Monopolizing Skills to the 666th Floor - Chapter 33

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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 033

33. Floating Island

[Achievement ‘Terminator of Madness (F)’ has been unlocked.]

[If a new record appears within 10 days, the Achievement will be returned.]

[If no new record holder appears, you will permanently acquire the Achievement effect.]

▶Terminator of Madness (F)

―Acquisition Path: Labyrinth Underground 40th Floor

―Effect: Deals 20% additional damage to opponents in Berserker state.

―Time remaining until permanent acquisition: 9 days 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds

‘I knew this would come out.’

I smiled at the Achievement that came in.

An Achievement that’s advantageous when facing monsters in Berserker state.

The Berserker skill is used by various monsters besides Dark Orcs.

‘From that perspective, it’s quite a useful Achievement for F-rank.’

Usually when they enter Berserker state, they charge recklessly without regard.

When they attack like zombies, feeling no pain?

The key is to kill them quickly.

You can think of this as an Achievement that helps with that.

[Clear record will be registered in the Hall of Fame.]

[Please set the name to be registered.]

I set the name as Amon, just like I’ve been doing.

Thud!

I landed on the ground and folded my wings.

“Th-thank you for saving me.”

The Cat Beastman who had been screaming came to his senses and greeted me.

“What’s your name?”

“It’s Felis.”

“How did you end up captured there?”

“Th-that… I don’t know the detailed process. I was sleeping in the village when I woke up to find myself with the Dark Orcs…”

“How many days were you held captive?”

“That’s also unclear…”

“Do you know where this place is?”

“Here? Isn’t this Teravis?”

Here?

Not the Labyrinth?

“Do you know about the Labyrinth?”

“The Labyrinth…? What’s that?”

“What about Amon? The God of Destruction.”

“The God of Destruction…?”

An expression showing complete ignorance.

Future Apostles will ask various questions when they meet Beastmen, but as you can see, it’s useless.

‘They really were kidnapped from another dimension, since they know nothing about the Labyrinth.’

They don’t even know who Amon is, so how would they know about the Labyrinth?

I have to be satisfied with just rescuing them.

‘I don’t know where the Beastmen go after being rescued either…’

What’s certain is that like this.

Whoosh―

They disappear like smoke.

As if their purpose has been fulfilled.

I don’t know what happened to the Cat Beastman named Felis.

Whether they returned to their original dimension, or became a sacrifice for missions again.

‘Whatever happens, I save them all. That’s the mission.’

As the mission ended, rewards came in.

[You have cleared Labyrinth Underground Floor 40!]

[A ‘Weak Essence of Strength’ is granted as the 40th Floor normal clear reward.]

Here, from the 40th Floor, the essence rewards are different.

It changed from ‘Extremely Weak’ to ‘Weak’.

‘Previously it increased by 1, but from the 40th Floor…’

Red energy seeped into my body.

[Strength increases by 2.]

‘It goes up by 2.’

Double the stat increase.

Since the rewards have changed, stats will start rising in earnest from now on.

[Credits are added to the normal clear reward.]

[8,000 Credits are granted.]

I also received Credits as a reward.

[A ‘Weak Essence of Magic Power’ is granted as a reward for first clearing the 40th Floor.]

My magic power also increased by 2 as a first clear reward.

‘I’ll conquer up to the 44th Floor with this momentum.’

The 44th Floor is where I can obtain a Hidden Piece.

I should at least make it there, shouldn’t I?

[Would you like to descend to the next floor? Y/N]

[If you select N, you can return to Earth.]

My finger pressed Y without hesitation.

A figure emerged from outside the United States’ Sinkhole.

It was Joshua, who had challenged the 20th Floor.

His appearance meant he had successfully conquered it.

Surviving for an hour against monsters wouldn’t have been too difficult.

However.

“Ah…”

Joshua’s expression looked somewhat dazed.

“I couldn’t break Amon’s record.”

In a way, it was a natural result.

How could anyone catch up to someone who was racing solo to the other side of Earth?

But when he actually faced it, he couldn’t help but feel it deeply.

No matter how much he struggled, it was hard to even reach Amon’s toes.

“The number of monsters I caught in one hour was 366. Does it make sense to break that?”

6 monsters per minute.

In other words, it meant killing one monster every 10 seconds.

Does that even make sense?

“It’s absolutely impossible.”

He had worked hard since it was a floor that measured records.

Moreover, they had said he could become an Apostle of the Three Gods if he proved his qualifications.

But it wasn’t enough to overcome the wall of 366 monsters.

“I could only manage to catch 181…”

This wasn’t a bad number either.

No, compared to ordinary apostles, it could be called overwhelming.

But with Amon as a point of comparison, it couldn’t help but feel insufficient.

“I wanted to catch more, but I had to run away to survive.”

The tremendous horde of monsters rushing at him.

Because of that, he wanted to hunt without rest, but he couldn’t.

To survive, he needed at least a moment to catch his breath.

“You’re really an amazing human, Tae Seong. I knew it, but today I really felt the wall.”

It was a day when he truly felt how strong Lee Tae Seong was.

“It’s disappointing, but I failed to prove my qualifications…”

Actually, it wasn’t even a performance worth being disappointed about.

He hadn’t even come close to the threshold of 366 monsters.

Still, it was regrettable that he had missed this rare opportunity.

[Someone has conquered Labyrinth Underground Floor 43!]

[Time remaining until destruction: 452 days 21 hours 55 minutes 13 seconds]

[Someone sets foot on Labyrinth Underground Floor 44 for the first time.]

‘Even in the midst of all this, Tae Seong is diligently conquering floors.’

Compared to himself, who had just cleared the 20th Floor, it was incredible.

He even felt something noble in that effort to save humanity.

‘This isn’t the time to be dejected like this. I need to keep conquering.’

Just as he was about to enter the Sinkhole again, shaking off his disappointment with a sigh.

[The God of Time Kairos encourages you, saying it was enough to prove your worth and that you worked hard.]

[The God of the Underworld Orcus acknowledges you as a human worthy of becoming an Apostle of the Three Gods.]

[The God of Balance Harmonion declares that you shouldn’t be disappointed and that he will make you an Apostle of the Three Gods.]

An unexpected message appeared.

[The Three Gods of All Things have offered you to become an apostle.]

[Will you become an Apostle of the Three Gods of All Things? Y/N]

A choice given despite his failure.

It seemed the gods hadn’t expected him to surpass Lee Tae Seong’s record from the beginning.

They just wanted to see if he was better than ordinary humans.

He had proven that through this conquest.

That he was qualified to be accepted by the three gods.

“Ha, ha…”

I touched my finger with a joyful heart.

Then.

[You have selected Y.]

[Contracting with the Three Gods of All Things.]

[You have become the 12th Apostle of the God of the Underworld ‘Orcus’.]

[You have become the 19th Apostle of the God of Balance ‘Harmonion’.]

Two gods were added to my list of patron spirits.

And.

[To commemorate becoming an Apostle of the God of the Underworld ‘Orcus’, all stats increase by 1.]

[To commemorate becoming an Apostle of the God of Balance ‘Harmonion’, all stats increase by 1.]

My stats increased and I even received skill sponsorship.

With this, Joshua had become even stronger.

[You have entered Labyrinth Underground Floor 44.]

《Type: Rescue》

《Condition: Within 1 hour time limit》

《Mission: Save the Cat People.》

[You cannot leave until you clear the mission.]

Another rescue mission this time.

All missions up to the 49th Floor would be like this.

‘But the 44th Floor is different.’

The mission is the same, but the 44th Floor has a hidden reward.

A so-called Hidden Piece.

That’s why I didn’t turn on the action camera.

There’s no point in revealing something that others can’t obtain anyway.

Flutter!

I soared up using my Flight Skill.

Continuously.

All the way to the sky’s end.

Then, something hidden behind the clouds came into view.

‘There it is. The Floating Island.’

Before my regression, it was the Fallen Angel’s Apostle who discovered the Floating Island.

Those with Flight Skills found it by chance while exploring the sky.

Afterwards, people searched through various floors, but the Floating Island only existed on the 44th Floor.

And the people who could reach that place?

‘Only the Fallen Angel’s Apostles.’

Because of that, people wanted to become Fallen Angel Apostles for a while.

Apostles who had already passed the 44th Floor lamented that they couldn’t obtain the Hidden Piece.

‘But there’s no need to feel sorry.’

The Hidden Piece only has one owner anyway.

Others wouldn’t get even scraps if they went there.

That’s why filming it with an action camera would be meaningless.

‘Whatever happens, the Hidden Piece is mine.’

Thud.

I stepped on the ground of the Floating Island and surveyed the scenery.

Perhaps because it’s an island floating in the sky, there’s a lot of wind and the air is cold.

Though it’s not a problem since I have my Tattered Hood.

‘I need to find it here. The Hidden Piece.’

The island isn’t as big as I thought, so it won’t take long to find.

I had already recalled its location with Clear Mind Like Still Water anyway.

‘Here it is.’

The central part of the Floating Island.

As I pushed through the bushes and entered what looked like ruins.

Krrrrrr—

A 3-meter tall Stone Statue began to move.

Holding a massive axe.

‘That Stone Statue is the Floating Island’s treasure.’

Of course, I need to destroy it for the treasure to come out.

It’s not a difficult task for me.

‘Prison of Death.’

Thud!

A prison descended from the sky and bound the Stone Statue.

When the Stone Statue placed its hands on the Iron Cage.

Crackle!

Electric current flows and deals damage.

Meanwhile, I.

‘Dragon’s Breath.’

I inhaled and gathered mana.

Soon.

Kwaaaa―!

A wave of mana crashed into the stone statue.

The stone statue that had been peeling away bit by bit like an eggshell.

Kwajajak!

Completely shattered and revealed the item hidden within its body.

[You have discovered a hidden item of the Floating Island.]

A glowing orb rose up and was absorbed into my body.

[You have obtained a Skill Enhancement Orb (B).]

[The obtained item will be stored in your Inventory.]

The Hidden Piece of the Floating Island was an Enhancement Orb.

An orb that only the Apostle of the Fallen Angel could obtain, and only one person could possess it.

‘I’ve claimed it for myself.’

I took out the orb from my Inventory.

I used it immediately and selected the skill to enhance.

I only had one B-rank skill anyway.

[Using Skill Enhancement Orb (B).]

[Flight’s rank has been enhanced from B→A.]

▷Flight (A)

―Effect: Wings sprout from your back. When spread, you can fly through the sky. A shield activates immediately upon use, granting 1 second of invincibility.

1 second of invincibility was added.

I tried using the skill to test it.

‘Flight.’

As soon as the wings spread from my back.

Wooong―

I felt an aura surrounding my body.

It disappeared quickly since it was only 1 second, but I definitely felt it.

The invincibility effect.

‘It’s gotten considerably better.’

Even though it was just 1 second, this much was sufficient.

I could utilize it when in danger during combat.

I could also use it to defend against mental attacks.

‘Now that I look at it, the wings have gotten longer too?’

When spread, each wing exceeds 2 meters.

‘I obtained a Random Orb that I had to struggle to get by collecting fragments and pieces, just by defeating a stone statue on the Floating Island.’

Hidden Pieces are this good.

These hidden elements were scattered everywhere, and for me who knew all their locations, they were no different from gift boxes.

‘Now that I’ve enhanced my skill, shall I proceed with the rescue mission?’

I had plenty of time left.

Since this wasn’t a floor that measured records, I could take it easy.

‘Let’s run straight to the 49th Floor.’

Joshua, who had become an Apostle of the Three Gods, opened his Status Window.

《Name: Joshua Everett》

《Race: Human》

《Patron Deities: God of Time, God of the Underworld, God of Balance》

《Cleared Floor: Labyrinth Underground 20th Floor》

《Credits Held: 0》

【Achievement】

▶None

【Exclusive Skills】

▷Time Regression (SSS), Soul Summoning (SS), Power of Reversal (SS)

【Acquired Skills】

▷None

【Stats】

●Strength: 11 / Penetration: 11

●Durability: 10 / Agility: 10

●Vitality: 11 / Mana: 11

●Regeneration: 10 / Resistance: 10

His stats are in double digits.

He had become much stronger than before.

Additionally, he had received patronage for two more skills.

‘So this is how good it is to become an Apostle of the Three Gods.’

Others only have one, but he already has three patron spirits.

That means he receives growth and support three times faster than others.

He had taken a step closer to his burning desire to become stronger.

‘Maybe I could even surpass Tae Seong…’

Joshua, who had been thinking this way, soon reproached himself.

‘That’s ridiculous. How could I surpass a god?’

To Joshua, Tae Seong was a god.

An insurmountable wall.

‘Even having such thoughts is preposterous.’

Joshua was good at being objective about himself.

“Hey!”

Just then, someone emerged from outside the Sinkhole.

It was Jason, who had finished conquering Floor 15.

“You already finished conquering the 20th Floor?”

“Yeah. What about you?”

“I just finished Floor 15 too. Just like you said, Joshua, Magic Stones dropped. Though I have no idea which monsters give them.”

“Same here. I just have to kill everything I see.”

“But these Magic Stones will hit the market soon, right?”

“Probably. If you conquered Floor 15, that means others have too.”

“Wait a minute. Let me check if there are any posts about it.”

Jason entered Transcendence Net.

His blue pupils gradually widened.

“There are some. Someone posted about it.”

【Conquered Floor 15 and got something called Magic Stones. What are these?】

【If anyone has Magic Stones, sell them to me. I’ll buy them all.】

【They can be used as alternative energy, but I already sold mine.】

Looking around, quite a few posts had appeared.

People who had conquered Floor 15 were starting to sell Magic Stones.

“What do we do? Won’t the price of Magic Stones drop at this rate? The supply will flood the market like crazy soon.”

Jason was worried, but Joshua’s expression remained calm.

“It doesn’t matter if they drop.”

“Why?”

“You know it too. Timing is everything in situations like this.”

The corners of Joshua’s mouth turned upward.

“I already sold them all at high prices.”

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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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