A goal had been set, but nothing would change. As Maria had said, he was currently in a very weak state. He had yet to learn Multiplication, let alone Addition, Essence Strike, or Copy.
So, he would descend. To a deeper place. To a place where he could grow stronger.
“But before that.”
He hadn't even checked what he had gained from the sudden invitation. He started with Maria's reward.
[Weapon of Morphing Form] [Attack Power +15] [A weapon of choice.]
[Can change into the form of a Dagger or a Longsword.]
It had decent Attack Power and a special ability attached. Taesan immediately tested it. The weapon transformed into a short Dagger, then into a normal-looking Longsword.
It could be used as two different types of weapons. It seemed the Attack Power remained the same even when its form changed. After checking the weapon, Taesan moved on to the Skill.
[Special Active Skill: Freedom of Choice] [Mana Cost: 20] [Proficiency: 1%] [Stat conversion is possible. The ratio doesn't seem to be very high yet.]
Stat conversion.
It was a concept he had never seen before. Taesan immediately tried it out. The convertible ratio was 10%.
It was possible to convert between Agility, Strength, and Intelligence; between Health, Mana, and Shield; and between Attack Power and Defense Power. Converting two types at once seemed impossible.
“Not bad.”
The necessity of a Stat changes depending on the situation. There are times when Health is worthless, and times when Defense Power is worthless. It was possible to change such meaningless aspects into meaningful Stats.
It was only 10% for now, but it would surely increase as he raised its Proficiency. Later on, a 100% conversion might even be possible. It was a Skill that could be very useful depending on how it was applied.
“She did give a reward of the level she mentioned.”
It wasn't just Maria's reward. Maria's Trial had been difficult, and as such, he was able to obtain additional rewards. First, there were the Skills whose Proficiency had greatly increased.
[Special Active Skill: No Breath Attack] [Mana Cost: 2] [Proficiency: 21%] [Allows for movements that ignore breathing during combat. For now, it only lasts about 20 seconds. Reduces muscle fatigue.]
The No Breath Attack skill, which he had used tirelessly, had finally surpassed 20 seconds, and a new effect of reducing muscle fatigue was added. No Breath Attack freed his breathing, allowing for more intense movements, but it came with severe muscle fatigue. Alleviating that was a decent change.
[Special Passive Skill: Vision Expansion] [Proficiency: 80%] [You can obtain a wider field of vision. It has far surpassed the human range.]
Vision Expansion was rising quickly and was now on the verge of 100%. Most Skills changed dramatically the moment they hit 100%. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they became completely different Skills.
At this rate, he might reach 100% before breaking through the 20th Floor. With a bit of anticipation, Taesan checked his other Skills. Perhaps because of the endless battle, he was also able to learn a new Skill.
[Your mind has become misaligned with the flow of time. You have obtained the Special Active Skill [Mental Acceleration].]
‘Come to think of it, time did feel a bit strange.’
During Maria's Trial, the movements of the enemies and himself had felt slower than he expected.
Mental Acceleration.
In Easy Mode, there were rarely any fights intense enough to twist one's perception of time, so it was a Skill he hadn't learned in his past life either.
[Special Active Skill: Mental Acceleration] [Mana Cost: 8] [Proficiency: 1%] [Accelerates the mind. The flow of time is very slightly distorted. For now, it seems it can only be used for 10 seconds.]
[You have activated Mental Acceleration.]
He used the Skill, but nothing changed. Taesan raised his arm.
‘It’s slow.’
The speed at which his arm moved felt strangely slow. His mind was moving faster than time. It was a very subtle difference, but a clear one nonetheless.
‘So this is the kind of Skill it is.’
Having more time to think during a battle was the same as increasing his chances of winning. The more he raised its Proficiency, the more valuable it would become. It might even be just a tier below a Main Skill.
Learning things like this, one by one, would make him even stronger. Just as Taesan finished checking and was about to move. There was something in his pocket.
“What’s this?”
It was a very small, flower-shaped ornament. Its seven petals were as vibrant as a rainbow.
[Maria’s Gift] [A gift bestowed upon a human favored by a god. It has no effect yet.]
“Ghost?”
[Huh, huh?]
“What is this?”
[Uh… it’s my first time seeing it too?]
Even the Ghost didn't seem to know.
“It can't be bad.”
It must be an Item given out of goodwill. Taesan put it back in his pocket. Finally, Taesan started moving.
He killed the Monsters he encountered and searched for Secret Rooms. He disarmed traps and collected the rewards. In the process, the Proficiency for Trap Disarm reached 20%.
[Special Active Skill: Trap Disarm] [Mana Cost: 1] [Proficiency: 20%] [Attempts to disarm a trap. Seems likely to succeed with a low probability.]
It wasn't a huge deal, but it felt good. The reward from the Secret Room was a pair of high-quality leather gloves.
[Gloves of Strength] [Attack Power +5] [Defense Power +3] [The finest gloves made by a famous artisan. They are sturdy enough to block even a sword strike.]
“It's been a while since I changed my gloves.”
He changed his equipment and headed for the Boss Room.
[A Less-Rotten Ghoul has appeared.]
What a straightforward name. Just as its name suggested, a ghoul with chunks of red flesh still clinging to it bared its teeth. Taesan wrinkled his nose.
“It stinks.”
Crack.
He swung his fist. The ghoul slammed into the ground. He stomped on it relentlessly, and it vanished with a scream.
[You have defeated the Less-Rotten Ghoul.]
The Boss of the 12th Floor. Someone like Lee Tae-yeon or Kang Jun-hyeok would have literally risked their lives to win. But to him, it was far too easy.
It was an opponent from which he felt not even the slightest crisis. Taesan was dissatisfied with that.
“Too easy.”
He had become far too strong for his current floor. The only way for him to feel any difficulty was to face a god's trial or encounter a Named Monster. Naturally, he was forced to miss out on most of what one would gain from facing a Boss.
First, there was no Difficult Foe Reward. On top of that, Soul Rank Ascension didn't activate properly either. These were things he couldn't obtain because he was too strong.
Taesan found that disappointing. In the past, he wouldn't have thought much of it. Even if he couldn't acquire such detailed things, it wouldn't be a problem for clearing the floor.
But if his goal was a god, he had to take everything he could get.
“I wonder if there's a way.”
For now, there was no other way, so he had no choice but to descend. Of course, it wasn't that he gained nothing at all. Soul Rank Ascension did activate, albeit faintly, and by clearing the floor, his Level rose by 2, now at Level 28. He was able to gain a significant Stat increase.
Both the 12th Floor Clear Reward and the Secret Reward were items related to Magic. Thinking he wouldn't have much use for them, he took them and went to find Lilith. Her eyes lit up as she welcomed him.
“I was waiting for you! Well? Did you bring it?”
“Here.”
As Taesan handed them over, she hurriedly took them and checked. Soon, a satisfied smile spread across her face.
“This should be enough! Finally, I can too!”
She was learning Basic Magic. At that fact, Lilith's eyes blazed. She muttered something, and the magical items vanished.
They had been offered as a tribute. After closing her eyes and praying for a moment, she snapped them open.
“It worked!”
Unable to contain her joy, she jumped up and down.
“Now I can learn one Basic Magic! Yahoo! Finally!”
“Aren't you being a bit too loud?”
“It's Basic Magic! Basic Magic! It's worth that much!”
“I doubt it.”
To him, who had created Scorching Orb and Frost Arrow, it wasn't that big of a deal. Noticing Taesan's mood, Lilith grumbled.
“There are people who would risk their lives just to learn one of these…”
“So, what can you learn?”
At Taesan's question, Lilith composed herself and placed a finger on her lips.
“First, I can't choose it. The god decides and bestows it directly.”
“No choice, huh.”
He had expected as much, so he nodded calmly.
“Then let me learn it.”
“Alright. Wait a moment.”
She closed her eyes again and muttered something. A power descended from the air into her.
‘Is that the power of magic?’
It was a wave of Mana so dense that even Taesan could feel it. Lilith opened her eyes.
“I learned it.”
“What kind is it?”
“It's a Status Abnormality type of magic. I'll tell you what kind of magic it is when you learn it. Let's save the fun for later.”
As she spoke, a constant smile played on Lilith's face. The Ghost chuckled and asked.
[Are you that happy?]
“Of course I am! It’s finally Basic Magic! I went through hell to learn Invisibility, and now I’ve learned another one so easily! Thank you so much!”
Lilith suddenly spread her arms and tried to hug Taesan. Taesan stepped back. She fell flat on the ground.
“Ouch!”
“What are you suddenly doing?”
“Ugh… I was just trying to express my joy.”
Taesan smirked.
“There's no need for that. I'll come back when I have another tribute.”
“Okay. See you again!”
She said goodbye with a broad smile. Taesan descended to the 13th Floor.
[The 13th Floor Quest begins.]
[Defeat the Boss of the 13th Floor and pass through.]
[Reward: Ring of Severance.]
[Secret Reward: ???]
He hadn't collected enough money to use the Shop. The Dwarf also seemed indifferent, as if there was nothing else to wager besides Penalty Play. Without much conversation, he arrived on the 13th Floor.
The 13th Floor was a den of zombies. Like Goblins, they attacked in waves, and as such, they were individually weak. As he was breaking through, casually swatting them away, he felt a presence.
Taesan grabbed a zombie's head, about to crush it, but paused. Sense Detection had activated intensely. Someone was approaching from beyond the door.
Soon, the door opened, and the presence revealed itself.
“Ugh. Annoying. How long do I have to keep patrolling…”
Red hair.
A man with a frivolous-looking face appeared. He saw Taesan and his pupils dilated.
“Uh, huh?”
“Hello.”
Crack.
Taesan said as he crushed the zombie's head. The man looked at Taesan, flustered, and stammered.
“Uh, hello?”
[Your Insight has activated.]
[Revebas Aita] [Level: 42] Level 42. It was 14 levels higher than Taesan.
“Uh… a newcomer, right? It's been so long, I was surprised.”
Revebas scratched his cheek and looked at Taesan, then his gaze fell upon the Ghost. Revebas's face twisted. The Ghost sneered.
[Bedwetter. You're still alive?]
“…Why are you here?”
Revebas stared at the Ghost with a scowl. Leveling up through battle