14th Floor, Guides of Sin (4) It was strange. A flame that burns other flames. At that level, someone like Taesan should have melted from the residual heat alone.

But he only suffered a Burn. When he touched it, he felt a foreign sensation, as if it were a physical substance. So he thought it was a substance, and he was right.

Taesan raised his sword, and Zagan looked at him with agitation. He had realized it from those two spells. Taesan had perfectly figured out how to counter his magic.

“Impossible!”

The magic of the Demon race was, quite literally, their magic. It was a perfect power accumulated over long ages.

“How could someone like you!”

[Zagan has activated Dekarabia’s Distorted Flora.]

Darkness erupted violently. The manifestation of the magic was exactly the same as before. Zagan was not foolish enough to have made it down to the 30th Floor, but with his feelings of denial and contempt, changing the manifestation of his magic would be the same as wounding his pride, so he stubbornly refused to change it.

That was a very good thing for Taesan.

[Kang Taesan has activated Mental Acceleration.]

Time subtly slowed down. A very small difference, but it was enough to provide time to think.

Dark Magic.

Unintuitive and difficult magic he had never seen, even in his past life.

‘It only comes out from within the darkness.’

The magic manifested only from within the darkness shimmering around Zagan. Dekarabia’s Distorted Flora was a storm of countless tree roots. As he stared into the darkness, he could see a sign.

The tips of the roots were peeking out. Seeing that, he could read their trajectory. Taesan took a step.

Three steps to the left. Two steps forward. The magic manifested, and the roots lashed out inside the room.

And Taesan was completely unharmed. As if avoiding him, the roots only filled the space around him. Zagan’s mouth fell open, and Taesan raised a finger.

Scorching Orb.

The roots burned away and vanished, clearing the room. Taesan activated Acceleration. He passed through the blaze and plunged his sword into the chest of the dazed Zagan.

Crunch.

“Th-This!”

Zagan hastily tried to create distance, but Taesan stuck close to him. When facing a Mage, not letting them create distance was the most important thing. He grabbed his arm, pulled him in, and moved his sword again.

‘As I thought.’

The Ghost, who had been watching, couldn't hold back his admiration.

Insight.

To grasp the essence of objects or phenomena, deduce the most rational method and solution, and derive the result. It was the most important ability anyone descending the Labyrinth should have, and Taesan excelled at it more than anyone.

To figure out the activation method and counter to Demonic magic he was seeing for the first time, even in the middle of a chaotic battle. There was no one who had even attempted it, let alone succeeded. They were too busy dodging to even think of a way to counter it.

That’s right.

Even the Ghost had not been able to do it.

‘So this was his greatest strength after all.’

He had realized that in magic, the stationary state and the trajectory state were separate, and learned the Basic Magic spells Scorching Orb and Frost Arrow, which he normally wouldn't even have known existed. He fully understood the compatibilities of skills like Power Strike, Deflection, and Counter. And his Swordsmanship.

Judging that the movements of the Sword Art of the Storm Scar were rough, he tried moving in a way that eliminated that roughness. And so, he obtained the second sword form, The Dancer’s Step. Even if it was something he saw for the first time, he would grasp its core, deduce from it, and try to act on it.

It was an ability everyone had, but Taesan was exceptional.

‘It’s… not Talent, is it?’

He didn't see the light of a Talent that was simply violent. Tens of thousands of efforts. So much effort that it could be considered stubbornness and madness.

It must have stemmed from that. While the Ghost was marveling inwardly, the fight continued, and it was one-sided. The reason Taesan had been pushed back, unable to do anything, was because he knew nothing about Dark Magic.

But now he had a certain understanding of its activation method and how to deal with it. From here, it was simple. All he had to do was Block the magic and beat him.

“Th-This is!”

Zagan tried to manifest his magic somehow, but it was no use. It was blocked by magic, blocked by a Skill, blocked by a sword strike—blocked by every possible method. In the meantime, he had already taken over 1000 Damage.

In the end, Zagan gave up. He spat out with a rough expression.

“I admit it. But not from here on out!”

Zagan gathered his demonic energy. The demonic energy surged, about to envelop Zagan’s body.

[Zagan has activated Descent.]

A unique skill of the Demon race that converted demonic energy and Mana into Stats. The conversion rate was high, so if he could just activate it, he would complete a set of Stats that could overwhelm Taesan. Of course, Taesan had no intention of just watching.

He stepped on Zagan’s foot and struck his jaw. As his Focus broke, the activation of Descent was canceled.

“H-How.”

“What kind of idiot activates it so openly?”

Taesan gave him a look of pity. Dark Magic could be canceled at any time by external stimuli during its Manifestation. There was no way Taesan, who had blocked so many of Zagan’s spells until now, would just stand there and watch.

Realizing this belatedly, Zagan struggled to create distance. But the difference in their physical abilities was clear. Their Stats were not that different, but between Zagan, a Mage, and Taesan, who was more of a Swordsman, it was obvious who had the upper hand.

Crunch.

“Keoheok.”

Finally, the sword pierced Zagan, putting him in a near-death state. Taesan pointed his Dagger at the fallen Zagan.

“If you try anything funny, I’ll kill you, so stay still.”

“To think I would be defeated by a mere human like this…”

Zagan looked up with a hollow expression. The Ghost let out the admiration he had been holding back.

[Amazing. No matter how clumsy that kid was, I didn't think you’d win this easily.]

“Even if it’s complicated, it’s less than ten spells. If he had a skill to vary them, it would be a different story, but without one, it's simple.”

For example, Magic Acceleration or Magic Explosion. If he had skills that brought changes to the activation and Manifestation, Taesan would have had a hard time as well. But perhaps due to his lack of Proficiency, only raw, unrefined magic was activated.

[Is that so?]

The Ghost gave a bitter smile. Mages on the 30th or 40th Floors usually only used about ten spells. And they couldn't add variations to most of them.

It wasn't that they were weak. Magic was a kind of numbers game. Ten moves were more than enough up to the 30th Floor.

But in Taesan’s eyes, they would all seem unskilled. In truth, unless he went down to the Depths, it meant that no Mage of his level or thereabouts could win against him.

[It makes me curious about your Proficiency for Insight.]

Simply put, Taesan had learned Perfect Reconnaissance, the final evolution of Insight, while the Ghost had not. The difference was immense.

“If this guy hadn't done something so foolish, it wouldn't have been this easy.”

Zagan was a pure Mage who didn't use his body. He should have manifested numerous spells to keep Taesan from getting close, but he had been careless and failed to do so. The moment he gave up that distance, the outcome was as good as decided.

“So then.”

Taesan pricked Zagan’s neck with the tip of his sword. Blood trickled down.

“How can I learn Dark Magic?”

Demonic magic.

A form of Magic completely different from regular Magic. The Dark Magic Zagan had shown was extremely tricky and, at the same time, appealing. Although he didn’t know much about Magic, one would have to learn a great deal of magic to have that kind of range and variety.

If he could learn it, it would become a useful card to have. Zagan answered Taesan’s question with a curse. How dare a mere human covet the magic of the Demon race.

He spewed all sorts of curses, wishing the Demon King’s Curse upon him. Taesan’s response to that was simple. If you don't answer, I can just offer your Soul as a Tribute to a god.

Those words were extremely effective, and Zagan quietly shut his mouth. With a terrified face, he began to answer Taesan’s questions. He tried to mix in lies here and there, but the Ghost cut him off beforehand.

Having descended to the Depths himself, he had some general information about Dark Magic, which made the conversation easier. Finally, the story was sorted out.

“So in conclusion, I can learn it?”

“Yes.”

Zagan nodded his head with a weary face.

“Dark Magic is operated with demonic energy and Mana. You have the Mana, so you just need the demonic energy.”

“Didn’t you say demonic energy is something only your race possesses?”

It was a kind of energy that the Demon race was naturally born with. The Ghost had explained that other races could not obtain it no matter how hard they tried.

“Normally, that’s the case. But this is the Labyrinth. A place where all sorts of anomalies and powers that distort the law are organized under the name of Skills. If the conditions are met… it’s not impossible to obtain demonic energy.”

In fact, he had seen a few who had obtained it, Zagan added.

“And the way to do that is to go to your god.”

“…Just like the God of Magic, our god has also settled here. Forsaking us all.”

Zagan spat out with a contorted face. His expression held both reverence and a sense of betrayal.

“He is one who loves the capable. If you can catch his eye and pass his trial… you might receive the privilege that is only granted to us. Though it’s an impossibly difficult task.”

Zagan twisted his lips. The demon god had never once granted demonic energy to a human. He thought Taesan would be no different.

“That’s not for you to judge.”

He had to find the demon god. That was the goal. Taesan asked the Ghost.

“Do you know the location?”

[My memory is a bit hazy… but it shouldn't be too far. You just need to go down a little more.]

It seemed he would be able to learn it sooner than he thought. This made him curious about one thing.

“What’s the relationship between the God of Magic and the demon god?”

He was learning Magic from the God of Magic. That was possible because the God of Magic favored him. If the two didn’t get along, he might have to give one up.

The Ghost hesitated.

[Uh… I don't know about that either. It’s not uncommon for Transcendent beings to not get along. You’ll have to check for yourself.]

Thinking that it was a relief not to get a definite answer that they were on bad terms, Taesan organized his thoughts. With this, he had gotten all the information he could from Zagan. Taesan immediately plunged his sword into him.

Zagan’s face turned grim, and the life faded from him. The power he had accumulated seeped into Taesan.

[Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. Strength has permanently increased by 26. Agility has permanently increased by 27. Intelligence has permanently increased by 34. Health has permanently increased by 50. Mana has permanently increased by 70.] [Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. You have obtained Basic Dark Magic [Marbas’s False Flames].]

[Your Level has increased.]

Because his Level had gone up, Soul Rank Ascension hadn't activated properly, but since this was an adventurer of the 30th Floor, the increase was significant. He didn't get any Equipment, but he let it slide. It would be shameless to expect Equipment from the 30th Floor right now.

[Basic Demonic Magic: Marbas’s False Flames] [Mana Cost: 13] [Base Demonic Energy Cost: 5] [Proficiency: 1%] [Demon. Summons a substance in the shape of a flame wielded by Marbas. Its temperature, which could melt the sun, has been greatly degraded and seems like it would cool down with mere ice.]

“So it was a substance after all.”

A demonic energy cost was attached. He wouldn't be able to use it until he obtained demonic energy.

Then.

Taesan opened his mouth.

“Stop hiding and come out.”

But there was no movement from the presences. Taesan lazily dusted off his hands.

“Should I drag you out one by one and kill you? If you think you can run, go ahead and try.”

“…I apologize.”

With a quiet voice, figures began to appear. One, two, three. A total of ten.

They were adventurers of the second rank. The young man clenched his teeth and bowed his head. Behind him, the others trembled as they pressed their heads to the ground.

“It’s like I’m bullying you.”

[Well, it is pretty similar, isn’t it?]

“What do you mean similar? I’m the one who got hit first.”

Taesan grumbled.

“They wouldn't have a thing to say even if I killed them all.”

At his words, they trembled even more violently. The young man bit his lip.

‘No… I can’t. The adventurer from the 13th Floor before me is a Monster. An existence that can never be resisted.’

An adventurer from the 30th Floor was dead. Even if Zagan had been focused on tormenting them and hadn’t managed his own power for a long time, he was still from the 30th Floor. An existence with a power that more than ten people from the 20th Floor couldn’t even touch.

And someone like that was killed by a person from the 13th Floor. And he did it overwhelmingly, without much effort. He couldn't resist.

The young man barely gathered his wits and asked.

“What do you want from us?”

Leveling up through battle