66. The 10th Floor, Boss (4) “Are they different from Transcendents?” The gods, the great beings residing here. The Ghost denied the question of whether they were different.
[They are Transcendents. But of a different kind. Why do you think their power is consumed when they do something significant? It's because they became Transcendents from being mortals.]
“From mortals?”
[Yes.]
The Ghost spoke softly.
[In your world, too, there are a few beings who were human and became gods, are there not?]
“There are some.”
Like Hercules who became a god, or the Buddha. They are tales from mythology, but they certainly exist.
[The Transcendents here are a gathering of such beings. Rakiratas. Balthazar. Pride. Revinenof. They were all once mortals.]
“All the Transcendents here?”
[Yes. Every single one of them, without exception. Perhaps because they ascended after enduring trials, they seem to like places like this. They were once human, or beast, beings with a lifespan. The domains they oversee are related to their lives, but this story is getting too long, so I'll pass.]
“So that’s why their power is consumed?”
[Whether it be Soul Rank, martial prowess, or faith, when something reaches a certain level, they become a Transcendent. And the moment they become a Transcendent, the growth of their power stops. At the same time they become a great and mighty being, the power they have accumulated becomes fixed. It turns into a power that disappears when used.]
Taesan stroked his chin. The Ghost continued speaking lightly.
[To put it simply, you could call it a disadvantage of acquired Transcendents. They possess great power and escape the cycle of mortality, but they cannot easily recover it. Now that I've said this much, you can probably guess, can't you?]
“There must be innate Transcendents too.”
Beings who were strong from birth, who were simply born that way. The Ghost affirmed.
[Beings that never had a lifespan. They are just strong from birth. So when they interfere with the mortal world, they use power, but it’s not a permanent loss. Unlike the acquired ones, it’s a power they’ve had since birth.]
Those who became Transcendents from being mortals have their power consumed. Those who were Transcendents from birth do not have their power consumed. And all the Transcendents in the Labyrinth are acquired Transcendents.
That seemed to be the gist of it.
“Then the ones who attacked my world must be the innate kind.”
[...That is highly likely. To consume that much power, the acquired ones would never be able to do it.]
The Ghost muttered in a voice tinged with unease.
[But why are those bastards trampling on your world?]
“You said they were gods who have lost their names?”
The Ghost had called them beings of the past. The Ghost affirmed.
[Honestly, I've never seen them myself. I only know of them through the tales and information here, but I couldn't have guessed until I saw them directly. They are beings that all disappeared a very long time ago. A kind of Ancient Gods.]
“Disappeared?”
[I don't know the reason either. It's said there was a war among Transcendents, or maybe they just disappeared according to the natural order. Either way, they are beings that haven't shown a speck of themselves for thousands of years.]
Even with the explanation, he still couldn't understand.
“Then why is a being like that attacking Earth?”
[I don't know either.]
The Ghost shrugged.
[What reason would a bunch of lunatics have for what they do? Still, they probably can't send down someone too strong. Just because their power isn't consumed doesn't mean they don't have limits, so they can probably only send down beings of that level.]
The Ghost explained it lightly, but Taesan couldn't easily understand.
‘A considerably strong one has already appeared.’
An Apostle that even Lee Tae-yeon, who had cleared Alone Mode, had been defeated by. And monsters even stronger than that were coming out through the Rift until the very end.
‘Does that mean that even with limits, they are that powerful?’
As someone who still didn't know the true power of a Transcendent, he couldn't say for sure. The power he had seen was just a tiny fragment of a fragment.
“For now, that’s enough.”
He filed it away in his mind. He received various rewards for clearing the 10th Floor Boss. Titles and Achievements, and even clear rewards.
There were quite a lot, but he wouldn't check them for now. Taesan headed towards the second room. Beyond the stairs leading to the 11th Floor, there was a small door.
[We're finally here.]
Along with the Ghost's calm voice, Taesan entered the room.
‘I remember now.’
Lee Tae-yeon had also discovered this place. Unlike Hage-Ha’s room, it was so out in the open that it would have been impossible not to find it. But she didn't enter.
She had received the clear rewards, and she had thought a place like this was surely dangerous, so she had avoided it from the start. Taesan pushed aside the cloth hanging in front of the door. Inside the small room, there was an Ogre.
It was an Ogre half the size of others, not much different from a large person. But its two eyes were overflowing with intelligence. The Ogre, looking at him, opened its mouth.
“You have come, Hero.”
[You have encountered the Ogre Sage.]
An Ogre that seemed to have no intelligence. And a sage, a title meaning an enlightened one. The Ghost had said it was killed by the second boss of the 10th Floor.
That being was right before his eyes. The Ogre with the unfitting name continued to speak smoothly.
“I knew a day like this would come, but it is sooner than I thought.”
The Ogre looked at Taesan and asked.
“Is he your puppet?”
[No.] The Ghost said calmly.
It was a voice that didn't betray much emotion.
“Is that so.”
The Ogre spoke leisurely while sitting in a chair. The Ogre before him didn't look stronger than other Ogres, but it was a being that felt awkward to touch.
“Then shall we have a conversation?”
[A conversation?]
The Ghost scoffed.
[You and me?]
“The Adventurer before me does not seem to be an opponent I can defeat.”
The Ogre's prediction was not wrong. Unless he possessed strength beyond the 20th Floor, there was a difference that would lead to a hundred defeats in a hundred fights. The Ogre continued to speak softly.
“The ending is already decided anyway. Shouldn't we at least resolve our curiosities?”
It was a soft, coaxing voice, as if placating a child. The Ghost seemed to flare up for a moment but quickly composed itself.
[Do as you please.]
“Hoh?”
The Ogre’s eyes lit up at the Ghost’s response.
“That is a different answer than I expected. I thought you would just tell him to kill me.”
[What do you know about me to speak like that.]
“An arrogant, coarse, and careless Hero. That is who you are.”
The Ogre smiled faintly. The Ghost fell silent. It was a debate that one wouldn't think was between the killer and the killed.
Taesan stared at the Sage and asked.
“You killed the Ghost, right?”
“If you ask if I killed him, then yes. I did kill him. With my own hands.”
The Ogre took out a small Dagger. Seeing the Dagger with a red jewel embedded in it, the Ghost wavered violently.
[That damned thing….]
“It is your fault, Hero.”
The Ogre said with sunken eyes.
“You did not kill me when you first saw me. It was because I was the only one with whom a conversation was possible. The one who seeks God rejected you, and the Lost King also scorned you. In the ruined world, you were endlessly weak. So you cherished me, who listened to your story, and did not kill me.”
Hearing the Ghost's past for the first time, Taesan whistled. The Ghost stiffened.
“I am a Monster. You are an Adventurer. I merely did what I had to do as a Monster. You do not resent me, do you?”
[Enough.]
The Ghost said harshly.
[That's enough. Kill him.]
“No.” [...What?]
The Ghost is flustered by Taesan’s refusal. The Ogre shows a surprised expression.
“You are different from what I thought.”
“What did you think?”
“I thought you were a puppet who reached this place by moving according to the Hero's will.”
It was a reasonably logical thought. The Ghost was someone who had descended to the Depths of this place. If he stuck by a beginner, the beginner would naturally have no choice but to follow the Ghost's words.
The Ghost probably clung to him with that intention. It was just that he had changed his mind after seeing Taesan's actions.
“That must be the fixed damage weapon.”
“You know well.”
“Who did you get it from?”
[...Ah.]
The Ghost realized it too late. A fixed damage weapon is extremely rare. As it penetrates Defense Power and Skills, it is an Equipment that cannot be obtained on the 10th Floor.
The Ogre smiled faintly.
“You have changed the Hero.”
“Just answer.”
“Can you not guess, Hero? In this place, there were many beings who disliked you for being arrogant and scorning others. Not only gods, but Adventurers as well.”
[No way.]
To the Ghost's trembling voice, the Ogre gave an answer.
“The Guides of Sin. They gave me the fixed damage weapon. They said they would kill me if I did not harm you, so I had no choice but to accept it.”
[Those sons of bitches!]
A harsh voice echoes. The Guides of Sin. He had heard of that group from Lee Tae-yeon as well.
They were the ones who had tried to kill her more fervently than anyone, more than any Monster. Seeing the Ghost express its fury, the Ogre gives a bitter smile.
“They must have been too afraid to do it themselves, as you were far too strong. That is why they had to borrow the hands of a trivial Monster like me. What do you think?”
[...]
The Ghost breathed heavily without answering. Towards the surging torrent of emotions, the Ogre spoke softly.
“Do as you wish. I have said all I wanted to say.”
The Ogre took its gaze off the Ghost. After observing Taesan for a moment, it couldn't hide its admiration.
“...I have certainly misspoken. You are not an Adventurer to be swayed here and there by the Hero.”
Taesan raised his sword. It seemed there was a story between the Ogre Sage and the Ghost, but Taesan, at least, was not particularly interested. The Ogre made no attempt to block or counterattack and spoke calmly.
“I have survived in this place for a long time. Those weaker than me never came here in the first place, and I befriended those stronger than me with my words. It wasn't that difficult, as they were all lonely. It was all because I didn't want to die.”
Stab.
[You have dealt 50 Damage to the Ogre Sage.]
He pierces the unresisting Ogre's chest.
“But all things have an end.”
The Ogre continued to speak without a change in expression.
“What do you think is the lesson of this story?”
“Don't trust others?”
“That is also true, but there is one core point.”
The Ogre said.
“In this place, strength is the answer. Attain a power so great that no one dares to touch you, a power that makes them not even think of trying anything.”
The Ogre looked at the Ghost with bitter eyes.
“The Hero could not do that. He was strong, but only strong enough for them to harbor other thoughts. That is why they aimed for his openings. This is the advice I can give.”
“I will.”
“Then I am glad. I will wait for you to conquer this place and save us.”
With a smile, the Ogre Sage lowered its head. Something that seemed to be a Soul flowed down to the floor.
[You are victorious against the Ogre Sage.]
[Your Level has increased.]
[Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. Your Strength permanently increases by 2, Agility by 3, and Intelligence by 10.] [As a Level Up Reward, your Health has increased by 45.] [As a Level Up Reward, your Strength permanently increases by 1, Agility by 3, and Intelligence by 10.] [You have discovered the Hidden Element of the 10th Floor. You have obtained the Reward [Ugh??].]
[You have perfectly cleared the 10th Floor. You have obtained the Title [One Who Adapts].]
[You have perfectly understood and cleared all floors up to the 10th Floor. You have obtained the Title [Perfectionist].]
[You have sufficiently set foot in the Labyrinth. You have obtained the Title [One Who Walks the Path].]
[You have sufficiently proven your strength in this place. You have obtained the Title [One Who Succeeded in Proof].]
[You are entering a new domain. You have obtained the Title [Adaptive Challenger].]
[The beings of this place have begun to take an interest in you. Some may be favorable to you, while others may be hostile.]
[You have acquired the Edge of Calamity.]
[Sub Quest successful.]
[The Hero will provide you with a Reward.]
[Sub Quest initiated.]
[The Awakened Hero desires more revenge from you.]
[Condition: Kill those who were involved in his death.]
[Reward: To be decided by the Hero according to his mood.]
Leveling up through battle.