Malacos falls. At the same moment, a system notification appears.

[You have achieved victory in two perfectly identical battles against the same opponent.]

[You have acquired the special activation skill [Copy].]

Copy. Taesan has finally obtained this skill. He relaxed the tension in his body as his muscles loosened.

Click.

The bone fragments began to rise.

Malacos's empty eye sockets glowed ominously.

He could not accept the fact that he had become a mere subject of his opponent's experiment. Filled with rage, he lifted his staff.

“I won’t have to deal with you anymore.”

Taesan planted his feet firmly. He launched his body into the gap where the Life Vessel was located. With a scream, the Life Vessel shattered.

The 73rd floor came to an end.

[Your Spirit Elevation has activated.]

[Your mana permanently increased by 434, and intelligence increased by 112.]

[Your Spirit Elevation has activated.]

[Your magic proficiency increased by 1%, and Frozen World proficiency increased by 1%......]

[Your Spirit Elevation has activated.]

[You have acquired the beginner spell [Mana Crystal Barrage].]

Taesan sheathed his sword.

---

“It was easier to obtain than I thought.”

Malacos was the perfect opponent to gain Copy from.

He revived with precisely the same power and had exceptional skills, yet he was nowhere near Taesan’s level.

Moreover, he possessed the unique pride of someone who had traversed deep levels, which prevented him from committing acts of self-destruction by throwing himself into Taesan's attacks.

Even knowing that forcing him to the correct answer would lead to his doom, he had no choice but to act as he did.

In other words, Taesan was facing an opponent he could control the variables against.

So, Taesan's task was quite simple.

He just needed to understand the eight patterns of magic that Malacos used.

When Malacos judged a situation unfavorable, what spells did he cast? When he deemed a situation advantageous, what spells did he use? When Taesan approached, and when Taesan was already in close range, what spells did he wield?

He had to comprehend and remember all those conditions.

[That doesn’t sound easy.]

The ghost muttered softly. Simply looking at the outcome, one might think Malacos only chose the correct answers and that Taesan could analyze and guide him accordingly.

But even in death, Malacos was an adventurer who had treaded deep levels.

Even as a soulless body, he possessed exceptional judgment and talent.

He was capable of calculating thousands of scenarios in an instant and selecting the correct answer in the blink of an eye.

Forcing such a being to choose only correct answers meant that Taesan had to calculate a multitude of scenarios far beyond that of a wizard who had traversed deep levels.

That was impossible for the ghost. It was only possible for Taesan, who could calculate countless skill scenarios, discern their possibilities, and directly obtain them.

Taesan opened the skill window.

---

[Beginner Spell: Mana Crystal Barrage]

[Mana Cost: 100]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Patterns the crystallized mana into a barrage.]

---

He had become thoroughly familiar with its usage, power, and range while facing Malacos. While it might not be useful against strong opponents, it could serve a purpose in controlling space.

And it was a skill he had struggled to obtain over the four days.

---

[Special Activation Skill: Copy]

[Mana Cost: 20]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Copies the results of specific actions. Currently, it can only copy attacks. This skill has a cooldown of 1 hour.]

---

Three brief sentences. Yet the meaning contained within them was immense.

The ghost let out a small laugh.

[Essentially, it’s four times the attack power.]

Taesan could now unleash over 100,000 attack power using skills like Addition, Blade of Determination, and Transformation.

This was a skill that added that much more attack power. In terms of the power contained in a single strike, even an adventurer who had reached the 100th floor could fall short of Taesan now.

[A one-hour cooldown is impressively short for such performance. The skill description suggests that eventually, you'll be able to copy other things beyond attacks. This is another level.]

Copy was also a skill that defied comprehension. The ghost shook his head.

[Just to be sure, how many useless skills have you acquired that aren't like Copy or Addition?]

“A few multiples.”

At Taesan’s calm response, the ghost nodded.

[Right. That makes sense. Otherwise, it wouldn’t add up.]

The labyrinth’s system grants adventurers the skills that correspond to the results of their actions.

But it couldn’t be definitively said that the results of those actions were genuinely correct. There was a significant possibility that a skill acquired after months of effort would be entirely useless in real combat.

Taesan had experienced such scenarios numerous times. He had spent over a year diligently acquiring a skill, only to find it useless in any situation.

Overcoming all that emptiness and futility, he had finally obtained skills like Nullification and Copy after numerous challenges.

It was just as Taesan was about to descend deeper into the labyrinth.

The contract within him began to stir. The subject of the contract was calling out to him.

Taesan halted.

[You have summoned the Wind Spirit King, Minerva.]

The wind coalesced into the form of a woman.

She gently placed her foot on the ground.

“Hello, master! Looking at your appearance, it seems you’ve won without any issues?”

“Thanks to you. What brings you here?”

Minerva scratched her cheek.

“The story is a bit complicated… Could you possibly come to our world?”

Taesan pondered for a moment before asking.

“To the Spirit World?”

[You’re inviting him to the Spirit World?]

“Yep.”

Minerva nodded.

“The mad spirit. Do you remember? I think I might need your help regarding that.”

---

Taesan stepped forward.

He was greeted by an overwhelming force of nature.

The density was so thick it could take one’s breath away. Even an excellent spirit user could become addicted and collapse under such natural power.

Taesan shifted his gaze.

It was incredibly colorful.

Rainbows spread out in all directions, and he could feel the presence of spirits flitting about.

“This is the Spirit World. How do you like it?”

Minerva smiled brightly and raised her arms. The power emanating from her now felt stronger and loftier than when he summoned her.

It wasn’t long before Barcaza also appeared.

[You’ve come, master.]

[You’re inviting an outsider to the Spirit World? Isn’t this place where even the king’s contractors cannot enter?]

It seemed to be a rare occurrence, as the ghost's voice was tinged with surprise. Minerva spoke up.

“This time, it’s related to the master. I think other kings have also made this decision after much deliberation, as it’s something difficult to find even in the history of spirits.”

She turned her body toward the massive green tree visible in the distance.

“Let’s head over there first.”

Taesan followed her into the Spirit World.

Countless gazes were fixated on him. Most of them were filled with hostility and wariness.

“This isn’t good.”

“It’s a bit awkward to say this, but master, you’ve taken down quite a few spirits, right? Even if they understand, hostility is unavoidable.”

Minerva waved her hand. As the wind whipped around, the spirits startled and fled.

The hostile spirits were at most intermediate to high rank. Taesan could defeat them in one strike now, so he didn’t pay them much mind.

What concerned Taesan was something else.

He touched a flower shimmering in transparent colors.

Within it contained the power that could be used as a material for Partial World Alteration.

“Will I not be able to take it?”

“The things here? It’ll be tough. Bringing items from the Spirit World to the outside is prohibited. If it were possible, I would have brought something for you myself.”

Having already used up all the materials for Partial World Alteration, Taesan felt disappointed at the need to refill them.

Looking around, he stepped into the massive tree at the center of the Spirit World.

[You have arrived.]

[You’ve come.]

[Are you that human?]

There were five Spirit Kings gathered there.

Earth, water, darkness, and others. Each possessing different attributes, they regarded Taesan with both curiosity and caution.

Simultaneously, they exuded a subtle pressure as if they intended to test Taesan.

Taesan did not direct his gaze at them. He brushed aside the pressure being applied to him without concern.

Though they were strong, they were still considerably weaker than Vishnu, who had traversed deep levels. They were not his enemies.

The Spirit Kings gazing at Taesan quietly opened their mouths.

[...A human possesses this level of power?]

[Vishnu. It makes sense that he could fall. What is this?]

Words filled with astonishment and admiration echoed. Taesan quietly observed a bird emitting a bright light from behind him.

From that Spirit King, he felt a power that was on a different level compared to the others.

At minimum, on par with an immortal. This was an opponent Taesan could not defeat now.

[Welcome, contractor of the Spirit King. I am Ariel, the Spirit King of Light, who has existed since the dawn of the Spirit World.]

Ariel gestured to the other Spirit Kings.

[For now, I will converse with him. Please remain silent for a moment.]

[If Ariel says so, then we will comply. Minerva, come here as well.]

“Yes, yes.”

The other Spirit Kings, seemingly with higher authority, obediently followed Ariel’s words.

Taesan spoke up.

“What is the reason you called me?”

Minerva explained that the Spirit Kings were summoning him regarding the issue with the mad spirit. Accepting it was up to Taesan.

With no reason to refuse, Taesan accepted.

Ariel slowly fluttered her wings.

[Because I have a proposal related to you.]

As space opened up, a pure white energy revealed itself.

Taesan recognized what it was.

The mad spirit. The broken existence who had defeated the Spirit King of Fire and fulfilled its own wish.

That will and soul were contained within it.

[It is a pitiful existence.]

There was sadness in Ariel's voice.

[The Spirit King of Fire, Vishnu, betrayed our father and left the Spirit World. She wished to transcend the limits of her lifespan. The mad spirit was created solely to maintain her self.]

Ariel continued speaking solemnly.

[I could not stop Vishnu from leaving. As a consequence, the mad spirit has lived a harsh life. I wish to help it find a way to live fully again. But unfortunately, I am powerless.]

Ariel was one of the strongest among the Spirit Kings.

But she was, after all, a spirit.

[I cannot interfere with another spirit without my father's permission. Therefore, I need your help.]

As space split open, a sphere of flame came into view.

It was the core of the Fire Spirit King, obtained by Taesan after defeating Vishnu.

[It is possible for me to grant the power of an existing spirit without a master to the mad spirit. However, the owner of this core is none other than you.]

The ownership belonged to Taesan. This was why they had called him to the Spirit World, to confirm that.

[What will you do? You may choose as you wish. Ultimately, the owner of this is you. However, if you accept my proposal, I can repay you handsomely without disappointing you.]

Having quietly listened to Ariel’s proposal, Taesan opened his mouth.