Magic."
"Up to Beginner is somewhat usable. The standards get strict starting from Intermediate."
Lilith continued.
"Once you hit 40%, you can perfectly handle up to Beginner Magic. But Intermediate will be clumsy. You can consider Advanced impossible. At 60%, you can perfectly handle up to Intermediate, and at 80%, you can perfectly handle up to Advanced. 100% is for Highest-grade."
It was just as she said, a matter of stages. There were no restrictions on learning magic, but there was the restriction of proficiency in using it.
"So, I'm around the second stage?"
"Yes. And that's what's strange! Do you think it makes sense for an unskilled person to suddenly reach the second stage?"
She pressed on, her face flushed as if demanding an answer.
"This is an insult to those who walk the Path of Magic!"
Having dedicated her life to the Labyrinth and still being at only 20%, it must be hard for her to accept.
"I'm getting so mad. Hero. You say something too. Is this really possible?"
[Well...]
The Ghost replied to a whining Lilith.
[If you pay a sufficient price, it's not impossible.]
"Hey, what kind of madman would do that? It wouldn't be enough even if an ordinary person dedicated their life a hundred times over."
[Usually, yes? Usually.]
"Tch."
As the Ghost's reaction was lukewarm, Lilith turned her head away in a sulk. The conversation was over. Lilith waved her hand.
"Well, goodbye then! Ah. Hero, is this it for you?"
[That's right.]
The Ghost's quest only went up to the 10th Floor.
"See you later, if I can."
[Yes.]
The Ghost answered calmly. Taesan arrived in front of the 10th Floor's Boss Room again. Taesan made a decision.
"I'll use it on Magic."
It was more valuable to use it on Magic than on any other skill. He was certain after hearing Lilith's words. He had no intention of using all 48%.
Just 38%.
He planned to use just enough to reach exactly 40%.
[Used 380p. Proficiency for the Magic Skill has increased by 38%.]
Along with the incredibly simple explanation, something washed over Taesan. A foreign sensation, different from anything before, flowed out from within his body.
[You have obtained Magic Acceleration.]
[You have obtained Magic Explosion.]
Taesan opened his Skill Window.
[Magic] [Proficiency: 40%] [You can properly handle magic. It seems you can handle flames, control cold, and manipulate the wind.]
It was a huge change from the sentence that said he could only handle embers. The only way to know was to try it himself. Taesan opened his hand.
[You have activated Scorching Orb.]
A flame appeared in the air. Its size was twice as large as when he had used it before.
"Oho."
Taesan let out a small sound of admiration. It wasn't just the power of the magic that had grown; its activation had changed as well. Before, there had been a slight delay.
It felt like the manifestation of magic traveled from his head to be expressed through his body. It wasn't a slow process, but in a fierce, life-or-death battle, there was a subtle delay that could certainly make a difference. But now, it activated as smoothly as flowing water.
The magic manifested the moment he thought of it.
"So this is 40%."
Honestly, this alone was worth it. It meant there were no restrictions on using magic as he did his body. Of course, this couldn't be all.
The Fireball was twice as large. Its power seemed to have strengthened by that much as well. On top of that, the Mana consumption had almost disappeared.
The Mana cost for Scorching Orb is 6. Taesan's current Mana is 235. It was not an insignificant cost. But the Mana consumed just now was only 2. Mana consumption decreased with Intelligence, but not this dramatically. Considering the Mana recovered through the Proof of Struggle, it was safe to say there were virtually no restrictions on his Mana usage.
On top of that, he had gained new skills.
[Magic Acceleration] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can accelerate magic.]
[Magic Explosion] [Proficiency: 1%] [You can make magic explode.]
He could guess what kind of skills they were from the descriptions. Taesan shot the burning Scorching Orb into the air. Watching the Scorching Orb fly toward the wall, he activated the skill.
[You have activated Magic Acceleration.]
The Scorching Orb accelerates. It crashes into the wall at twice the speed.
Kwwaaaang!
The room trembled with a roar. Taesan exclaimed in admiration.
"Does it increase both speed and power?"
[You have activated Frost Arrow.]
This time, it was explosion. Taesan shot the magic. After it had flown a fair distance, Taesan activated the skill.
[You have activated Magic Explosion.]
Jjeoooong!
The flying Frost Arrow exploded. Shards of ice struck everywhere like the pellets of a claymore mine. In an instant, the room filled with cold air.
"This is pretty good."
Taesan's eyes shone as he continued to experiment. After using magic about ten more times, he had a rough grasp of it. He was impressed.
"This is quite good, isn't it?"
Magic Acceleration.
Literally, you can accelerate magic while it's in use. Magic Explosion allows you to detonate magic while it's in use. The Mana cost was zero.
At first glance, they might seem insignificant, but both were essential abilities for using magic. Until now, the magic Taesan used couldn't be stopped. Once cast, the magic only stopped after colliding with something, and its speed was always constant.
That was precisely why he hadn't used magic for anything other than surprise attacks against enemies above a certain level. It was too predictable. The speed didn't change, and it would fly off once manifested.
On top of that, it had no power until it collided with something. If his enemies were to use such magic, Taesan was confident he could fight as if it didn't even exist. But now, he could solve all those shortcomings.
They were skills that completely changed how one handled magic depending on their application.
"I'm satisfied."
This is enough. He'd have to check if acceleration and explosion also applied to mental magic, but it seemed likely they would. It was worth using the 38%.
As for where to use the remaining 10%, he had already decided.
[Used 100p. Proficiency for the Insight Skill has increased by 10%.]
Finally, the proficiency for Insight surpassed 60%.
[Special Passive Skill: Insight] [Proficiency: 62%] [You can grasp many things. It seems you can perceive the weaknesses of living and non-living things. It seems you can also find Secret Rooms. It will occasionally inform you of important information. You can roughly know an opponent's information.]
"I should have leveled this up sooner."
It was the most basic skill to learn, but its importance was quite high. Taesan thought it was more important to raise Insight than Airak Martial Arts. The use of points was finished.
Taesan entered the Boss Room. A giant Ogre roared at him.
"Kuaaaar!"
[Ogre Fighter has appeared.]
Taesan calmly pointed his sword.
[You have activated Scorching Orb.]
[You have activated Magic Acceleration.]
The slowly flying magic accelerates. The Ogre Fighter flinches and tries to dodge, but it's too late.
[112 Damage to Ogre Fighter.]
"Wow."
Taesan whistled.
The damage was absurd.
"Kuaaaar!"
[You have activated Confusion.]
"Keo, keoeo."
The Ogre Fighter flinches for a moment. But Confusion is the most basic of magic. An Ogre Fighter could easily shake it off.
Taesan added acceleration to it.
[You have activated Magic Acceleration.]
"Keo, keoeok."
The Ogre, trying to shake it off, flinches. The stronger magic violently churns inside the Ogre's head. This time, it can't shake it off easily and clutches its head.
"So it works on mental magic too. Then how about this."
[You have activated Magic Explosion.]
The Ogre's body trembled slightly. Saliva dripped from its open mouth.
"It works."
The Mental Judgment didn't trigger, but it seemed to shake the brain itself. This kind of judgment was better for Taesan.
[You have activated Confusion.]
"Keoeo......
[Judgment success!]
Perhaps because it was in a weakened state, the judgment succeeded immediately this time. The Ogre's eyes became murky. It was convenient, just as he expected.
Taesan smiled and continued manifesting magic.
[You have activated Scorching Orb.]
[You have activated Frost Arrow.]
Numerous spheres of flame and arrows of ice are drawn in the air. When their number reached double digits, Taesan fired them all at once.
"Keo, keoeo."
The Ogre barely manages to steady its shaking head and tries to dodge. When the magic is just a hair's breadth away, Taesan clenches his fist.
[You have activated Magic Explosion.]
Red explosions and ice bombs erupt like fireworks. The Ogre's entire body repeatedly freezes and burns.
"Kuaaaaaar!"
[86 Damage to Ogre Fighter.]
[90 Damage to Ogre Fighter.]
[78 Damage to Ogre Fighter.]
[110 Damage to Ogre Fighter.]
[You have won against the Ogre Fighter.]
[You have defeated the Boss of the 10th Floor. You have obtained the basic reward [Ring of the Ogre].]
"Good."
Taesan muttered as he received the reward. It was as convenient as he thought. The Ogre could have easily dodged the magic he was using, yet it couldn't do anything.
At this rate, he didn't even need to move his body. He could probably reach the 20th Floor using only magic. The Ghost spoke calmly.
[Magic is one of the pillars here. Since you've reached 40%, this result is only natural. As you know, raising proficiency like this is something that doesn't make sense.]
"Have you sorted things out now?"
[Mostly.]
Ever since seeing the Rift, a hint of confusion had tinged the Ghost's voice. The Ghost let out a deep sigh.
[Hah... I don't know either. Why did something like that appear?]
"So, what is it?"
The Ghost knows about the beings that invaded Earth.
"Who was it that trampled our world?"
To the calm but emotionally charged question, the Ghost remained silent for a moment before speaking.
[I only heard stories, so I don't know the details. It might not be true. Just listen to it as one possibility and let it go.]
A voice filled with a complex tone echoed.
[I told you that for Transcendent beings to have meaningful interference, they too must expend something, didn't I?]
"That's why the gods here had their domains of interference shrink."
[Yes. Even the Transcendent beings residing in the Labyrinth must pay a price to interfere within it. It's even more severe when interfering in another world. That's why they usually don't do it. At most, they only offer interference on the level of a revelation. It's what you'd call madness.]
But Earth was experiencing such madness in real-time. Countless monsters trampled them and drove humankind to extinction.
[There are beings who can do it. Beings who can interfere in the mortal worlds without expending any power. Beings of the past who have now lost their names.]
Leveling up through battle