It was a dead end. Unlike the labyrinth’s narrow corridors, it was a wide hall. At the side of the wall was a man that was at least 4 meters tall, sitting down with his legs crossed. He didn’t look that different from humans like Dohyuk. What was different was his skin. Just like the figure Dohyuk fought, the man was covered in metal.
“You seem to be in much worse shape in reality,” Blass pointed out as he waved his hand. The figure that fought with Dohyuk then melted into the surface.
“You bled a lot. It must have taken a heavy toll on you.”
“You’re the one who did it. Got a problem?”
“Oh, of course not. I figured you are the type who has a recovery method for your body.”
“…” Dohyuk didn’t respond. At least he now knew about this Blass along with the labyrinth’s origin and its purpose…
‘But that’s only when I can believe him.’
He only followed Blass here because he thought Blass was less hostile than ones outside for now and if something went wrong, he was ready to digest the surface of the labyrinth at any time.
“There are ways to recover.”
Dohyuk decided to gamble. He quickly explained his Nature.
“I can heal myself if there are items with ranks.”
“Hmph.”
If Blass wasn’t hostile, Dohyuk figured he might bring one of Jung Ilgyu’s items hidden away somewhere inside this labyrinth, but-
“I see what you did there,” Blass said grumpily. “You’re hoping I might tell you where those rats hid their pile of trash?”
“And is there a reason why you can’t tell me that?”
“I can tell you, but it’s a matter of time management. It’s better for you to stay here than go find that sick pile of trash. You lost some blood, but it’s not like you will die anytime soon.”
Pile of trash.
Dohyuk anticipated it for a slight second even if he knew it was foolish to do so. If what Blass said was true, he used to be strong enough to think about fighting against Casita. Then perhaps he had amazing items that were far better than Jung Ilgyu’s collection.
“Let me ask you this.”
It wasn’t as Dohyuk thought however.
“Where do you think those ranked items that you want right now came from?”
“…That’s…”
Dohyuk thought for a moment and then spoke. “Casi…”
He couldn’t finish his sentence, because never even thought about it. He just considered it to be natural. Casita was the one who set up the world, so he just figured that Casita also made the equipment. However, that was a very chilling fact. If that was true, how could he even put up a fight against Casita himself when he was the creator of it all?
“Don’t worry. Casita isn’t the type who creates things. ‘Lord God’? He doesn’t deserve such a title. Casita doesn’t make ANY equipment.”
“But the ranks and writings…”
“Markings.” Blass interrupted.
“The equipment that are ranked or skills are those that already existed in worlds that Casita invaded. They are masterpieces from each world, and the things that Casita changed weren’t only the humans.”
Living or not, even the information with the ranks and given descriptions, they were all bound to Casita’s power in the ‘system’.
“I am not sure how it works, but whatever it is, Casita gives them unique marks limits the potential when he finds something special. For example…”
He continued, “Any equipment or skills, no matter how powerful they might be, cannot be used to kill Casita.”
“Right.”
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Blass clapped a few times. But the clapping sound was that of metal clashing against each other.
“Even if the rank is high, it will be powerless against Casita. If it’s a weapon, it will be like a ball of cotton, and if it’s a skill, the user will forget how to use it the moment the user tries to swing it against Casita.”
“…Then,” Dohyuk almost shouted ‘impossible’, but he came up with something else. “There are other ways to do it.”
He had managed to kill Casita. Unless this metal man wasn’t some mad man or bluffing, there was a solution.
“And you know the way. That’s why you can say that.”
“Then?”
“Then-? Are you trying to play mind games with me? You made me come all the way here when you could’ve just killed me on the spot.” Dohyuk started speaking angrily, but it grew colder as he continued on. “Talk. And I will fulfill your wish.”
“You know my wish?”
“Killing Casita.”
“Hmph.” Blass opened his eyes in surprise, “I was interested in you because you weren’t corrupt, but it seems you are much more than that. Fine.”
In the next moment, a pair of gloves emerged from the ground in front of Dohyuk.
“Eat it.” Blass nodded towards the item and Dohyuk picked it up.
<<Merkal’s memory – B->>
“It’s from the rat’s trash pile that you wanted so much. Is that enough to heal your wound?”
“Yeah.”
It was just enough to heal his current wounds. After Dohyuk finished digesting, Blass asked something unexpected.
“Tell me your stats.”
Dohyuk hesitated for a moment, but he decided to reveal them. Then Blass’s body swirled for a while and he suddenly became smaller. He was now about the same height as Dohyuk.
“I changed my stats to mimic that of yours. Then…”
Blass raised his both arms in a weird stance.
“We’ll fight.”
Dohyuk did not object. It was unexpected, but he realized it also.
‘…I see.’
With a fully recovered body, Dohyuk knew that Blass had found a way to fight against Casita. Anything with ranks was useless against Casita. Yet that also meant…
‘If there are things that don’t have any ranks…’
That was the way to fight, or the ‘cheat code’ to this game.
‘I will…’
Dohyuk lunged toward Blass.
‘Take it for my own!’
Blass answered with his attack. He wasn’t sure if this one that had walked into his domain was really as promising as he sounded, so he didn’t count on it. There was no telling, however, as this man, would maybe have a chance to receive the skills that Blass had perfected over countless centuries.
At the moment of impact, Dohyuk saw the words. The system was reacting against the mysterious skill that was not yet marked by Casita. The system wasn’t Casita’s system, but his own.
-Over the Horizon