Ascension Through Skills

[First, I'll give you the most powerful and excellent magic I possess.]

[You have acquired Magic Stacking.]

[You have acquired Magic Liberation.]

Magic Stacking.

It was the magic that Shayan used. Akishya spoke proudly.

[It's a magic I created. By separating numerous magic cores and fusing them, you can stack different types of magic and use them at once. Not only does it increase power, but it also brings characteristics from each magic, so it will be very helpful.]

“I know.”

Akishya hesitated.

[You know?]

[... I see.]

Akishya laughed.

[You desired it so much, and in the end, you made it yourself. Then, there's no need to explain further. Test it out while using it directly.]

This time, Akishya handed him the staff and robe he had used. Taesan, who received them, checked the level of the equipment.

[The Staff of a Great Mage Who Almost Was]

[Magic +300]

[Mana +5000]

[Casting Speed +12%]

[A staff belonging to someone who had the power to become a great mage, but died due to a vile betrayal. The staff is deeply imbued with their resentment and talent.] ŕ

It was equipment of a level that couldn’t have been obtained on the floor where Akishya had died. It seemed the quality of the equipment improved according to the quest level.

The robe was of a similar level. Though Taesan, being a swordsman, wouldn’t wear it, it would serve as a fine offering to the god of magic.

[This is where my reward ends.]

Akishya’s body began to slowly dissipate.

[Though I fulfilled my wish… it feels more empty than I thought.]

Akishya muttered bitterly.

In the end, he died.

He could not be resurrected. All of his talent, ability, and potential ended like that.

[Such a shame. Aren't you bound to this labyrinth with a similar wish to mine?]

In response to Akishya’s question, the ghost quietly nodded. Akishya smiled faintly.

[We're in the same boat, then. You’d better prepare yourself. Such an end… is truly empty.]

With those final words, Akishya’s body vanished.

His soul no longer remained here. His contract was completed through the fulfillment of his wish, and he left the labyrinth.

[…]

The ghost silently stared at the spot where Akishya had disappeared.

[Magic Stacking]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Allows the use of multiple stacked magic spells. For now, it can only stack spells of the same type, and the number of stackable spells is very limited.]

[Magic Liberation]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Liberates stacked magic.]

The skill Akishya handed him—Magic Stacking.

Testing it with various spells, Taesan realized.

“It can be used similarly to dark magic.”

Dark magic was the power of demons. By opening a portal and receiving their permission, you could unleash the true power of dark magic.

However, opening the portal took considerable time, and it had the drawback of increasing mana consumption.

Magic Stacking was similar. You could stack magic to maximize its power, but it also took a considerable amount of time due to a lack of proficiency.

However, the increase in power was undeniable.

With Taesan’s Double Casting ability, he could adjust accordingly in different situations. As his proficiency increased, he would eventually be able to use it without delay, just like Shayan did. It was a useful skill.

And he had acquired other skills as well, after defeating Shayan.

[Forced Magic Tuning]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Forcibly tunes magic.]

A very simple explanation. Judging from Shayan’s usage, it seemed like a skill that could turn offensive magic into defensive magic, or vice versa.

For Taesan, who had mostly offensive skills, it was quite a useful skill. The ability to handle magic in various ways meant increased versatility, which would be greatly beneficial.

Through Soul Ascension, he had acquired intermediate magic.

［Intermediate Magic: Distortion］

［Proficiency: 1%］

［Mana Cost: 150］

［Twists space. Currently, it can only twist a small portion of a very limited area.］

Taesan decided to test the skill directly.

[You have activated Distortion.]

Crack.

The space twisted.

Though the distortion was small—barely enough for a fist to fit—it was undeniably altered.

“It doesn’t have much impact.”

Unlike Shayan, who had used it to block attacks entirely, this skill only affected a tiny space. It seemed challenging to have a significant impact in battle.

However…

Taesan stroked his chin thoughtfully.

He could twist the space according to his will. Though he couldn’t change the range, he could determine the position and size.

This skill might help him retrieve abilities from his past life that he hadn’t yet regained.

He decided to practice more to understand its precise effects.

［Special Continuous Activation Skill: Swift Judgment］

［Proficiency: 1%］

［Assists in making quick decisions during battle.］

Swift Judgment. It was one of the skills he had obtained last in his previous life.

In combat, one must consider multiple possibilities and quickly find the correct answer to act.

Swift Judgment, much like how Sense Enhancement heightened the senses, aided in swiftly making decisions.

This skill reminded him of another.

‘Ten Thousand Possibilities.’

A skill that calculated ten thousand scenarios to find the right answer.

It was a skill only Lee Taeyeon possessed, one that even Taesan hadn’t obtained.

But now, with his current self, he could acquire Ten Thousand Possibilities.

Moreover, his proficiency in magic and intermediate magic had increased significantly.

After confirming everything, Taesan moved his body.

Before descending further into the labyrinth, Taesan sought out Lilis to offer a tribute.

［Intermediate Rune Magic: Shield of the White Rune］

［Proficiency: 1%］

［Mana Cost: 700］

[Summons three rune shields that guard the body, protecting against incoming attacks. The shields remain around the user's body and respond to incoming threats.]

This was beginner rune magic, earned as a reward for clearing the world of giants. Taesan had rarely used the White Rune Shield since then, as there were no attacks left that beginner magic could block.

The god of magic had strengthened that spell.

It had become intermediate magic, and as much as the mana cost increased, the power of protection had surely risen as well. It would be a highly useful skill for Taesan, who constantly fought while on the move. There was a considerable gap between beginner and intermediate magic.

He was reminded of the advanced magic Shayan had used.

Advanced magic, such as Five Shots of Doom, had enough power to kill Taesan with ease.

That attack wasn’t a one-time deal but could be used five times. Taesan had survived by utilizing various skills, but had he been even slightly lacking, he wouldn’t have been able to withstand the siege and would have died.

It was undoubtedly a skill beyond the reach of a mortal. This encounter reaffirmed that advanced magic was a realm only allowed for those who transcended mortality.

Taesan continued his descent into the labyrinth.

He had yet to clear the 73rd floor.

Beyond the place where he defeated Shayan was the entrance to a cave.

Taesan stepped inside.

The scent of damp moss and the thick darkness filled the cave.

Taesan recalled the clearing conditions for the 73rd floor.

[Quest for the 73rd floor initiated.]

[Conquer the dungeon and defeat the dungeon master deep inside...]

[Reward: Shoes of the One Who Left Footprints on All Lands.]

[Secret Reward: ???]

Dungeon conquest.

Taesan placed his hand on the cave floor, gathering magical energy and opening a portal.

[You have activated Leraje's Territory Detection.]

Kiiiing!

The wave of detection spread throughout the cave, and the information poured into Taesan.

He learned that the cave consisted of five floors and was quite vast.

“Another dungeon to conquer within the labyrinth?”

Taesan gripped his sword and ventured deeper into the dungeon. As he moved further in, monsters began to appear.

[The Decayed Swordsman. Drain has appeared.]

[The Decayed Spearman. Bayan has appeared.]

They were withered skeletons.

Each wielded weapons and charged toward Taesan.

Clang!

Taesan swung his sword, deflecting the spear aimed at his head and twisting his body to dodge the sword aimed at his thigh.

They were fast. Their movements were as skilled as seasoned warriors. When Taesan counterattacked, they skillfully blocked him.

Taesan realized who they were.

‘Adventurers who died on the 73rd floor.’

The deeper floors were notoriously difficult. Although he had now made it through, many like the Guides of Sin had lingered on the 74th floor for a long time.

Many must have died.

These skeletons were their remains.

Clang!

Taesan applied more force to his sword. The skeletons tried to block but were sent flying, swords and all.

In the end, they were failures.

They could not stop him.

Taesan dove into them. The skeletons, responding based on the experiences engraved into their bodies, tried to react, but Taesan was faster.

Crack.

He swiftly dispatched two monsters.

Taesan casually sheathed his sword.

“Their movements aren’t impressive.”

Perhaps because their souls had already left their bodies, they weren’t particularly formidable. Though they moved with some semblance of self-awareness, that was their limit. Unlike the Guides of Sin, whom Taesan had faced before, they lacked a personal edge.

Taesan continued his descent.

He quickly cleared the first and second floors, reaching the third floor in no time.

Though more dead adventurers appeared, none could stop him.

[This place wasn’t originally designed this way.]

The ghost muttered. Compared to Taesan, the ghost had descended the labyrinth with what would be considered normal strength. So, he understood.

As Taesan had said, the dead adventurers didn’t retain their full strength from when they were alive, but they were still talented enough to have reached the 73rd floor.

Facing so many of them would pose a considerable challenge for an ordinary adventurer.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The original design of the 73rd floor likely intended for adventurers to analyze the movements of the dead adventurers one by one, slowly working through the challenge over time.

Depending on compatibility and skill, this floor could take an enormous amount of time.

But for Taesan, there was no thrill.

He was conquering the depths of the labyrinth as if taking a leisurely stroll.

Considering the way the depths were structured and their intended difficulty, this should have been impossible.

Taesan’s pace did not falter.

Since this was a dungeon, there was a hidden room. He quickly located it using Territory Detection and retrieved the secret reward.

［Shield of Aegis, Now Endowed with Divinity］

［Defense +150］

［The shield used by the great saint Aegis when they transcended humanity and ascended to divinity.］

[Provides immunity to all damage for 1 second. This effect has a one-month cooldown.]

“So, it’s an upgraded version of Aegis’ shield.”

The Aegis shield Taesan possessed granted immunity to all damage for one second but came with the penalty that the user could not move during that time.

This shield had removed that penalty. Taesan, who had experienced the power of immunity while using the Aegis shield, knew just how valuable this shield was.

He placed the shield into his inventory and resumed his dungeon exploration.

He moved at an incredible pace. A dungeon that would take ordinary adventurers an extended period to clear, Taesan reached the end of in less than an hour.

And then, he encountered the boss of the 73rd floor.

[The Decayed Lich, Malakas, has appeared.]

A skeleton holding a staff, clad in a black robe, stood before him.

A lich, a powerful undead creature born from the death of a wizard.

“Another wizard, huh.”

Taesan unsheathed his sword. Malakas rattled his jaw and raised his staff.

The empty sockets of his skull were filled with clear hostility directed at Taesan.

[Malakas activated Frost Arrow.]

Taesan dodged the incoming arrow with a swift leap. As he closed the distance, Malakas brought his staff down.

[Malakas activated Frozen World.]

Crack!

A bitter cold surged forward, and frost began to gather in the narrow cave.

“You can even use intermediate magic?”

Taesan murmured in admiration. This was truly the deep floors of the labyrinth. Even monsters could use intermediate magic here.

[You have activated Starlight Arrow.]

[You have activated Forced Amplification.]

However, it was still not particularly impressive.

The frost was shattered by the Starlight Arrow Taesan cast. Malakas hurriedly raised his staff.

[Malakas activated the Iron Wall of Protection.]

Clang!

A blue barrier collided with the Starlight Arrow, sending a ripple of power through the cave.

Taesan quickly closed in on Malakas.

Malakas swung his staff in defense.

Malakas was not weak.

He skillfully wielded intermediate magic, putting pressure on Taesan.

But Taesan had just fought Shayan, someone who delved into the secrets of magic.

The difference in base power was clear, and Malakas fell to Taesan not long after.

Click-clack.

Separated bones clattered to the ground. Just as Taesan was about to gather his rewards after sheathing his sword…

Click-click-click.

The shattered bones began to reassemble.

Though Malakas had clearly fallen due to a lack of health, he began to form again, eyes filled with hostility once more, turning toward Taesan.

[The Decayed Lich, Malakas, has revived.]