“Kuaaah!”
The Balrog lunged forward. It moved its heavy hands, trying to grab Taesan. Taesan took a short breath and moved his sword.
The tip of his gently moving sword twisted the trajectory of the Balrog's arms. He struck the Balrog's exposed chest.
Crack.
“Kuaaah!”
The Balrog was slammed to the ground. It immediately shot back up and glared at Taesan.
Taesan whistled.
“Quite sturdy.”
Demonic energy surged forth.
[The Sealed Balrog has activated Demonic Energy Eruption.]
The demonic energy swept through the area like a storm. Taesan put some distance between them, thinking.
‘Is it similar to the demons?’
The concept of demonic energy was the same, but something was different. Compared to the demonic energy Zagan used, this was denser and darker.
[You have activated Deflection.]
As the erupting demonic energy reached Taesan, it chaotically distorted and slid past him.
[You have activated Slow.]
“Kuuuaah!”
The Balrog's movements slowed. Taesan gripped his sword and charged. Fighting the Balrog was a very good opportunity for him.
He would eventually encounter Balrogs in the Depths, so this served as good practice. Instead of finishing it quickly, Taesan tested various methods on the Balrog. Watching this, Hafran couldn't hide his astonishment.
“...Is this even possible?”
His stats were similar to the Balrog's. But he was completely overwhelming it with his skills, techniques, and senses.
“To think he's overwhelming a Balrog, even if it has lost its intelligence and deteriorated...”
[I told you. That one is capable.]
“No, it's still strange. What in the world…”
Objectively speaking, from the perspective of the 30th Floor, it wasn't that big of a deal. The Balrog had been sealed for a long time, and its intelligence and skills had not just degenerated but vanished. Even an ordinary adventurer from the 30th Floor could take down the current Balrog without much difficulty.
An enemy that attacked mindlessly without any intelligence was a very easy opponent for them. But that was the story for an adventurer from the 30th Floor.
“...His stats are similar? How? No matter how strong one is, stats should be an insurmountable wall.”
Hafran's mumbling eyes were filled only with questions. Skills could be obtained through outstanding talent or effort. The same went for Proficiency.
But stats were a different story. They were values that could only be obtained through Level Ups and fighting enemies. No matter how strong someone was, there were absolutely no cases of obtaining stats that went beyond their current floor.
There were some special skills that increased stats, but they were extremely rare, and the increase wasn't that significant. However, Taesan, despite being on the 16th Floor, had stats similar to a Balrog from the 30th Floor.
[That part is curious to me, too.]
One could view another's System Window if permitted. Since it was a dead ghost, Taesan hadn't been particularly wary.
[Where did he get a skill like that.]
All of Taesan's skills were outside the norm, but Soul Rank Ascension was special even among them. A skill that raised stats. And on top of that, a skill that even let him obtain other skills.
It was, quite literally, an impossible skill. The ghost thought to itself.
‘...Is that a skill permitted for mortals?’
It was something more high-dimensional.
Something alien.
At the very least, it wasn't a skill that could be obtained with the Labyrinth's assistance.
[In any case, it means he's someone unlike any we've seen before. Besides, you'll see. He's the perfect guy to help you.]
Taesan wasn't just simply winning against the Balrog; he was deciphering its numerous tactics and skills. Even Hafran, seeing it for the first time, could tell. Taesan's discerning eyes were exceptionally sharp.
[If it's him, he might be able to grant the wish you came here for.]
At those calm words, Hafran's eyes grew heavy. In the meantime, the Balrog had exhausted its strength and was collapsing.
[Kang Taesan is victorious against the Sealed Balrog.]
“Alright. I'll allow it.”
That was the first thing Hafran said as he approached, having been staring blankly at Taesan after he defeated the Balrog.
“So what do I do?”
Taesan asked, sheathing his sword.
“My world. You will go to that ruined place.”
“I can go to a ruined world?”
“My world was ruined in a rather unique way. There's a jewel that allows one to go there.”
Hafran opened a space and took out a crimson jewel. Beyond the shimmering energy of power, a world could be seen.
“I'll send you with this. You just need to bring back some materials from there. It may be a ruined world, but there are still things that remain.”
Hafran looked at his workshop. It was a simple workshop with an anvil, a hammer, and a furnace.
“This place isn't bad, but there's little I can make. They're all just ordinary items.”
He knew about that. The advantage of a blacksmith was being able to create equipment for specific body parts, not creating exceptional equipment. Even Lee Tae-yeon had only used blacksmiths until the middle floors; once she entered the Depths, she rarely visited them.
“But with the materials from that place, which only I, a resident of a ruined world, can handle—with those, I can create much stronger things.”
A fire ignited in Hafran's eyes. Taesan tilted his head.
“Is it possible at my level?”
“I have no intention of sending you to a difficult place from the start. It's a place you can handle if you're strong enough to defeat a Balrog. You have No Breath, right?”
Taesan nodded.
“That's enough. Let's start with something simple.”
Hafran began to speak calmly.
“My ruined world. Bring me the Root of Chaos from the Gray Forest there.”
[Sub Quest Initiated] [Hafran has something he desires from you. Enter his ruined world and bring back the Root of Chaos from the Gray Forest. A reward will follow upon success.]
[Reward: Equipment made from the Root of Chaos.]
“I'll give you a map for the location. As for the Root of Chaos, you'll know how to get it the moment you arrive in the forest.”
He had no intention of refusing the quest.
Taesan nodded.
As the quest was accepted, Hafran gripped the jewel and muttered something.
Kiiing.
A space opened. An ashen world revealed itself.
“Go.”
Before stepping in, Taesan asked.
“It seems you're quite particular about who you give quests to.”
“That's right. I've given them to no one but the Hero and you. There were others who wanted them, but I refused them all,” Hafran said stiffly.
“The reason I send someone to my world is because there's something I want there. Something in the deepest part, in my village. My biggest regret when I left my world was not taking that with me.”
A deep sense of regret was visible in Hafran's eyes.
“If it's some weakling who can't even reach that place, I don't want them trampling through my world.”
It was an implicit acknowledgment of Taesan. Hafran took a step back.
“Then there's nothing more to tell you. Just remember one thing.”
As Taesan entered the passage opened by the jewel, Hafran said.
“The world will try to kill you.”
In that instant, the world went dark. His body began to move through a black space.
“What is this?”
[Spatial transfer. It's the distance of a star, so it takes a fair amount of time to travel. If you wait a bit, you'll arrive.]
The ashen world visible in the distance was getting closer and closer. A ruined world. It was his first visit.
Honestly, he was curious. The Hero had also said his world was ruined. The Shopkeeper was probably the same.
In a way, Earth was also a dying world. Their fate could be Earth's future. He was curious about how their ruin differed from Earth's. The ashen world drew even closer.
Finally, Taesan's body arrived in the world. His first impression was that it was unpleasant and sticky. The first sensation he felt was the inability to breathe.
The moment he tried to inhale, something foreign, like poison, tried to enter his body.
[You have activated No Breath.]
He reflexively activated the skill. With a grimace, Taesan waved his hand through the air. He felt nothing.
If there was air, the movement of his hand should have created some kind of wind, but literally nothing happened. Taesan looked down at the ground. The withered earth was slowly turning to sand, trying to swallow him.
Taesan stomped his foot to get away, but the new patch of ground was no different. The very earth was trying to devour him. He looked at the sky.
There were no clouds. Beyond the wide-open expanse, only a gray light was painted everywhere. From that gray light, a hostility so thick that even a child could sense it emanated.
Taesan realized.
The star itself was trying to kill the living.
He exhaled.
The faint amount of air that had been in his body escaped. And then he inhaled again. Something like poison invaded his throat and lungs.
‘...There's a little oxygen.’
The foreign substance contained a minuscule amount of oxygen. He began to take small, controlled breaths, inhaling and exhaling repeatedly.
[You have taken 2 Damage.]
By doing so, he could breathe while minimizing the damage. Without No Breath, it would have been completely impossible. He was taking damage just by breathing.
A dry laugh escaped him.
“Is there really anything I can get in a place like this?”
He had thought it was just desolate, but he was wrong. The world itself held animosity and was trying to kill him.
[It's precisely because it's a place like this that there are things to be obtained.]
Taesan exhaled and inhaled. Even as he did, the ground continued to crumble, trying to swallow him. Taesan unfolded the map.
The Gray Forest and his current location were marked. The distance wasn't far, but it wasn't close either. Taesan started walking.
[It would be best not to make any drastic movements. If you show more movement than necessary, this place will start watching you. Even if you move slowly, it will eventually notice you... but at least you won't be crushed by a mountain.]
“That sounds grim.”
Following the ghost's words, he proceeded at a normal walking pace. As he continued to breathe shallowly, he was able to obtain a skill.
[You have continuously endured a terrible environment. You have acquired the Special Passive Skill [Poison Resistance].]
[Proficiency for No Breath has increased by 1%.]
[Proficiency for Disease Resistance has increased by 1%.]
And after walking a little further, another system window appeared.
[Proficiency for Block has increased by 1%.]
He was gaining proficiency and new skills just by walking. A dry laugh escaped him. But as Hafran had said, it wasn't unbearable.
His Health was slowly chipping away, but it was very minimal. At this rate, only his Shield would be depleted before he arrived. Taesan continued onward.
As time passed, the poison grew thicker. The damage he took with each breath gradually increased.
Scrape.
A rough mark appeared on his skin. The parts exposed to the atmosphere were slowly starting to distort. The outer layer of skin peeled away, revealing the skin underneath.
[You have taken 4 Damage.]
Taesan grimaced and pressed on his skin.
[It's getting stronger to eliminate the foreign object.]
“Hmm.”
It was still bearable, but it would get harder as time went on. Hafran had said he could return whenever he wanted. In that case, the quest would be treated as a failure, but at least there was no risk of death.
Having made a decision, Taesan swung his hand.
Pfft.
[You have taken 5 Damage.]
His fingernails tore at the edge of his skin. Taesan continued to move his hands, creating wounds all over his body.
[Uh... I have a rough idea, but why are you doing that?]
“You gain resistances and immunities better when you're wounded.”
Watching Taesan stop walking and wait patiently, the ghost let out a dry laugh.
[I know that, but it's rare to see someone actually do it. I'm used to it now, so it's not even surprising anymore.]
Scrape.
The wounds Taesan had made were torn open. Blood flowed out, and an unpleasant pain washed over him. Taesan remained silent and waited patiently.
Before long, he was able to acquire skills.
[You have acquired the Special Passive Skill [Decay Resistance].]
[You have acquired the Special Passive Skill [Laceration Resistance].]
“Two of them.”
[Special Passive Skill: Decay Resistance] [Proficiency: 1%] [Resistance to decay. It doesn't seem to be very meaningful yet.]
[Special Passive Skill: Laceration Resistance] [Proficiency: 1%] [Resistance to tearing wounds. It doesn't seem to be very meaningful yet.]
The descriptions said they weren't very meaningful, but a skill was a skill. Upon acquiring them, the pressure he felt lessened compared to before. After proceeding like that, he was able to discover a vast desert.
Leveling up through battle