episode_0107

Absolute Theft.

It shows what can be stolen from the opponent.

And the more I wielded it, the more I realized I could manifest it as an image.

The dumbfounded expression of the Black Nether Blade.

And So Yeon-hwa staring at me in shock.

I swung my dagger and looked at the Black Nether Blade.

“How did you take it?”

“I didn’t see anything.”

“If anyone catches you, you’ll be disqualified as a thief.”

As I spoke with a sly smile, the Black Nether Blade’s eyes began to gleam.

“What principle activates it? The distance between us shouldn’t have been close enough for you to reach.”

-No matter how many times I see it, this is an absurd technique. Wait, no range limitation? No, if stealing means… even stealing space itself—?

The Black Nether Blade and the Holy Sword muttered in grave tones.

Though the Holy Sword’s voice was inaudible.

The two were fervently analyzing my Gift, Absolute Theft.

“What kind of nonsensical technique is this? Even with nearly double the level difference, I didn’t notice.”

His eyes burned fiercely.

As if he wanted to snatch it from me right then and there.

That faintly regretful gaze soon shifted.

“Hmm… But even so, I’d still choose Yeon-hwa.”

The Black Nether Blade spoke like a doting father.

At his words, So Yeon-hwa nodded slightly.

A faint smile graced her lips.

‘…I’m a little envious of that.’

A place filled with darkness.

No—more like an abyss that could swallow everything.

Countless beings were arrayed there.

Most resembled translucent blue souls, yet each had a distinct form.

And at their forefront—

Tap. Tap.

A being sat upon a throne, lightly tapping the armrest with a finger.

An overwhelming presence radiated from it.

A being that exerted influence even in this place called the abyss.

With each tap of its finger, the subordinates below trembled in fear.

[Another one has gone out.]

Crack.

A crystal orb shattered.

Proof that someone whose life was tied to it had died.

[Avira is dead.]

This had been happening frequently lately.

One by one, the Eternal Soldiers sent out were disappearing.

Even the scouts dispatched to investigate the cause—all of them.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

The Eternal Soldiers.

Each one was a being painstakingly crafted by their “master.”

Though their master had been defeated by outsiders, they were the great soldiers created to annihilate them all.

‘…Perhaps I must use my true body.’

One of the Eternal Soldiers’ traits was their ability to seize others’ bodies by moving their souls.

Hence the audacious name “Eternal.”

But lately, these soldiers had been dying off one by one.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

For now, it was fine. The [Factory] producing them remained intact. As long as it operated, the Eternal Soldiers could be endlessly produced.

But the fewer soldiers there were, the further their master’s grand plan drifted.

‘…I should make my move soon.’

If they were nearby, it wouldn’t be a problem.

If they descended to the 30th layer where he resided, he could execute judgment himself.

But the Eternal Soldiers had lost something in exchange for infinite lifespans.

For the creatures dwelling in the labyrinth, ascending to higher layers was burdensome.

With each layer climbed, their power was drastically diminished.

That was why the Eternal Soldiers were special.

They used their souls to steal the bodies of the layer’s monsters.

Thus, they had slowly consumed the labyrinth’s territory, becoming its most dominant force.

If asked whether they were the strongest, the answer was no.

But if their master one day devoured the surface and grew stronger there, it wouldn’t be impossible.

Yet the grand scheme had been derailed from the start.

The Eternal Soldiers vanished one by one, now disappearing at a noticeable rate.

The count had risen to ten, and it was still climbing.

‘Already ten have died.’

This couldn’t continue.

For now, it was just a tiny hole, but once it burst open, it could grow uncontrollably.

‘…I must go.’

The Eternal Soldiers had their own hierarchy.

And among them, the one who served as the gatekeeper of the 30th layer was—

The Thousand-Blade General, who commanded a thousand soldiers.

One of the mere five who held such a rank.

[It can’t be helped.]

With a small sigh, he moved his massive form.

A dense, towering soul that loomed over hundreds of Eternal Soldiers.

[I shall go myself.]

He moved.

We moved swiftly.

From the moment I stole the Black Nether Blade’s dagger, his trust in me had grown immensely.

“This way.”

“Here.”

“There’s a trap ahead—just follow my footsteps.”

We descended like that, reaching the place where Veronica and Clara had once been.

The 13th layer.

‘It feels strange coming this far down.’

-Indeed.

The Holy Sword chuckled as it spoke.

The turbid mana seemed to grip my feet, making my body feel heavier.

-Breathe slowly. Try the Hero’s Breath.

‘Hero’s Breath?’

Puzzled, I began the Hero’s Breath.

-Slowly, inhale and exhale.

Following the Holy Sword’s guidance, I inhaled and exhaled deliberately.

As I did, the turbid mana flowed into my body.

A sinking sensation settled in, and the mana within me seemed to swell.

[Stat: Magic increased by 1.]

Simultaneously—

‘It’s a little easier to move now.’

A minuscule difference, but I definitely felt it.

I looked ahead.

The Black Nether Blade swung his sword.

Black energy billowed from its edge, forming a cloud that sliced through dozens of undead in an instant.

An overwhelming display of power.

Watching it, I thought—

It’s become a little easier to read.

Yet, alongside that realization, unease lingered.

‘This is going too smoothly.’

The majesty of Level 9 was truly formidable.

We had already taken down over ten Eternal Soldiers.

-Fifteen, to be exact.

The Holy Sword confirmed the count.

With the Black Nether Blade at our side, we were cutting through the Soul Soldiers relentlessly.

‘We’re already about halfway there.’

Our task was simple.

The Black Nether Blade swung his sword to clear the way.

I stood beside him, capturing the souls of the Eternal Soldiers.

The experience points flowing in were staggering.

After swinging his sword for a while, the Black Nether Blade paused and looked down.

“……”

“Is something wrong?”

“Do you feel anything strange?”

“No.”

There was no odd sensation.

Not yet.

“…Are you uneasy?”

“Hmm… Hard to say.”

Frowning, the Black Nether Blade stared downward.

“At my level, senses are usually sharp. Is it because we’re closer to the Abyss King? No, it shouldn’t be that bad yet.”

He continued scrutinizing the depths with a wary gaze.

So Yeon-hwa watched him quietly before speaking.

“Are we losing?”

“We’ll win.”

The Black Nether Blade answered calmly.

But then added—

“However, if we face something on my level… I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to protect you all.”

His sword excelled in both offense and defense, yet it leaned more toward aggression.

-That’s probably true. A swordsman of his caliber has instincts even most sages would heed.

I frowned.

If a swordsman like him sensed danger—

‘Is there something nearby?’

Officially, the deepest humans had ventured was the 20th layer.

But now, I knew better.

All of that was a lie.

‘Glasses mentioned it.’

The Eternal Soldiers had begun moving because adventurers neared the 25th layer.

That was how things had escalated.

‘Honestly, they might’ve already breached the 25th layer long ago.’

This wasn’t even the height of the Cradle’s power.

Back then, someone with a soul-manipulating Gift had emerged.

I suspected he had fled into the labyrinth after losing a battle.

If so, just how much time had he consumed?

‘The longer you stay in the labyrinth…’

The darkness would devour you.

There were precedents, but for someone who once tried to topple the Cradle alone at its peak—

Surely, he could endure.

But for how long?

How much power had he amassed?

-He’s probably not that strong.

The Holy Sword interjected.

-This place is a space where time and dimensions are tangled. To persist here, he must’ve found a stable pocket.

Then, it added—

-No matter how powerful, the fact that he can’t move freely through the labyrinth proves he isn’t that strong. At best, he’d be on par with the Three Great Heroes.

‘That still feels insurmountable.’

-For you now, yes.

The future, however, was different.

I had already guessed as much.

I didn’t know how strong I’d become.

While the Holy Sword and I conversed, So Yeon-hwa and the Black Nether Blade stared at me.

“What?”

“What would you do?”

“The safest option is to retreat… but I prioritize safety, so.”

“Hmm…”

The Black Nether Blade fell into thought, then made a decision.

“We’ll retreat. Preserving your lives comes first.”

“A wise choice.”

“You’re too pleased, aren’t you?”

“Well, safety is my priority.”

“Hah…”

The Black Nether Blade let out a dry laugh.

“So this is the kind of person you are. Now I see why Vulcan spoke so highly of you.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“By the way… Do you have any questions?”

“Questions?”

“Yes. You’ve seen much on this journey.”

The Black Nether Blade’s swordsmanship.

His footwork, his breathing.

I had engraved it all in my mind.

But among those, one question stood out.

“I have one.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“I heard there’s a family in the Empire called Montblanc. About their second son…”

“……”

The Black Nether Blade stared at me as if wondering what kind of lunatic I was.

“A comrade of mine, Lucia. I heard he’s her fiancé.”

“Is that important?”

“She didn’t seem too fond of him.”

“Most would ask about swordsmanship or other things.”

“……”

Honestly, I didn’t need to ask.

-Pfft! Pahahaha!

The Holy Sword burst into laughter.

On the way back home.

I examined the Soul Soldier’s soul.

This materialized soulstone felt like something I could freely use.

‘…’

Could I implant this in someone else?

Lucia’s fiancé came to mind.

A man utterly devoid of value.

A friend had spoiled a few details about him.

That man was the lowest of the low to Lucia.

If so, severing their connection was the right thing to do.

-It should be possible.

‘Then if I put this in Lucia’s fiancé…’

-…You’re a demon.

Thanks for the compliment.