Monopolizing Skills to the 666th Floor - Chapter 18

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Skill Devouring to the 666th Floor Episode 018

18. Three Trials

Originally, the Bottomless Pit is a space used for refuge.

It’s where the demons of the Labyrinth come when they’re at a disadvantage in battle.

That’s why it’s called the sanctuary of the Labyrinth.

‘To my eyes, it just looks like a hideout for cowards.’

Of course, this place isn’t used only for escape.

It can also be used as a trap to confine humans, like now.

And I would be the only human caught in the trap.

‘That Death God bastard. He’s probably giggling right now, thinking he caught a human.’

But this was all an intended situation.

That’s why I pretended to be Amon’s follower.

All for the sole purpose of entering the Bottomless Pit.

‘Thanks. For letting me enter the Bottomless Pit already when I only entered it at the 470th Floor before.’

Before my regression, I had fallen into the Bottomless Pit while chasing a fleeing boss.

How much I struggled to find a way out of that dark space.

‘I moved around for what felt like three full days.’

They probably intended to starve me to death, but luckily I was able to find an exit.

I only learned later that it was the entrance to a Secret Dungeon.

‘I’ll clear the Secret Dungeon and obtain an S-Rank Skill. Then I can eliminate the penalty of Skill Copy.’

Since I entered as planned, let’s move.

I know where the entrance is.

I already confirmed the exact location by recalling it with Clear Mind Like Still Water.

Step, step.

The surroundings were dark, but thanks to my Explorer Achievement, I didn’t lose my way.

Rather, it looked as bright as my own home.

‘The darkness of the Bottomless Pit isn’t an obstacle for me.’

I walked toward the direction where the Secret Dungeon was located.

Who would have known there was a hidden piece in a place they sent me to as a trap?

Even Specter who led me here wouldn’t know.

‘If he knew, he wouldn’t have dropped me in a place like this.’

Then my steps stopped.

In front of my feet, a space darker than the darkness itself was swirling like a black hole.

‘Let’s go. To get that skill.’

I stepped into that place, which was both an exit and a place of opportunity.

Swoosh.

My body was immediately sucked into the Secret Dungeon.

When I first entered the Secret Dungeon, I was quite surprised.

Compared to the darkness of the Bottomless Pit, this place was blindingly white.

But since this was my second entry, I wasn’t surprised.

I just frowned because it was dazzling.

“Come on, let’s start quickly.”

A message appeared with perfect timing.

[You have entered the Secret Dungeon of the Abyss.]

[This is an escape route created for Apostles who mistakenly entered the Bottomless Pit.]

[If you pass three trials here and prove your qualifications, we will give you a chance to escape.]

[Not only that, but we’ll also give you special rewards, so please tackle this with enthusiasm.]

[Now, let’s begin the first trial immediately.]

Just because you enter the dungeon doesn’t mean you can leave right away.

You have to pass three trials to exit with rewards.

Among them, the first trial could be seen as testing my own limits.

‘Because an opponent stronger than me is always assigned.’

Sure enough.

《First Trial: Defeat an opponent stronger than yourself.》

Along with the message, a hologram flickered before my eyes.

A monster created for testing, a Dark Orc, appeared snorting.

‘A Dark Orc is something you’d only see on the 40th Floor, isn’t it?’

It was a strong creature, but my mouth was forming a smile.

‘As expected, an opponent slightly stronger than my level is assigned.’

When I entered while clearing the 470th Floor, a Dark Knight had appeared.

It seems the monsters are set according to my current level.

If Dark Knights had appeared like before my regression, I might have been killed instantly.

“Squeak! Squeak!”

Making wheezing sounds, the Dark Orc approaches.

It has no weapon in its hands, but that doesn’t make it an easy opponent.

‘It has monstrous strength that can crumple steel with bare hands.’

There’s a reason its entire body is muscular.

Not that I can’t handle it though.

‘I have Skill Copy, don’t I?’

Let me use it right away.

[The target has only one skill, so attempting to copy immediately.]

[Skill ‘Berserker’ has been copied.]

The Dark Orc’s monstrous strength is one thing, but the truly scary part is something else.

It’s this Berserker skill.

▷Berserker(F)

―Effect: When taking certain damage, attack power increases by 15% for 15 seconds. Feels no pain during Berserker mode. Has a 24-hour cooldown.

It’s a passive skill that activates when taking certain damage, making it quite troublesome.

‘Not only does attack power increase significantly, but it doesn’t feel pain either.’

In short, it attacks recklessly for 15 seconds.

How could that not be scary.

‘But it’s not like there’s no way to deal with it. When facing this guy…’

I took out my spear and gripped the spear shaft short.

Then.

Slash―

I cut my forearm.

Just enough to trigger Berserker mode.

[Berserker is activated.]

[Attack power increases by 15% for 15 seconds.]

‘Taking it down in one hit is the best approach.’

I explosively rushed forward and swung my spear.

The Dark Orc saw this and dodged, but it was a feint.

Whoosh!

The spear blade bent like a snake.

Thunk!

It pierced into the creature’s eyeball.

“Gweeek!”

Thud!

With explosive force, I brought it down in a single strike.

Not giving it a chance to activate Berserker mode.

That’s the way to defeat a Dark Orc.

[You have defeated an opponent stronger than yourself.]

[You have cleared the first trial!]

[The second trial will begin soon.]

The second trial isn’t difficult.

In some ways, it’s easier than the first.

《Second Trial: Overcome the Illusions.》

Illusions will appear from now on.

Since it openly tells me they’re illusions, there’s no reason I can’t endure them.

However.

‘I mustn’t forget that fact and fall into the illusions.’

They’re extremely realistic, so I might get confused if I’m not careful.

Whether I’m dreaming right now or not.

It becomes difficult to distinguish reality.

‘The system will read my mind and send illusions accordingly. So I’m bound to be shaken.’

In the past, nightmares of the world’s destruction due to failed strategies appeared.

Seeing people suffering in the burning city was hard to bear.

But now it’s different.

My mental strength is incomparable to what it was then.

‘If I just steel my resolve, it won’t be difficult.’

I’ve experienced nightmares to the point of boredom before my regression.

Bring on as many as you want.

But this time was a bit different.

“Oppa!”

“Se Hee…?”

It wasn’t a nightmare that came, but a sweet temptation.

“There you are. I’ve been looking for you for so long.”

Park Se Hee.

She was one of the Twelve Apostles of the Three Gods.

And…

‘She was also one of the comrades I couldn’t save.’

For her to appear before me already, when it should take ages to meet her?

‘It’s a hallucination. I can’t trust it.’

But the system wasn’t so lenient.

“You’ve been through so much. Let’s get out quickly. The other comrades are waiting too.”

“Get out where?”

“We need to return to reality. You’ve already cleared the Labyrinth.”

“The Labyrinth is cleared?”

“You saved me and cleared the 666th Floor.”

Nonsense.

I definitely died to Amon.

Obviously, this is a hallucination.

“You don’t have to fight anymore. You saved the world.”

“You’re talking bullshit.”

Se Hee’s eyes changed at my rough language.

“Why are you suddenly like this? You never used to curse…”

“In my previous life, you showed me nightmares, and now you’re showing me people I want to see? How varied.”

“You’re acting strange right now. Talking to yourself…”

“You’re the strange one. I’m the only person who reached the 666th Floor, so how do you know it’s cleared?”

“A message appeared. I heard it from outside.”

“Oh, really? Dead ghosts can hear messages too? Are the other comrades nearby? Huh?”

“Who died? Did you get hit by hallucination magic or something?”

“I did. That’s why I can see you in front of me.”

“Stop that and let’s just get out first.”

A soft touch grasping my hand.

It was a feeling I couldn’t dismiss as mere hallucination, but I know.

Smack!

“Oppa?”

This is a delusion testing my will.

So I shook off Se Hee’s hand.

I decided to abandon such attachments in this life.

“Stop this fucking act and go back. I’m warning you. I won’t go easy just because you’re a hallucination.”

“Why are you like this? Did you get attacked by a Succubus? Why on earth…”

Stab!

I stabbed with my spear, sick of seeing more.

Se Hee’s phantom scattered like smoke.

[You have overcome the hallucination.]

[You have cleared the second test!]

[The third test will begin soon.]

Only the final test remains now.

《Third Test: Find the exit.》

A very straightforward test.

However, finding the exit isn’t as easy as it looks.

‘I have to find one among hundreds of exits.’

As expected.

Whoooosh!

Hundreds of holes appeared in the white space.

Only one of these is the real exit.

If you fall into a fake exit, you return to the starting position.

How do I know?

‘Because I’ve fallen into them before.’

[Find the one true exit. You have 30 chances.]

[Remaining chances: 30/30]

Before my regression, I used all 30 chances.

‘I barely found it on the 30th try.’

But now.

‘I don’t need to go to the 30th try.’

Once is enough.

I know the location of the exit because I recalled it with Clear Mind Like Still Water.

‘Here.’

I passed through countless holes and stood at one spot.

With confidence, I threw my body into the hole.

The feeling of falling endlessly soon.

Thud!

Disappeared along with the sensation of stepping on solid ground.

[You have found the exit.]

[You have cleared the third trial!]

Before me was not the darkness of the Bottomless Pit, but the volcanic zone with soaring flames.

I had returned to before entering the portal of the Bottomless Pit.

[You have cleared all trials!]

[As a reward for clearing the Secret Dungeon of the Abyss, you will receive a ‘Skill Selection Orb (S)’.]

[The acquired item will be stored in your inventory.]

When I opened my inventory, there was an orb larger than my palm.

This was the reward I had wanted.

[Skill Selection Orb (S)]

―Category: Consumable

―Effect: You can select one S-Rank Skill.

―Usage Restriction: Lee Tae Seong (Bound)

―Description: An orb that allows you to choose an S-Rank Skill. All S-Rank Skills in the world are here.

‘All S-Rank Skills in the world my ass.’

That’s what the description said, but it wasn’t actually true.

The Three Gods’ Skills weren’t visible in the list after all.

‘It probably lets you have one of the Transcendent Spirit Skills or Demon Skills.’

In the end, whether the skill I wanted was there was the key, but there was nothing to worry about.

I had confirmed that skill was in the list by using it before my regression.

‘The overpowered skill called Parasite.’

I immediately spoke the activation word “use.”

Flash!

The orb glowed and a window appeared.

It was a skill list window with various S-Rank Skills listed.

[Using Skill Selection Orb (S).]

[Please choose one of the following skills.]

└ 1. Flesh Absorption

└ 2. Sacrificial Aura

└ 3. Blood Craving

…

…

…

No matter how much I scrolled down with touch, there seemed to be no end.

There were countless skills, each with descriptions attached.

All were desirable skills.

However.

‘I won’t turn my eyes to anything else.’

I placed my finger on the skill I had been thinking about all along.

[You have acquired the skill ‘Parasite (S)’.]

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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