Level Up with Skills - Chapter 38

Chapter 38

The Boss Room, Third Floor

 

TL: handCream

PR: Kasaix

 

Tae-san was also surprised. Detection, though it had a very low probability, informed him of important information. The probability was so low that it wasn’t certain it could be activated once each floor.

 

“Not bad.”

 

This was pure luck. It wasn’t skill, experience, or sense. Accepting it with pure joy was the sole answer.

 

Tae-san entered the secret room.

 

The trap inside was the same as that of the second floor. He knew how to break through, but he didn’t go in just yet, instead took a dagger out of his inventory.

 

Tool of a Humble Thief. The hidden reward of the second floor. Its effect was to find and disarm a trap.

 

Tae-san brought the dagger to the first arrow trap.

 

[Determining the disarmament of the trap…]

 

[Judgment Failed! The trap is activated.]

 

Ping!

 

An arrow was shot.  Tae-san simply moved his hand and caught it. He expected this failure. Unless it was a high-level item, the probability of failure was quite high. Tae-san approached the second trap that was situated on the bottom of the floor.

 

[Determining the disarmament of the trap…]

 

[Judgment Success! The trap is disarmed.]

 

Onto the next trap. Likewise, he continued to attempt to disarm the traps

 

The judgment failed. The wall was about to crush him, Tae-san clenched his fist and broke the wall.

 

He walked towards the next trap, and did the same.

 

After nearly ten attempts like that, he was finally able to acquire the skill he was aiming for.

 

[You tried to disarm a trap. You have acquired the special activate skill [Trap Disarmament]]

 

“Got it!”

 

[Active Skill: Trap Disarmament]

 

[Mana Cost: 1]

 

[Proficiency: 1%]

 

[No trap can be hidden. It will try to dismantle every trap.]

 

The explanation was terrible. It was natural since the proficiency was only a measly 1%.

 

Tae-san put the dagger in his inventory and started disarming the trap using the skill. Though most of them were failures, his purpose was not to deactivate them in the first place.

 

[The proficiency of Trap Disarmament has been increased by 1%]

 

The more he used the skill, the higher his proficiency would become. Right now when it was not needed just yet, he had to raise its proficiency as much as possible. That way he could use it when it’s really counted. However The Ghost had not understood his purpose.

 

[Do you really have to do this right now? It doesn’t really matter if you deactivate the trap or not. You can easily pass through this room]

 

“You are right.”

 

The ghost’s advice was not wrong.

 

These type of traps doesn’t change significantly even if he were to advance further in the labyrinth.

 

Even now, with his poor stats, he could handle it without any problems. And if he were to go over the 10th floor, he could easily use his physical strength to brute force it without any drawbacks.

 

However, Tae-san had no intention of stopping.

 

“I didn’t know about this place.”

 

He had cleared this place in Easy Mode. But this place was the Solo Mode. Lee Tae-yeon’s information had many holes. Basically, speed run to clear the labyrinth.

 

“The more I can gather, the better. I don’t know when I might need to use them. So, I’ll take everything that I can use. That’s my motto.”

 

Tae-san had overcome a crisis like that. The ghost was shaken for the moment.

 

[…Yes, you’re right. I died because I couldn’t keep up.]

 

With his bitter voice, the last trap was disarmed.

 

[Judgment Success! The trap is disarmed.]

 

[The proficiency of Trap Disarmament has been increased by 1%]

 

In total, his proficiency had risen by a total of 7%. Whenever he could find a secret room in the future, he was going to do this. Tae-san opened the box which was his reward for clearing the traps.

 

[Squeezed Ring of Power]

 

[Strength + 3]

 

[This is a ring compressed by someone with strong power. It’s in a distorted form, but it seems to contain some strength.]

 

Squeezed Ring of Power. Likewise, it was not an accessory available on the second floor. Though slightly faded, Tae-san was happy with what he received so far, and it was good equipment.

 

Now the secret room was conquered.

 

Only the boss of the third floor was left.

 

Tae-san continued. As he wandered through the labyrinth, he had already grasped the location, so he no longer diverged from his path. Tae-san arrived at the red gate shortly after.

 

[This is the goblin floor. Do you roughly know what would appear?]

 

“Yes, I know.”

 

He had heard it from Lee Tae-yeon. Tae-san opened the door.

 

“KeeKiek.”

 

There was a goblin inside. Its size was twice the size of other goblins. And all over its body, there were colourful writings that seemed like they came straight from the ancient times.

 

It held the staff in its hand. The goblin straightened his back and pointed the staff towards Tae-san.

 

“Kaak!”

 

[The Goblin Chief has appeared]

 

The rulers of all the goblins. In Easy Mode, it was one of the highest level monsters that could be countered if you advanced far into the labyrinth.

 

“Kiik”

 

The Chief glared at Tae-san. He didn’t know if it was because he slaughtered its people or it was simply the instinct of a monster, but Tae-san could feel it. He could feel the rage that was fiercely burning deep inside the Goblin Chief’s eyes.

 

“Kaak!”

 

The staff was shaking. Tae-san rushed in. Unlike other monsters, the chief had no reason to watch.

 

[The Goblin Chief cast a curse]

 

Curse. Another type of magic, that could slow down the body system or let the body rot partially.

 

Unlike mental magic, one cannot shake it off simply by using mental resistance as it attacked the body itself.

 

Tae-san focused his strength on his feet and activated a skill.

 

[You have activated Block. The next attack is blocked.]

 

The curse was blocked. When checking the status window, all his stats and HP decreased by 10%. If he didn’t have Block, his stats would have decreased by 30%.

 

Tae-san, who closed the gap, struck down with his sword.

 

“Kiiik!”

 

The Chief swung his staff to block it. The dull impact was felt on the sword. The Chief wasn’t damaged at all. The Chief shook off Tae-san and raised his staff again.

 

[The Goblin Chief has activated a wave]

 

Wave. Magic that blows away the opponent by sending a shock wave.

 

Looking at the system window, Tae-san immediately pulled out his Staff of Random Mind.

 

[You have cast Confusion.]

 

[Judgement…]

 

“Kak-kaak?”

 

For a moment, the Chief staggered. As its mind was collapsed, its magical power at the end of the staff disappeared. The Chief shook his head roughly to stave away the confusion.

 

[Judgement Failed!]

 

Though his spell failed, the wave’s initiation was cancelled. Tae-san grabbed his sword and cut off the Chief’s arm.

 

“KIIIK!”

 

[21 damage was dealt to the Goblin Chief]

 

The Goblin Chief’s remaining HP was 200.

 

He just needs to attack 10 more times. Tae-san pushed forward, the damages window kept popping up.

 

“Ka-kak!”

 

The chief swung his cane vigorously to widen the distance between them. However, Tae-san was forcibly sticking to its side by using skills such as Block and Counter. Eventually, the Chief, who couldn’t stand it, started using magic again.

 

[The Goblin Chief activated Explosion]

 

The system window popped up in front of Tae-san’s eyes.

 

Tae-san immediately grabbed the Chief’s arm and twisted it.

 

The magic that was about to be fired completely disappeared.

 

The Chief used his staff to perform magic once more, and it was not instantaneous magic. In order to use its magic the Chief had to chant for a time.

 

And as long as a player interfered in that crucial time, the process was broken. By then it’s safe to say that the usage of magic was virtually impossible for the Chief.

 

Originally, if Tae-san had high stats he would have countered it with his own magic. But once he realized this was possible, it was hard to stick to a series of curses and magic to fight it.

 

Though tricky, it wasn’t too difficult for Tae-san, who knew how to defeat the Chief.

 

“Keek!”

 

The staff swung loudly. It was blocked with Tae-san’s shield and he slashed the Goblin Chief with his sword.

 

[22 damage was dealt to the Goblin Chief]

 

[You have defeated the Goblin Chief]

 

“Kiiik…”

 

The chief disappeared. The ghost responded as if it were expected.

 

[Normally, he’s a very strong person. But even if he’s the leader, he’s no match for the current you.]

 

Tae-san checked the system window.

 

[You have levelled up!]

 

[Health is increases by 20 as a reward for levelling up.]

 

[Agility is permanently increased by 2 as a reward for levelling up. Strength is permanently increased by 3. Mana is permanently increased by 3.]

 

[You won against an enemy who was difficult to defeat. Intelligence is permanently increased by 2. Mana is permanently increased by 4.]

 

[Soul Raiser has been activated. Agility is permanently increased by 1. Intelligence is permanently increased by 3. Mana is permanently increased by 3.]

 

[You have defeated the boss of the third floor. You got the basic reward [Beginner HP Boost Potion]]

 

[You have acquired a bright old wooden staff.]

 

It was a long system window. But more than anything else, the increase in his mana stood out to him.

 

It had increased by 10. Now his Mana was over 50. With this kind of increase, he was going to surpass his past stats pretty easily.

 

Tae-san drank the beginner HP boost potion. His stamina increased by 50. Now, his health points was just around the corner reaching 295 – 300.

 

Tae-san checked the staff.

 

[Silver Wood Staff]

 

[Magic +3]

 

[The magic power is weak but it seems that talented people can use it.]

 

“What’s this?”

 

It’s magic, not mana or intelligence. Tae-san had never seen such an item before. In the Easy Mode, there was no similar equipment available. The ghost admired.

 

[Magic Staff?! You are really lucky. Will you take it?]

 

“Do you know anything about this?”

 

[Just as literally stated, it’s possible to use magic with it. This could be more versatile than your staff of random minds. You can enhance the power of the magic you have learned through the staff.]

 

“…Learn magic?”

 

[Isn’t it surprising to you when magic-using monsters come out?]

 

The ghost spoke mournfully. It was no surprise to him who had lived in a world with monsters and magic.

 

However, Tae-san was a human being who had lived in modern times. He didn’t know that one could use magic on their own without the help of a staff that was specific to a magic spell.

 

There was no information like this.

 

Another reason he was surprised was that the use of magic was a story he had never heard of.

 

In Easy, Normal, and Hard Mode, magic was only possible to use when a player possessed a staff, wand, etc. Lee Tae-yeon also believed that magic could not be learned as a skill because she had never used magic on her own.

 

But suddenly, when Tae-san learned that he could learn magic, he was confused for a moment. Tae-san ran his fingers through his messy hair.

 

“If I want to learn, how can I learn it?”

 

[Achieve enlightenment and awaken to the concept of magic on your own, or be taught by someone. It is one of the two.]

 

The former was impossible, he could only hope for the latter.

 

He might find the answer deep within the labyrinth; the answer must exist.

 

He had no use for the staff as of now, so he put it inside his inventory.

 

[Next is the 4th floor, you sure are pretty fast.]

 

“Before that, I’ll need to meet Lakiratas.”

 

He killed all the monsters on the second and third floors. After completing his quest, he had to go down to the second floor. Tae-san, who was about to leave the room, hesitated.

 

[What’s wrong?]

 

Tae-san looked up the system window and checked. Level-up Reward. Upgrade Reward. 3rd-floor clearing reward.

 

There was no secret knowledge reward

 

“What else could be hidden here?”

 

He should have received the reward if he were to identify all the hidden elements of the floor.

 

Usually, the reward was given once a player found the secret room. He thought he had already found all the hidden elements of this floor. As if realizing it too late, the ghost groaned.

 

[What?! What’s more? What else is here?]

 

“What about you?”

 

[Well, I couldn’t even find the secret room, so I just moved on. But seriously, are there two secret rooms?!]

 

Originally, there should be one for each floor. But this place was the Solo Mode. So, there was a possibility.

 

“Should I search through everything again?”

 

It was really impossible this time. This meant that Tae-san had to check all the rooms, but he was rather lucky to even find the secret room before. But this time luck might not favour him.

 

It was time for Tae-san to give up.

 

The boss’ room was built with various decorations. As the boss’ name was Goblin’s chief, he thought it was natural and ignored it.

 

But now that he had looked over once again, the decorations were making up some sort of a pattern.

 

Like a path forming for someone.

 

Tae-san moved the few decorations. He approached the wall in the direction the decorations were facing towards and put his hand over it.

 

“Grr-grr!”

 

[Huh?]

 

It was the sound of gears turning. The wall split smoothly and opened up a path on the side.

 

It was a moving wall in the trap.

 

It was disguised as an ordinary wall.

 

[…What? There was a place like this?!]

 

The ghost looked quite surprised as if it was his first time seeing this. Of course, it was a place that Lee Tae-yeon also didn’t find.

 

Tae-san went inside, the place was filled with a lot of decorations.

 

It is much more colourful and tidy than the boss’ room. He was made clear how the Goblin Chief thought of the being here.

 

A huge throne appeared in front of his eyes.

 

There was a goblin sitting atop it like a king.

 

With a shocked voice, the goblin opened his eyes and looked at Tae-san. It slowly opened his mouth.

 

“Human.”

 

A small murmur.

 

Tae-san was immediately put up his guard.

 

Bring it on!

 

He pulled out his sword.

 

[You have met the former Goblin Lord]