_ 3rd Book, 25th Chapter 75. 13th Floor, Guides of Sin (2) "...Who are you!"
"An Adventurer, aren't I? Figure it out yourself. Ah. Or maybe someone who's given up can't be called an Adventurer?"
Taesan spoke languidly, raising his sword. Revebas clenched his fists, his face contorted. This was the first time he was fighting a proper Adventurer.
Taesan's expression turned serious. Revebas gritted his teeth. 'Still, he's only on the 13th Floor!'
He seemed to have some special tricks, but he was still an Adventurer who had only cleared up to the 13th Floor. There was no way he could lose. With that conviction, Revebas charged.
He closed in on Taesan and swung his fist.
Kaga-gak.
Sparks flew as sword and fist collided. Blocking Revebas's attack, Taesan thought. 'He said he's cleared up to the 20th Floor?
He's not weak.' There was a decent weight to his blows. No. In fact, he was incomparably stronger than an ordinary person from the 20th Floor.
He must have raised his stats to their limits through endless, repetitive hunting. While Taesan calmly organized his thoughts, Revebas felt like he was in a nightmare. 'What is this!'
He screamed internally. His fists were being perfectly blocked. 'How can a mere 13th Floor...'
Revebas had cleared the 20th Floor. The difference in Stats between the 13th and 20th floors was not just present; it was overwhelming. When fists met, his opponent should have been crushed, unable to even follow his movements.
Normally, the gap was so vast that victory should have been impossible for the weaker one. And yet, he couldn't keep up. Not only that, but he was even being pushed back.
His fists throbbed, and his movements were being intercepted in advance. Revebas was on the verge of going mad. Had he known that Taesan was holding back, he truly would have lost his mind.
Taesan flicked his sword. It slid past the opponent's Gauntlet and cut his forearm.
[12 Damage dealt to Revebas.]
"Kuh!"
Revebas groaned and created distance. Taesan swung his sword and muttered.
"His Defense Power is high, as expected."
Having reached the 20th Floor, he would be wearing better armor. At this rate, it could take a while.
"Eek!"
At the condescending gaze, Revebas gritted his teeth and charged again, but the result was the same. Unable to block the wavering sword, another cut appeared on his body.
"H-how..."
"Your movements aren't that impressive either."
His movements were systematic, but compared to the Monsters he had seen here, there was a clear difference. The Ghost answered his unspoken question.
[I heard he comes from a lowly background. He wasn't at a level where he could learn proper martial arts. Probably at the level of a third-rate Mercenary.]
"Can't he learn it here?"
[He could learn, but who would teach him? There are no philanthropists here who would give away their trump cards for free. That guy didn't have the Tribute to pay.]
"Shut up!"
Revebas shouted coarsely and threw a punch. Taesan did not dodge.
[Kang Taesan has activated Deflection.]
The Skill activated. Revebas's lips twisted.
[Revebas has activated Power Strike.]
[Kang Taesan has activated Counter.]
He knocked the fist aside and plunged his sword into his chest. Blood gushed from Revebas's mouth. After barely managing to create some distance, Revebas stared with a dazed expression.
"...Huh?"
It wasn't an unconscious act. Taesan had activated Counter in response to Power Strike.
"You knew?"
Impossible.
Deflection cannot beat Power Strike, and Power Strike cannot beat Counter. It was a hidden compatibility that they themselves had only discovered after three years of countless trials and spars. There was no way a newcomer from the 13th Floor could have figured it out.
In contrast, Taesan looked indifferent.
"If it takes that much just to figure this out, what's the average level around here?"
Revebas's face flushed red as he pulled black powder from his Inventory.
[Revebas has activated Powder of Bewitchment.]
Powder of Bewitchment. An Item that made one see illusions the moment it was inhaled, a high-grade Item worth more than 2,000 Gold. Revebas also took out a Robe.
[Revebas has activated Robe of Shadowy Maneuvers.]
Robe of Shadowy Maneuvers. A very precious piece of Equipment he had obtained. Its effect was 1 second of stealth.
Mental magic and stealth. A two-pronged attack. Revebas avoided the powder and closed in on Taesan.
As he raised his fist, Taesan shook his head.
[Judgment successful!]
Not even Maria's presence could affect Taesan's mind. There was no way such powder could have any significant effect.
[Kang Taesan has activated Robe of Shadowy Maneuvers.]
Taesan's body also became hidden. Revebas, who never imagined Taesan would have a stealth Skill, flinched, and as time passed, the stealth wore off. Taesan kicked Revebas.
"Keok!"
[6 Damage dealt to Revebas.]
"That's really pathetic."
Taesan muttered in annoyance, and Revebas coughed in astonishment. 'I got kicked and took damage...?' His shoes didn't seem to have any Attack Power.
Since Revebas knew about Ainzhar and Airak Martial Arts, his thoughts naturally drifted in that direction. That arrogant old man who despised and trampled on them gave him a Skill? Revebas still couldn't forget the contemptuous gaze Ainzhar had given him.
"What are you!"
Revebas wailed and charged. Taesan calmly countered. Without landing a single effective blow, Revebas was just getting beaten.
Given the fundamental difference in Stats and the disparity in the level of their martial arts, the outcome was only natural. However, Revebas did not fall easily.
"He's tough and has a lot of Health."
No matter how he hit him, he only dealt around 10 Damage. Revebas's Health was around 1500. By simple calculation, he'd have to be hit 150 times to be taken down.
Naturally, his movements, unlike at the start, began to show openings. Revebas's eyes glinted.
'Finally!'
He was being toyed with, but he had cleared the 20th Floor. In this place where an ordinary person couldn't pass the First Floor and even the talented mostly died before the 10th Floor, reaching the 20th Floor was no easy feat. Revebas put strength into his fist.
His Gauntlet had a hidden ability. The effect was a Skill that dealt five times his Base Attack Power, just once. It was an effect that shouldn't be possible on the 20th Floor.
It had the drawback of rendering the Gauntlet useless for a month after use, but even considering that, it was a considerable piece of Equipment. Normally, it would be a piece of Equipment not permitted for him, who was only allowed up to the 20th Floor, but Revebas had desperately hidden the Gauntlet. 'Just one hit!'
He pushed forward with bloodshot eyes. Taesan let out a wry smile at the obvious thought. He knocks the fist away.
Kang!
And swings his sword. Revebas's thigh is cut. Revebas's eyes gleam.
Perhaps letting his guard down, Taesan swings his sword widely, creating an opening to close in.
'An opening!'
Revebas closes the distance. Whether by chance, because Revebas aimed for the opening well, or for some other reason, he was able to stick close without any resistance. Sparks flew from Revebas's eyes.
"You're dead!"
[Revebas has activated Power Strike.]
[Revebas has activated Explosive Gauntlet.]
Added to the Power Strike that consumed all his Mana was five times his Base Attack Power. A blow powerful enough to leave him on the brink of death if it landed properly.
[Kang Taesan's Absolute Nullification of the First Attack has been activated.]
But it's meaningless. As his fist returned to normal, Revebas's pupils trembled.
"Huh?"
"Are you done?"
Taesan plunges his sword. Normally, he would have quickly created distance or countered, but Revebas was not in the right state of mind for that.
"This is..."
He barely manages to swing his fist.
[Kang Taesan's Absolute Nullification of the Second Attack has been activated.]
Revebas let out an empty laugh. 'What was I even fighting against?' Despair washed over him.
"It's over."
Revebas was on the ground. After seeing the Attack Nullification, he had completely lost his will to fight, making things very simple. His Health was low enough that one more hit would kill him.
Instead of finishing him off, Taesan looked down at the listlessly fallen Revebas with cold eyes.
"You're really nothing special."
Still, he was an Adventurer of the 20th Floor. He thought he'd put up some sort of a fight, but from the moment his spirit broke, he did nothing. He just took the hits helplessly, like a puppet with its strings cut.
Even now, what was more visible than fear of death was a sense of emptiness and helplessness. The Ghost replied.
[He wasn't always like this. If he were, he wouldn't have made it to the 20th Floor. He was smarter and fought better, but...]
"His fangs were pulled out, huh."
He said the 20th Floor was his limit. He probably stayed here for a long time without a proper opponent. A beast without enemies is bound to become lazy.
"Well then."
Time to dig for information. He had heard about the Guides of Sin from the Ghost, but that information was from long ago, before his death. Lee Tae-yeon had also only mentioned that such a group existed, without going into detail.
As Taesan approached, Revebas belatedly came to his senses.
"You know what I'm going to ask, right?"
"...If I answer, will you let me live?"
"No. I'll kill you."
He doesn't lie. He has no intention of leaving loose ends. Revebas let out a bitter laugh.
"Then is there any reason for me to answer?"
"I think there is."
Taesan gestured to the Ghost with his chin. He knew he wouldn't answer easily. He had been wondering what to do, but the Ghost solved it for him.
[You little piss-pant. You know what the Transcendent beings here accept as Tribute, don't you?]
Revebas's body flinched and trembled. Fear crept into his eyes.
[If you don't answer, you're of no use to this guy. He'll just put your Soul to its most valuable use. If that's what you want, you don't have to answer.]
"N-no. That's not it."
He grabbed the hem of Taesan's clothes.
"Please..."
"Just answer."
Taesan was a little surprised. To agree to answer the moment he heard about being offered as Tribute to a Transcendent being. The fear of that act was plain to see.
'Is it that frightening?' At least, the Gods he had seen didn't seem like they would treat him that badly, so it was unexpected. In any case, he could get an answer.
It didn't seem like he would lie either. Taesan began his questions.
"How many of you are there in total?"
"...I don't know either."
Revebas shook his head.
"I told you. I'm only permitted up to the 20th Floor. There are more the deeper you go, and I've never been that far."
Revebas gave a sardonic smile.
"You're strong, but there are many stronger than you. Since you've messed with me, you too..."
Taesan smacked Revebas on the head.
"Shut up and answer."
"...Roughly a few hundred."
Taesan was slightly surprised by the answer given with a pained expression.
"That many?"
"Because most who found this place accepted."
Hearing that, it made sense. This place was dangerous and difficult. Even for Taesan, with his knowledge and Soul Rank Ascension, there had been several crises.
No matter how great one's wish, they were bound to crumble before reality. Those who did not break must have either perished in the Labyrinth or died at their hands. Those who descended to the Depths like the Ghost must be extremely few.
After organizing his thoughts, Taesan asked.
"You said there's a limit to the floors you can descend. How does that work?"
"The 20th Floor, 30th Floor, 40th Floor. It's like that. Most are on the 30th or 40th floors."
"So you're at the very bottom."
Revebas shut his mouth. It was true, so he couldn't reply.
"Fools."
Taesan sneered at them. To have come all this way only to set a limit for themselves. And not even a self-imposed one, but one forced upon them by others.
Taesan couldn't understand it.
"You don't know."
At Taesan's contempt, Revebas spoke in a trembling voice.
"You're strong."
Taesan was a Monster. Revebas still found it hard to believe. An Attack Nullification Skill.
And not just one, but two. It wasn't just his Skills. His combat ability was also superior, and he knew all about Skill compatibilities and such.
The Skills he revealed probably weren't all he had; he must have something more. Perhaps even at this point, he could win without issue up to the 30th Floor. It was truly an unbelievable thing.
"But not as much as those who have settled here. They are... Monsters."
His eyes held unconcealable fear.
Taesan scoffed.
"I probably know better than you."
He knew someone who had cleared this place. There was no way the people the Ghost was too scared to touch could be stronger than Lee Tae-yeon.
"Still, they're probably stronger than I am right now."
Taesan was confident he could catch up anytime, but not right now. In the Labyrinth, the deeper one went, the more the strength accelerated to a different Dimension. Above the 50th Floor.
Perhaps those below the 60th Floor. The Adventurers who could be called the High Council of the Guides of Sin.
"Will they come all the way up here to catch me?"
Paranyoung Fusion Fantasy Novel ■B GOLEM FACTORY1 ■— - 1 ■ '■ —Leveling up through battle