- Volume 4, Chapter 1186. Hafran’s Ruined World (1) The ashen desert. A colorless world of sand where nothing could be seen.
Taesan stepped into it. The moment he set foot in the desert, his skin dried out. With every step, the sandy ground gave way like a swamp, and what little oxygen there was diminished even further.
Had he not acquired resistance, it would have been quite difficult. Taesan lessened his breathing even more and wrapped his entire body in his robe.
‘How much further?’
Looking at the map, he was halfway there. Taesan walked slowly. He couldn't run; he could only advance while breathing.
The star had not yet shown any particular movement. Perhaps because of that, a slightly bored Taesan asked something he had been curious about.
"What's the difference between Adventurers and you guys?"
[By 'you guys', do you mean the contractors?]
"Probably."
The NPCs existing within the Labyrinth. It seemed they called themselves contractors. Contractors and Adventurers.
They were similar, yet different.
[Don't you have an idea? It's the difference between those who are bound and those who are not.]
The Ghost said.
[Adventurers, like you, can go outside. Freedom exists for them. But contractors cannot. It's because we made a deal with the Mage and are bound within the Labyrinth.]
The contractors reside within the Labyrinth, giving Quests and aid to Adventurers.
[It's a kind of contract. I get a chance to fulfill my wish, and in return, I am bound to the Labyrinth.]
"A wish?"
[I was backstabbed and killed by the Ogre Sage. I made the contract for revenge. Lilith made a contract to walk the Path of Magic. The old geezer who seeks God made a contract to find his god.]
Everyone strongly desired something.
[The Dwarf who runs the Shop must also wish for something. Hafran is no different. He's playing the role of a blacksmith because he wishes for something.]
That wish must be here, where Taesan was.
"So that's why there are Quests."
[Because we can't leave the Labyrinth ourselves. So we ask Adventurers like you to do it for us.]
If they could withstand the pressure of the Guides of Sin, they would be stronger than the current Taesan. But instead of returning to the ruined world themselves, they asked Taesan through a Quest. If it was because they were bound by a contract, then the question was answered.
‘I think I get it.’
The Labyrinth is a deep and difficult place. Every time you descend a floor, various Monsters try to kill you, and the gods are incredibly cruel and cold. The Adventurers you occasionally meet are also likely to be hostile.
In a situation with no place to rest and no allies, even someone with a heart of steel would find it hard to endure. So it would be nice to have beings who are not confrontational and show goodwill. It would be even better if they were connected by mutual interest and could never betray you.
The existence of beings who give rewards for passing appropriate trials would be a great source of strength. That must be the reason the Mage created the beings known as contractors.
[I don't know if it was mercy or what, but it wasn't a bad deal for me, so I took it. It's better than just dying.]
The Ghost mumbled uncomfortably.
Taesan asked.
"How does one become a contractor?"
[It varies. In my case, the Mage came to me directly. If you accept, you become a contractor, and if not, you don't.] "Who is this Mage?"
The one who created the Labyrinth. Although he received help from the gods, it was a space of this scale. He might even be stronger than the Transcendents.
After a moment of silence, the Ghost spoke.
[I cannot answer that.]
"Is it a secret?"
[Something like that. As you go down, you'll find out naturally.]
It wasn't an urgent matter, so he didn't press further. Around the time he reached the middle of the desert, a wind suddenly formed in front of Taesan. The wind swallowed the sand and grew larger and larger, eventually forming a huge sandstorm.
‘Are they finally getting serious about killing me?’
Kagagagak!
He tried to avoid it, but it was far too big. A mountain-sized sandstorm swallowed Taesan at high speed. The fierce wind tried to blow his body away, and the sand whipped at Taesan's body.
[You have activated Parry.]
[You have activated Fortitude.]
He used his Skills, but it was meaningless. Most Active Skills exerted great power against single attacks. They were largely meaningless against an attack with a countless number of hits like a sandstorm.
"It's not passing."
He endured for quite a while, but the sandstorm still had him engulfed.
[It's meant only to kill you, so there's no need for it to go anywhere else.]
In the end, he had to either escape on his own or erase the sandstorm. Taesan activated Frost Arrow and shot it toward the center of the sandstorm, but nothing appeared. He raised his sword and swung, but only sand hit it; there was no other reaction.
"Can't I kill it?"
Although it was a natural phenomenon, given the special circumstances, he thought it might be a living thing, but it wasn't. Then, he had no choice but to escape. Taesan activated a spell.
[You have activated Slow.]
The sandstorm's speed slowed slightly.
‘Targeted Skills work.’
Kwajik.
Taesan kicked off the ground.
[You have activated Acceleration.]
He charged with the wind at his back. Acceleration could only be activated with a target. This time, the target was the sandstorm itself.
The combination of the storm, slightly slowed by Slow, and Acceleration, which boosted his speed, made his body sprint. He stepped on the ground again.
[You have activated Acceleration.]
His body escaped the sandstorm at high speed. The sandstorm belatedly tried to chase Taesan, but he had already escaped from it.
"Hoo."
Having reached a safe distance, Taesan brushed the sand off his body. The sandstorm swayed back and forth, not knowing what to do. The distance was already too great for it to chase after Taesan.
It had only managed to swallow him because it appeared right in front of him like a surprise attack; the difference in speed was clear. The swaying sandstorm made a decision.
"Is it disappearing?"
[It must mean that since it failed to achieve its purpose, it has no value.]
The sandstorm's power was slowly fading. Eventually, it disappeared, leaving only the scattered sand behind. And from within it, something entered Taesan.
[Huh?]
[Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. You have obtained the Concept Skill [???].]
Seeing the suddenly appeared System Window, Taesan muttered dumbfoundedly.
"What?"
"Why did this activate?"
Soul Rank Ascension. It takes the power of an opponent when you kill them. That was how it was written, and that was how it had always activated.
For that reason, Taesan thought Soul Rank Ascension was a Skill that only activated against living beings. But an activation that defied his previous understanding occurred.
[Uh, uh.]
The Ghost sounded bewildered.
[...The sandstorm was meant to kill you. And it failed. So I can understand it being treated as your victory... but why Soul Rank Ascension?]
"How should I know?"
Taesan was just as baffled.
"More importantly, what is this Skill?"
[Concept Skill: ???]
[Proficiency: 3%] [???]
It only said ??? and nothing else. The only piece of information he could glean was that it was a Concept Skill.
"What's a Concept Skill?"
[It's a type I've never seen before either.]
It was a Skill unknown even to the Ghost. If the Ghost, who had descended to the Depths, didn't know, it was no exaggeration to say that most Adventurers in the Labyrinth wouldn't know either. The pondering Ghost let out a groan.
[Don't tell me...]
"Did something come to mind?"
[There is... but...]
The Ghost shook its head.
[It's not certain yet. I'll tell you when my thoughts are more organized.]
It seemed it wasn't sure. He was flustered by the sudden event, but looking at it calmly, he had easily obtained a new Skill. It wasn't a bad thing for Taesan.
Taesan advanced further. After leaving the desert without any other problems and crossing a field, he could see a giant cliff.
Kwadeuk.
The cliff began to collapse. The falling fragments broke free from gravity's influence and began to fly at Taesan like cannonballs.
‘I'm experiencing all sorts of things.’
A collapsing cliff attacking him. This would be a story to tell for a long time.
[You have activated Mental Acceleration.]
Taesan swung his sword with a serious look in his eyes. He strikes and parries the flying rocks. He deflects them one by one, appropriately mixing The Dancer’s Step and Wolf Fang.
Since the entire cliff was collapsing, they rained down on him, but he deflected them using Composure, Mental Acceleration, and his Swordsmanship. He was deflecting them without much trouble, but there were just too many. His fingertips started to tingle.
Taesan swung his hand with a frown.
Kwajik.
A house-sized rock shattered into fragments. A slight scratch appeared on the back of his hand. These were not simple rocks.
Perhaps because it was the will of the world, they even pierced through Taesan's Defense Power. As Taesan clicked his tongue while blocking, something came into his view.
"What's that?"
Inside the collapsed cliff was a circular, ashen energy.
[Huh? What?]
"That thing in the cliff."
[...I can't see it?]
It seemed only Taesan could see it.
‘Is it because of the Skill?’
It might be visible because of the ??? Skill he obtained after the sandstorm disappeared. After a moment's thought, Taesan put strength into his legs.
[You have activated Acceleration.]
He charged toward the rocks pouring down like meteors. He swung his sword to deflect them and kicked with his feet. He avoided what he couldn't block and took what he couldn't avoid with his body, rapidly approaching the cliff.
The rocks poured down fiercely as if telling him not to come closer, but it was already too late. Taesan stabbed the ashen energy with his sword. The rocks, which had been pouring down with a will of their own, fell powerlessly under the influence of gravity.
At the same time, the energy was absorbed by Taesan.
[Ooh?]
[Your Soul Rank Ascension has been activated. The Proficiency of ??? has increased by 2%.]
It was certain now. The ashen energy was what had been attacking Taesan. It was probably something related to the star.
Seeing that the Ghost couldn't see it, it was highly likely that the inhabitants here had not noticed it.
"What on earth is this Skill?"
[Concept Skill: ???]
[Proficiency: 3%] [Will of ???]
A word had been added, but it remained just as incomprehensible. Taesan nonchalantly closed the Skill Window, while the Ghost groaned inwardly.
‘Will... is it?’
The Ghost hadn't seen the ashen energy, but it had a vague idea. Hafran’s world was ruined because the star itself tried to kill the world. The sandstorm and collapsing cliff that appeared to kill Taesan this time were an extension of that.
It was the will of the star, which did not permit living things. Against such a will, Taesan had overcome it. In a sense, it was safe to say he had won.
So, he was stealing power from a defeated enemy. Thinking of it that way, it wasn't a completely illogical story.
‘But...’
The Ghost was bewildered.
‘Is this a power permitted to humans?’
It was shocking when it first learned of the Skill called Soul Rank Ascension. Stats increasing every time you defeat an enemy. On top of that, stealing even Skills when victorious against an Adventurer.
That was not a light matter. Skills were things you could barely obtain only with immense effort and Talent. Soul Rank Ascension meant that such Skills could be plundered indiscriminately.
To put it simply, if Taesan defeated someone who had learned Airak Martial Arts, he could obtain Airak Martial Arts. However, there was the limitation that he had to defeat the enemy. Therefore, the Ghost thought Soul Rank Ascension was a Skill that stole what was inside an enemy—whether physical or spiritual—by killing them.
Seen that way, it was a clearly defined Skill.
‘But... this is a much higher-dimensional story.’
The sandstorm and the collapsing cliff were the will of the star, in a way, the world itself. Taesan had won against the will of the world. So, Soul Rank Ascension had stolen the power of the world.
It meant it was a Skill that stole not just from a physical body, but from a concept as well. And plunder-type skills cannot take anything if their rank is low. In other words, Soul Rank Ascension possessed a higher rank than the will of the star itself.
‘This is not a power permitted to a mortal.’
It was something higher. Permitted only to a Transcendent...
"Is that it?"
[Huh?]
"I asked if that's the destination. It looks exactly like it."
Taesan looked at the map. A small, colorless forest was visible. The Ghost, coming to its senses, replied.
[That's right. I got the root from a place like that too.]
The Ghost erased its thoughts. If he had really reached that level, he wouldn't still be trapped in a mortal body.
‘Still, could it be just below that level? This makes me even more curious about his past.’
While the Ghost was lost in thought, Taesan entered the forest. The colorless trees made creaking, threatening noises, but Taesan paid them no mind.
"Is that it?"
Around the time he reached the middle, there was a giant tree. It was so huge that it was hard to think of it as a tree. Unusually, the tree's roots were exposed, and their shape was irregularly scattered.
He could tell at a glance. That was the Root of Chaos.