Efusio of the Beginning (2)
“My—my nose! …Ghhk.”
“Stay with me, Krib!”
Shit. His trait really vanished.
That wasn’t all. Traits were one of the fundamental elements that made up an adventurer alongside their stats. Having one erased not through the cathedral’s proper procedure but by being absorbed by a monster…
The effect on the body was plain to see in Krib right in front of me.
“Wrong. He’s unconscious. No matter how much I shake him, he won’t wake up.”
So forcibly losing a trait knocks you out cold?
‘He’s not going to stay asleep forever, right?’
「Krah!」
Sniff sniff.
「Aah, so this is what smell is like?」
Whoosh. Whoosh.
「The thing in my hand too… It’ll take time to get used to this. Good news for you lot, I suppose.」
Efusio let out a bizarre cry. When I looked, a nose had sprouted on its once egg-smooth, pure-white face.
‘That in its hand… a dagger?’
Sure enough, Efusio now held a white dagger matching its own body.
[Owned Traits] (Locked)
Prison of Convergence
Primordial Seraph
Summoning of Hesmana
Oblivion
Beginner Dagger Arts
Keen Scent
So absorbing traits immediately reflected on its body like that.
More importantly…
‘This isn’t the time to stand around staring. Dammit, I should’ve grabbed Isaac’s trait the moment he died!’
The ground trembled, the terrain shifted, and the system window announced the appearance of the floor guardian. After checking on Yeriel and Lumia, Efusio suddenly manifested and I had no choice but to retreat in a hurry.
…All excuses. Whether I was exchanging whispers with Yeriel or talking to Chaos, touching Isaac’s body once wouldn’t have been a problem.
‘Ah… Now that the corpse is near Efusio, I can’t even approach it easily.’
Come to think of it, the Authority trait’s description had clearly stated:
—When you kill an enemy, you rarely absorb one of their random positive traits.
There was no mention of touching or contact. So maybe I could absorb it without physical contact after all?
Back on the third floor, I killed that goblin archer and absorbed the gray light without thinking twice. What if simply seeing the light was enough to absorb it? What if my unconscious habit of touching had been the real trigger?
‘Is that too convenient a theory? No—if I don’t try something crazy right now, that trait might slip away forever. Let’s do it.’
Once Efusio started moving again and the fight resumed, Isaac’s corpse would be erased without a trace. Then I’d lose a precious trait.
Focus. Focus!
“Ugh…”
…
Was it impossible? I was concentrating so hard my head felt like it would split.
…
…Hummm.
Due to the user’s strong desire, a new method of applying the Authority trait has been added.
The gray light at the center of Isaac’s distant corpse rippled, then condensed into a small sphere invisible to others and shot straight toward me.
Flash!
Authority has been invoked.
It really worked!
Acquired trait: Whisper of the Wind
Error… Target is not the one who paid the causality to the Wind God Nefer. Trait has been adjusted.
A trait absorbed from User Kang Isaac, adventurer Isaac.
Because the causality was not applied to this individual, the Wind God Nefer’s blessing is weaker than before.
—Agility increases by two stages.
—Wind infuses all movements, granting a minor speed correction.
—Contract with a lesser wind spirit possible. Upon success, the spirit grows according to the user’s level.
Aah. Traits directly granted by gods were apparently too much to absorb as-is.
‘At least I salvaged something that almost disappeared because of my carelessness. I can’t afford to make such a stupid mistake again.’
Isaac’s trait issue was settled for now.
While I had been distracted, the situation had changed drastically thanks to the other adventurers.
“L-look at that! That nose—it looks just like the one on the guy who collapsed earlier! And the dagger in its hand too!”
“You’re right. Even if it’s a beastman, there’s no mistaking the shape. That’s definitely his nose. …A nose identical to the one that got hit by an attack. Don’t tell me…”
“I can’t believe it, but it seems the floor guardian has a trait absorption or replication ability. Judging by that beastman, whether it’s stolen or copied, getting hit means retirement.”
Luke shouted.
“Krib’s traits included Beginner Dagger Arts and Keen Scent. I’m certain—I’m the party leader!”
“The moment that thing grew a nose and a dagger, Krib grabbed his nose and collapsed. It’s absorption, not copying. I’m sure of it!”
A murmur spread through the group.
“Hey! You idiots, shut your mouths! Stop acting like scared brats and listen up!”
A man with scars covering his face and upper body—exposed through partial armor—bellowed, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Unless you keep getting hit like that idiot who just went down, you won’t collapse!”
“Think about it. Even if it’s a floor guardian, a skill that absorbs traits can’t have loose conditions, right?”
He struck his greatsword with his fist.
“Look at it now. After absorbing, it needs time to adapt to its changed body. While its attention is elsewhere, this is our chance!”
“So what we need to do isn’t panic over one idiot fainting—”
Thud.
He pointed straight at Efusio.
“—but split into roles, form up, and take that white bastard down right now! Got it?”
A dwarf shouted back.
“Everything you’re saying is just speculation and wishful thinking!”
“Hah. Then can you say anything for certain? Besides the fact that it’s the floor guardian, is there even one thing you know for sure?”
“That may be true, but—”
The scarred man glared at the dwarf with murderous eyes.
“You. What’s your highest floor cleared?”
“Th-three floors.”
“A third-floor runt dares talk back to me? Know your place. Shut up and stay still.”
Thud.
“If you don’t want to be split in half by my greatsword faster than the guardian can kill you.”
Whoa. Terrifying.
Owned Traits (Collapsed)
Intermediate Greatsword Arts
Barbarian’s Roar
Rock Splitter
Steel Body — Barduk
Oh, he’s using Steel Body?
Steel Body — Barduk (C) [A]
Elite warriors of the northern barbarian tribe Barduk can learn this body-hardening art. Their bodies and minds, forged through endless training and battle, can withstand and utilize this violent technique. Further stages can be unlocked through consistent training and real combat.
Current: Stage 2
—Channels mana to strengthen physical abilities. Strength and Vitality increase by one stage while active.
—Grants moderate resistance to mental attacks while active.
—Grants minor resistance to physical attacks while active.
Yeah, his specs were solid enough to confidently take the lead and command attention.
“Now now, Victor. Don’t be like that.”
Heinz, apparently in the same party as Victor, stepped in to mediate.
“Victor’s right. We need to prepare as quickly as possible. Only then can we withstand whatever bizarre attack comes next and kill it. There’s no time to waste.”
“First, the rear—”
「Hmm, shall I start moving?」
Damn it. Efusio began moving before Heinz could finish.
Efusio of the Beginning casts Primordial Seraph.
Ziiing—
It’s coming.
This attack happened to be aimed straight at my direction.
“Everyone, dodge!”
“Aaaagh!”
Thud.
The moment the system window appeared, I shouted and leapt aside.
‘No one got hit this time, right?’
“Ah…”
Goddamn it. Do these people have no learning ability?
Owned Traits (Collapsed)
Beginner Sword Defense Arts
…Now I understood why he couldn’t dodge.
This was the absolute bottom line for a genuine first-floor adventurer. He was the weakest person I’d seen in the labyrinth so far.
The despair on his face.
‘No. How long has it been since Victor said that as long as you don’t keep getting hit by the laser, your traits won’t be absorbed?’
Was he panicking so hard his mind went blank? Or had his legs frozen?
The moment I gathered mana in my feet to rush over and shove the stiffened guy out of the way—
Laysia casts Tiger Strike.
BOOM—!
“—Guhk.”
“If you’re weak, at least keep your wits about you so you don’t become a burden!”
An adventurer dashed in like the wind and kicked Daniel square in the stomach, sending him flying.
Owned Traits (Collapsed)
Carmen-style Fist and Kick Arts
Steel Body — Yuzpel
Indomitable
Overdrive
Noble Dignity
‘Huh. So random selection really does produce extremes. She’s stronger than Victor.’
Because they entered only days after the labyrinth gate opened…
Weak adventurers like Daniel, who had spent days on the first floor hunting monsters until supplies ran low before escaping, got caught up in the transfer by bad luck.
Meanwhile, strong adventurers like Victor, Heinz, and Laysia had entered later due to personal circumstances or preparation, and were transferred right as they were breaking through the first floor.
If strong adventurers had to be transferred, it would’ve been nice if some high-floor ones were included too.
Was that too selfish?
‘Well, the labyrinth is enormous, and higher-floor adventurers have no reason to linger on lower floors unless they have a special purpose.’
From the mid-floors onward, the number of adventurers dropped sharply, so I probably wouldn’t run into them anyway.
Laysia, with her distinctive drill-like side curls, slammed her gauntlets together with a metallic clang.
“Everyone, just like the barbarian said—we have to fight! Are we going to keep waiting for that monster to make its next move?”
“An adventurer who doesn’t fight is already dead! Priests, mages, and archers to the rear. Those of us who can tank or dodge—including me—take the front!”
Victor laughed heartily and joined in.
“Hahaha—! I like your spirit! Everyone heard that, right? Move, move!”
“Fine. Let’s do this. We don’t know what other skills it has besides absorption. Hesitating will get us nowhere.”
“Let’s give it a go. This Tomar will take the vanguard!”
“Priests and mages, over here! Let’s stack buffs all at once!”
Laysia and Victor had flipped the mood, and the formation began to take shape.
“May the light that judges evil dwell within us.”
“May boundless vitality fill everyone!”
“Grant us the strength to overcome hardship and trials.”
“…Let the steadfastness of the earth reside in their bodies. Earth Armor.”
…
Strength increased by one stage for one hour.
Vitality increased by one stage for 30 minutes.
Minor damage boost to charging skills for 40 minutes.
Minor damage reduction when hit for 30 minutes.
Less than ten priests and mages sweated profusely while applying buffs to dozens of adventurers.
Steel Body had been active since Efusio appeared, and now I had two stages of agility from Whisper of the Wind plus multiple buffs stacked on top.
‘The difference is insane. Alright, let’s go.’
Efusio of the Beginning casts Primordial Seraph.
“Don’t be scared of it! Even if the attack lands, don’t freeze—just keep moving and dodge!”
“Alright, here we go!”
Led by Victor and Laysia, we charged toward Efusio.
Ziiing—
I poured mana into my feet… and broke through!
Bang!
「So you won’t just take it lying down? How amusing.」
Efusio of the Beginning casts Primordial Seraph.
Zing—
“Hup.”
“Don’t stop!”
Tomar casts Reckless Charge.
Kantar casts Wedge Breakthrough.
Thanks to the charging and evasion skills of multiple adventurers, the laser attacks were now practically useless.
‘We reached its vicinity this easily? That can’t be right.’
Recalling the text on Efusio’s status window, it still had two active skills left.
「Seeing these lesser beings so full of themselves… I can’t hold back any longer.」
Efusio of the Beginning casts Summoning of Hesmana.
Zuung—
Flash!
“Second phase?”
“Ugh!”
No wonder the word “summon” was attached.
Clones identical to Efusio’s current form—complete with nose and dagger—began appearing from ripples of light in the air all around us.
Their numbers easily surpassed the dozens of adventurers present.
‘Just because they’re holding only daggers doesn’t mean they’re weak! They must have decent stats to match their name!’
If we just charged in like this, the weaker adventurers like Daniel would be slaughtered by sheer numbers.
“Haaaaah!”
The fierce battle began.