Theoretically, if he defeated another Immortal, he could seize their powers as well. Even as a mortal, he could wield multiple Immortal powers.

It was an absurd notion. The powers of an Immortal were the culmination of what they had amassed throughout their existence. And here he was, a mere mortal, capable of seizing such power.

"Or maybe not."

The specter reconsidered.

It wasn't strange that a mortal like Taesan had a skill to increase his spiritual level.

What was strange was that, even with such a skill, his essence remained confined to mortality.

"Does he absorb powers to enhance himself?"

In many ways, he was an irregular. At least by the specter's standards, it was beyond explanation.

Taesan examined his remaining skills. A skill he acquired right on the threshold—*Beyond the Boundary*.

---

**[Special Activation Skill: Beyond the Boundary]**

**[Cost: ???]**

**[Proficiency: 1%]**

*One who stands at the boundary between mortality and what lies beyond may harness a fragment of the power from the other side. Can be used in conjunction with attacks or other skills.*

---

"The power beyond, huh."

It seemed like a skill he’d have to test directly to fully understand.

---

**[You have activated Beyond the Boundary.]**

Suddenly, an unusual sensation washed over Taesan.

It felt like he was floating in a void, as though he were adrift. There was a peculiar sense of detachment from the world.

Taesan gathered his mana.

---

**[You have activated Frozen World.]**

---

Crack!

An intense chill filled the labyrinth. *Frozen World* was one of Taesan’s most frequently used intermediate spells. He understood its power and manifestation thoroughly.

But this time, the *Frozen World* he activated was different.

The frost spread and froze everything in its path.

Even Taesan was not exempt.

Starting from his fingers, the cold seeped into his arm. His entire body began to freeze as the chill pierced into his lungs.

This iteration of *Frozen World* was qualitatively different from what he usually employed. Taesan canceled the activation of *Frozen World* and backed away.

Crackling sounds echoed as the spell’s effects continued to expand, seemingly beyond Taesan’s control.

"The very force within it is different from the usual Frozen World."

Even with spell amplification and forced power stacking, it couldn’t match this level of potency.

The power was undeniably overwhelming, enough that most mortals couldn’t withstand it.

But there was a clear risk as well.

"Control is tricky."

Since it drew from a power beyond the boundary, it didn’t operate smoothly under Taesan’s direction. Misuse could result in harm to him as well.

"It’s dangerous... but useful."

Though difficult to control, it wasn’t impossible. By carefully modulating it just now, he avoided taking any damage.

It was a reliable card, slightly more stable than the borderline power.

At last, all was settled. Just as Taesan prepared to descend to the 75th floor, a rift in space opened up. A dense, dark energy spread through the labyrinth, creating a path for its master.

Taesan halted. He addressed the approaching figure.

“It’s been a while, Dark God.”

The being appeared as a young girl, smiling as she emerged before Taesan.

---

**[Thanks to you, I witnessed something enjoyable this time as well.]**

---

“You were watching?”

---

**[I didn’t interfere, but I kept an eye on things.]**

---

The Dark God’s eyes gleamed with amusement.

---

**[It was quite a rare spectacle. Even the ones outside must have been shocked. And they’re bound to take an interest in you.]**

---

Though she muttered under her breath that she wouldn’t share him.

---

**[I came this time because I have something to tell you.]**

---

A black chair materialized behind her, and she sat down as she spoke.

---

**[On the 76th floor, the Guides of Sin will come to fight you. And unlike before, they won’t come alone.]**

---

“So, there will be multiple.”

Taesan nodded. He had anticipated as much and felt no particular shift in his emotions.

The Guides could no longer face him individually. Sending numbers against him was no surprise.

But he had another question.

“Even so, they won’t be able to defeat me.”

---

**[True. With your current strength, you’d likely prevail against several of them.]**

---

The Dark God confirmed.

---

**[I imposed restrictions on them because an equal battle was not achievable.]**

---

So far, the Guides had been overwhelmingly stronger than Taesan. Watching one-sided battles was dull, so the Dark God had placed restrictions on the Guides. And this rule applied to the reverse scenario as well.

---

**[Taesan. I intend to impose a restriction on your leveling.]**

---

“My leveling?”

---

**[In the labyrinth’s system, leveling up restores all your attributes, correct?]**

---

Health, mana, even mental strength—all would be fully restored. Taesan had used this to his advantage numerous times in victory.

---

**[The restriction I’m imposing is this: during battles with the Guides, you will not regain health or any other stats upon leveling up.]**

---

Even if his level increased, his condition wouldn’t recover.

Taesan asked.

“Is this mandatory?”

---

**[No. Unlike those idiots, you have a choice. You can accept or reject my restriction freely. But if you accept it... I’ll give you a suitable reward.]**

---

His decision took only a moment. Taesan nodded.

“I accept.”

For the Dark God to offer such a restriction meant he still had a fighting chance.

If he could gain another reward through this, there was no reason to refuse. The Dark God smirked.

---

**[Good. Then I’ll be looking forward to it. Grow stronger. And one day...]**

---

With those words, the Dark God vanished.

Taesan resumed his path toward the 75th floor.

---

**[75th Floor Quest Initiated.]**

**[Complete a lap around the world in one hour.]**

**[Reward: A ring forged from the core of the world.]**

**[Hidden Reward: ???]**

---

"What’s this?"

The specter’s voice perked up, sounding almost nostalgic.

---

**[The 75th-floor quest is still the same? Even after all this time, it hasn’t changed. Brings back memories.]**

---

“Did you complete this quest too?”

---

**[I mentioned it before, didn’t I? There’s a floor where you have to complete a lap around the world within an hour. This is the one.]**

---

Taesan entered the 75th floor.

The room held a space that seemed endlessly distorted. As he stepped inside, the environment shifted.

He found himself on a desolate planet.

---

**[You have activated Lerazie’s Domain Detection.]**

---

Dark energy spread across the ground.

It revealed that there was no one else present.

Looking up, he could see the vastness of space. There was scarcely any atmosphere encircling the planet.

The universe held nothing in sight.

This planet was utterly alone.

A world incapable of sustaining life. In a different sense than Hafran’s realm, it was a world that had ended.

“So, I only have to complete a lap?”

The planet didn’t seem particularly large. By its visible radius, it was far smaller than Earth. With adequate preparation, any adventurer, not just Taesan, could complete it without much difficulty.

---

**[You really think it’ll be that easy?]**

---

Before the specter’s words had even faded, a system message appeared.

---

**[Complete a lap around the world within one hour, overcoming all obstacles.]**

---

A will began to emerge, spreading across the world.

“So, this is the interference.”

Taesan nodded and braced himself.

The will of the world awoke, standing in his path.

---

* * *

This tiny wandering planet had been empty from the very beginning.

Abandoned in a remote corner of the universe, it drifted aimlessly, condemned to freeze and vanish.

Under normal circumstances, a planet like this would never possess any will.

But this wandering planet was unique.

As it drifted through the cosmos, it had passed countless worlds teeming with life. Somewhere along the way, it began to form a faint will.

And the first emotions that this wandering planet experienced were anger and hatred.

Why was it abandoned like this?

Why was it destined to fade alone, without any companions?

Why couldn’t it nurture life?

These feelings echoed throughout the planet.

But there was no one to hear.

Though it gained will, it lacked the power to sustain life.

Thus, the wandering planet drifted through the cosmos, endlessly seething.

It was the greatest misfortune that the wandering planet had ever gained a will.

It roamed the cosmos for untold ages, until one day, someone arrived on its surface.

“Balbabamba sure has a knack for finding places like this. I’ll have to praise him later.”

The man who appeared through a spatial leap muttered to himself. The planet, which had been simmering in fury, paused as it recognized a living presence.

A being that breathed and moved.

The wizard, who would one day create the labyrinth, waved with a smile.

“Nice to meet you.”

The moment those words reached the planet, its malice surged. After ages of festering, its anger had long since morphed into a loathing for all living things.

The ground rose to crush the wizard, and the air turned poisonous.

But the wizard assessed each threat carefully.

“Is this all? Not bad.”

After evaluating

 it, the wizard clapped his hands.

Instantly, the thrashing ground calmed. The air, thick with poison, returned to normal.

The world had slipped out of the planet’s control. While the planet was still reeling, the wizard asked,

“Do you hate all living things?”

Though spoken as words, the meaning was clear enough for the planet to understand.

Slowly, it affirmed. Though twisted by isolation, the wizard understood it without difficulty.

“Then, would you like to make a contract with me?”

The wizard offered the planet a proposal.

It would be connected as a floor in his labyrinth, and adventurers would come periodically to visit.

What it did with those who came was up to it—it could kill them or ignore them.

If an adventurer met the conditions, they would move on to the next place.

The planet, not fully grasping the contract, agreed readily.

This forsaken world would receive visitors. And it could do whatever it wished to them.

There was no reason to refuse.

Since then, the planet became the 75th floor of the labyrinth.

Countless adventurers came. The planet tried to kill them.

Some couldn’t withstand it and perished, while others managed to survive and escape.

This time, how would the visitor fare?

How much of its power could he endure?

The planet’s will grinned quietly. Tormenting and killing adventurers had become its sole purpose.

To start with, just a light test. The planet gathered its strength.

---

Boom!

---

The earth rose, forming a massive wall to crush Taesan. Not only was the weight immense, but it was imbued with the planet’s own will, making it difficult to repel.

This should be enough to at least harm him. The planet knew the average strength of adventurers who came here.

But Taesan emerged from the earth without a scratch.

The planet was taken aback. It had expected him to at least sustain some injuries. Every adventurer before had.

But Taesan’s form emerged spotless, without a trace of dirt.

The planet tried every tactic it had, but nothing could touch Taesan.

When none of its efforts worked, the planet summoned a storm in frustration. The winds amassed into a massive tempest.

This wind, which had claimed the most lives, was its deadliest power.

Usually, the planet toyed with adventurers for a while, unleashing the storm only near the end, but its irritation made it strike immediately.

This time, it believed, Taesan would suffer.

Taesan clenched his fist as the storm approached.

---

Boom!

---

With a single punch, he shattered the storm.

The planet froze. Taesan brushed off his hands.

“It’s not that difficult.”