Chapter 161
Chapter 161: Easy Pickings (1)
"Now this is what you call easy pickings!"
A Floor Master descends and clears the Labyrinth. The Black Mage Group felt the sheer absurdity of it firsthand. Five Floor Masters from the 60th floor and above. The Black Mage Group's finest, handpicked for a high-speed Labyrinth run. They shot upward through the Labyrinth like arrows.
"There's no path. Do we go around?"
"Is that really necessary?"
Despite its massive size, the Labyrinth was extraordinarily complex in structure. That only grew worse the higher they climbed. Not that it mattered in the slightest before five Floor Masters...
BOOM!!
The insect-type Floor Master fired a beam, and the mountain blocking their path crumbled. The walls that made up the Labyrinth itself couldn't be broken — but A rocky mountain that appeared as terrain within the Labyrinth? That was shattered with a single gesture. A long road was blasted open between the towering cliffs of rock.
"We're at Floor 17 now."
The high-speed Labyrinth clear was well underway. Santo Akiko, a Japanese Possessor who had achieved Floor Master descent, was thoroughly intoxicated by the situation.
'Is this some kind of cheat mode?'
It was even faster than in the game. Monsters were instantly wiped by the instant-death aura. Floor Masters? They simply weren't in the same weight class.
Even calling it Floor 17, it was nothing more than the middle floors of the Labyrinth. Compared to themselves, who had descended as Floor Masters from the 60s, the enemies were small and weak. They simply crushed them flat.
"So this is the power of Possessors."
The shareholder, who had absorbed and descended into a Possessor, was equally awed by the absurdity. Having lived for many long years in this world as a Black Mage meant a history of endless persecution.
'It feels like all those years of resentment are washing away.'
Originally, Black Mages held an ambiguous position within the Labyrinth. Outside, they were regarded as demons who spread curses and calamity — but inside the Labyrinth, where there were no civilians to slaughter, they had been forced to act cautiously while concealing their identities. Now, however, things were different.
―Five humans from the Demon Realm. Welcome to Floor 18.
No matched opponents either. The Black Mage Group was clearing the Labyrinth alone at the very front. An utterly overwhelming feat! But that wasn't all.
'We've swept up every profitable resource along the way, on top of the clear rewards…'
Santo Akiko, who had descended as an insect-type Floor Master. She summoned small insects like drones to harvest the Labyrinth's minerals and resources. The other Floor Masters did the same. They summoned minions and commanded them as they pleased.
"All that's left is to kill the Floor Master and move to the next floor."
The path the Black Mage Group left behind turned barren and desolate, as if swept clean by a plague of locusts. Then, Akiko suddenly brought the group to a halt. Thousands of compound insect eyes flickered. A [Status Window] had appeared.
"Just a moment."
It was a situation update coming through the Black Mage Group's [Guild Chat]. She reviewed the information arriving from outside.
"Floor 53 Master Rockstar is dead..."
But the contents were all deeply strange.
"The Bomber got beaten to death?"
The enemy in question was that Saint, Erik. And Jang Du-sik, who had beaten the Bomber to death, was also one of the persons of concern. That much was entirely plausible. But...
[The 1st Seat of the Allied Nations has sent an army into the Labyrinth. The descended Floor 44 Master has been subjugated.]
The situation wasn't adding up. With the Empire's declaration of war, each nation was struggling to deploy its forces. That was precisely why the Garcian Kingdom had fallen into the Black Mage Group's hands in the first place.
"It seems we've gained another hostile force in the Labyrinth."
Whirrrr!
Massive wings vibrated at blinding speed. Akiko was furious. In response to her rage, a massive muscular giant burst out laughing.
"All we need to do is our job. Akiko, don't worry about it."
The group Akiko belonged to was the Black Mage Group's clear squad, plain and simple. Their objective was to climb the Labyrinth.
"Besides, our enemies will hit a wall at Floor 10."
The Black Mage Group operated a separate suppression squad. Their purpose was to obstruct other factions' Labyrinth progress. From Floor 10 onward, all Labyrinth instances merged into one. There, beings descended using entities from Earth were standing guard at the floor entrances.
"Outer Gods — the Outer Gods will deal with them. They possess divine rank, after all."
The Outer Gods were powerful enough to block even the Empire from advancing. And they had transcended even death. They were revived in the Shareholder's embrace. That should have been reassuring enough — yet Akiko felt an even greater unease. The reason being:
"They say that Saint's army also revives."
"Ha. So along with receiving divine favor, they possess that kind of absurd power too?"
The Bomber, who had been killed by Jang Du-sik. The intelligence he'd delivered after reviving. Each piece of it was beyond comprehension.
"On top of that, there are reports that his army is returning to the Labyrinth..."
"Even the Shareholder cannot do such a thing!"
"The idea that someone who died inside the Labyrinth can return to it — that simply makes no sense."
Santo Akiko was astonished. Thousands of compound eyes blinked simultaneously. They had all shut tight at once.
'The real easy pickings were someone else entirely.'
***
Floor 9 of the Labyrinth was a wasteland of parched, arid earth. Land resembling cracked, dried-out paddies, riddled throughout with massive craters. The monsters that appeared were enormous rock-bodied earthworms and stone humanoid Golems. That was all.
"I'll need to prepare to receive the Saint here."
Erik had halted at Floor 9. This was because the Saint of Lu-Solace had declared she would find Erik and entered the Labyrinth.
'She'll be an enemy, no question.'
Lu-Solace, Saint of the Sun God. A monstrous existence who had lived for centuries, and a fiend who saw non-believers as less than human.
'The Saint is as good as the one who built today's Solar Holy Nation.'
Originally, the Solar Holy Nation had coexisted with Lu-Solace. But as the religion's power grew ever stronger, it eventually surpassed the royal family, and the Sun God's followers began to control the entire country. The reason this had all been possible —
'The Saint is a tenacious bystander.'
It was because the Saint, the nation's strongest, had simply stood by and let it happen. The most powerful person in the land did nothing, and the country fell apart — until, under the banner of religion, they were running enslaved as Penal Soldiers.
'The Empire's strongest act. But the Saint stands still.'
Erik did not expect such a being to be friendly toward him. So he prepared.
'What can I do?'
First, he analyzed his own combat strength. The master of the descended Floor 53, Rockstar. Killing that thing had given him a measure of where his clear party's power stood.
"Probably can't easily take down someone who's descended as a Floor Master from the 60s and above."
The beings that could be cleared were Floor Masters. The existence of a clear method meant there was certainly a critical weakness. But the truly top-tier beings were different.
"What's different above Floor 60?"
The real-world Labyrinth had only opened up to Floor 33. When Janson had possessed his body, even fewer floors of the Labyrinth had been public.
"You wouldn't know that, Janson."
At the point when Erik had possessed his body, the highest floor in the game had been Floor 65.
"The higher you go, the better the performance of the summons the Floor Masters command, and the sharper their judgment becomes."
For example, interrupting players mid-skill cast. Or having the summons absorb the Warrior's [Taunt] instead. In many ways, Floor Masters above 60 were a headache.
"Boss, isn't there a chance someone from above Floor 60 hasn't even descended?"
"A Floor 53 Master showed up, so there are definitely ones above that too."
Erik was certain. They almost certainly already existed.
'They're really going to clear the Labyrinth the easy way.'
Recalling the specs of those Floor Masters made his blood boil. Instant-death beam — one-shotting the boss in a second. Summoning minions and farming by proxy.
'Those absolute pieces of trash...'
What was the source of that power? Sacrifices. Was it really acceptable for power gained through evil deeds to be that good? Erik was genuinely furious.
"But still — why is that Saint woman ignoring those monsters and going out of her way to come kill you, Brother?"
"The three kingdoms minus the Empire have always been fond of doing pointless things. Wasn't it the three kingdoms, all of them, who helped the Black Mage Group grow their power in the first place?"
What made it even more infuriating was that other nations had actively aided the Black Mage Group in building its strength. The Garcian Kingdom and the Allied Nations offered cooperation. Lu-Solace had been bringing sacrifices under the pretext of disposing of their Penal Soldiers.
"The Black Mage Group's representative is a former sacrifice from Lu-Solace."
"So why let the Allied Nations and adventurers who went along with it live? Why not just kill them all?"
The opponents matched against them as they climbed the Labyrinth. The Allied Nations' Kim Su-ho's party and the S-rank adventurers' party. Erik had let both groups go. The reason was simple enough.
'The guild members are as good as being on my side.'
The Park&Yoon Guild. Erik had certainty about this. As long as Sister Gilma was there, they would never betray him. So letting Allied Nations member Kim Su-ho live was only natural.
They were bound by the sacred [Guild] oath—and even if he didn't personally like the person, that was reason enough to save Kim Su-ho and Yoon Hye-ji.
"Then why did you let the adventurers live?"
The reason for keeping the adventurers alive was equally clear.
"The adventurers treating Possessors well and all that—honestly, that was just an excuse."
Erik laid out the reality to his party.
"From Floor 10 upward, all Labyrinths merge into one. If we kill everyone, we'll end up being treated as public enemies."
The reason Possessors had once been treated worse than Black Mages. It was precisely because they had become Continental Enemies. How difficult had it been to change that treatment? Erik had felt that reality keenly while building Earthtown.
"If we end up being treated as public enemies inside the Labyrinth, forget clearing the upper floors—even climbing the Labyrinth at all will become difficult."
The Black Mage-descended Floor Masters and S-rank adventurers might join hands to obstruct him. To prevent that, he had to know when to hold back. If you wanted to live without holding back, there was only one thing needed.
'Overwhelming power.'
Erik resolved to grow stronger.
'In this world, all authority flows from power.'
At the very least, enough to take personal responsibility for his own actions. He needed to unlock at least Tier 5. To do that, he would need to clear Floor 30.
"Du-sik, Janson. We're not that strong yet."
Erik smiled thinly. Right now, he intended to approach things from a different angle. Even lacking power, he had his wits. And comrades he could work alongside. With that in mind, Erik had already sent five Possessors up to Floor 10.
"There's no need to explain how powerful a Saint who has lived over a hundred years must be."
The immediate reality was that the Saint of Lu-Solace was trying to burn him alive. Erik had officially classified the Saint of Lu-Solace as an enemy.
"But Boss—are you certain she's an enemy?"
Janson found himself questioning that. He was technically known as Saint Erik—couldn't two similar kinds of beings give each other a pass? That was the thought.
"Janson, there were several signs."
Erik held out a ring.
"To make this ring, I ground down one of the Sun God's sacred relics. And in exchange, I obtained a new sacred relic of Lu-Solace."
On top of that, he had directly wielded Lu-Solace's Sacred Spear in the Demon Realm, and during his training he had swung that flame around freely. There were far too many reasons for the Saint to come looking for him. So he had made quite thorough preparations to receive her.
"Is there a connection between that and sending the Possessors up ahead?" "Wait and see. With any luck, we might be able to deal with the Saint easily."
Park Chang-ho, Nishida Ryo, Kang Pung-ho, Cha Ye-rin, Yoo Han-na. Erik had sent a party of five Possessors up to Floor 10.
"It should be about time to hear from them."
They could revive even if they died. That made them perfect as scouts. He had sensed signs of a recent revival from the Divine Temple, so surely word would come soon enough.
―Tap tap!
[Nishida Ryo: Outer God Krullu on Floor 10!!! I got killed by a crazy monster with massive tentacles!]
According to Nishida's report, a Black Mage who had descended as an Outer God had set up a gate-block at Floor 10. Apparently the entire Possessor party had been instantly flattened by a giant tentacle in seconds.
"An Outer God, huh."
A plausible picture took shape in Erik's mind.
***
Erik continued to wait at Floor 9. If the Saint's Labyrinth instance happened to split, he would only encounter her at Floor 10, but...
"Given your luck, Brother, wouldn't there be a 100% chance you do run into her?"
"That does sound about right for the Boss."
With Erik's luck, the kind that could fail a +1 enhancement that was guaranteed to succeed — it was a near certainty that he'd be matched with the Saint right here on Floor 9. While waiting for her, Erik steadily continued his preparations.
"Vel, Pe, what level are you at?"
"50!!"
First, he gave the two children an ultra-fast leveling session. He pushed them to Level 50 so they could class-change to [Cursed Black Mage] and learn the [Isolation] spell.
'These children, of all people, being put through this...'
In his heart, Erik had been carrying a certain prejudice toward the two children. They had been created by that Lucifer, and were born bearing the sin of Sloth from the Seven Sins Order.
However, having obtained [Discerning Eye], he had come to understand just how baseless his concern had been.
"The two of you are truly kind children."
Erik bent his massive frame low and patted both children on the head. They lit up with joy.
"Erik! Do you not hate us anymore?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Children were sensitive like that, weren't they? They had apparently noticed that Erik had been keeping them at arm's length all this time.
'I feel like I've committed another sin.'
Looking at the two children with their adorable, sleepy expressions, he was genuinely so mortified he didn't know what to do with himself.
"I never hated you. It was just... a little difficult, that's all."
Erik answered plainly, meeting their eyes. The two children were endlessly pure, if a little lazy.
'That's exactly why I'm raising their levels.'
Like the other children at the orphanage, Vel and Pe also needed to build the strength to protect themselves.
'And...'
While leveling the children, Erik had come to realize something else. Something deeply shocking at that.
―Boss, just hunting normally makes the levels shoot up, why do Black Mages bother with people...
Janson had voiced a similar thought over the Guild Voice. Erik felt exactly the same.
―I know. I thought all the filth like "Joy of Slaughter" and "Massacre" and whatever other garbage achievements they chased must have given them something worthwhile, but...
Possessors with the [Black Mage] class. Erik's contempt for them only deepened. Looking at Vel and Pe, simply clearing the Labyrinth through honest hunting made leveling remarkably easy.
―The Great Cataclysm's effects helped too, of course.
―That's true, no one could have predicted that Floor Masters would reset on an infinite loop.
Erik felt the sheer absurdity of the changed Labyrinth firsthand. Which meant one thing: Staking a claim on the upper floors had become critically important.
―After clearing a Boss Room, the reset is immediate...
Even in the game, you had to wait a full hour for the respawn. But now, the moment a clear was recorded, the next party entered and the Floor Master spawned immediately.
In other words, completing full gear sets was about to become far easier. Just as the conversation reached that point.
―Five humans from the Empire, one human from the Solar Holy Nation. Welcome to Floor 9 of the Labyrinth.
The Labyrinth offered its greeting.
Whoooosh!
Erik was standing on a rocky hill. It was the far end of Floor 9, near the Floor Master's room and the stairs leading to Floor 10. He was a great distance from the Solar Holy Nation human who had just entered at Floor 9's entrance.
Rumble!
Whoooosh!
Yet a scorching heat washed over him. Between the cracked, arid earth of Floor 9, flames began to erupt. Red-hot lava poured down along the massive craters. Then the master of those flames turned and looked at Erik.
"So a being of true divinity has been born."
A sun rose in the dark depths of the Labyrinth. Its flames were fierce. As if intent on erasing everything.
'She's a genuine enemy, all right.'
Erik narrowed his eyes. Through the gaps in the flames, a woman appeared. An existence as fierce as the noon sun — the Saint of Lu-Solace. She was the master of the sun.
"In a land where divinity has departed, a new divinity must not be permitted to exist."