Ascension Through Skills

[Special Quest Started]

[Return to Earth.]

[A week from now, you will return to the land you abandoned. Survive there and return again. Rewards will be determined based on your performance.]

[This quest cannot be refused.]

The “Return to Earth” quest had begun.

Taesan calmly turned off the notification.

Upon opening the community, he observed various reactions. Players from Korea, China, and Japan were accepting the quest and beginning their preparations. For those who had quickly returned from the labyrinth, this was a normal pace.

However, it was different for other countries.

[Oliver Khan [Hard]: Too fast... I’m not fully prepared yet.]

[Daniel Darmon [Hard]: We’re also not mentally ready yet. It’s a bit confusing.]

For these countries, clearing Earth’s quests had taken a considerable amount of time. From their perspective, the return was so sudden that they couldn’t help but feel bewildered.

But they eventually accepted it and began their preparations.

No players fell into panic over this level of variance. They were all seasoned veterans who had experienced countless battles.

They exchanged information through the community and gradually prepared for the return.

[Oliver Khan [Hard]: What will the scope of this return be? A global scale?]

[Kang Taesan [Solo]: It won’t be global.]

[Amelia Aerin [Solo]: Oh.]

[Lee Taeyeon [Solo]: Ah, it’s Taesan.]

Taesan’s appearance briefly caused a stir. Once the commotion settled, he posted again.

[Kang Taesan [Solo]: It’s too early to head to the world level yet.]

[Oliver Khan [Hard]: That’s true. Then this will probably be another expansion.]

Having met other countries during the previous return, they easily deduced the pattern.

[Kim Hwiyeon [Hard]: Will it be divided into Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas?]

[Daniel Darmon [Hard]: Likely. The problem is that communication with other countries isn’t functioning properly…]

They conversed, making efforts to exchange information with other countries.

Since it seemed like it would take some time, Taesan turned off the community and moved on.

“You’re here!”

Ainzhar greeted Taesan with a laugh.

“Another sparring session?”

Taesan nodded and drew his sword. Ainzhar also joyfully picked up his weapon.

Taesan regularly visited Ainzhar to request sparring sessions. The outbursts of Levynenoff were infrequent, so these sessions could proceed without issue.

Although Jorge grumbled about the inconvenience each time, it wasn’t a concern for Taesan.

Clang!

Swords clashed. Ainzhar laughed heartily as he struck down with his blade.

Clang, clang!

The fierce pressure bore down on Taesan, who twisted his sword to deflect it.

[Proficiency in Flow Skill increased by 1%.]

Ainzhar was a monster.

Currently, Taesan stood no chance of defeating him.

And yet, battling such an opponent was the best way to profit.

Various combat skills’ proficiencies increased.

The proficiency of Sensory Synchronization reached 20%. It expanded Taesan’s perception, allowing him to grasp a much wider range as if touching it with his hands.

Buff skills like Disdain for the Weak also saw an increase in proficiency, providing higher bonus stats.

Unable to solely rely on swordsmanship against Ainzhar’s attacks, Taesan continued practicing magic and black magic. Numerous skills, including Magic Overlap and Magic Release, also increased in proficiency.

The new magic and black magic acquired from The Library of All Things were becoming significantly more refined.

[Intermediate Magic: The Undying Flame Bird.]

[Mana Cost: 400]

[Proficiency: 4%]

[Summons the Phoenix, the eternal flame bird, to attack enemies. The summoned Phoenix is in a restricted state of power.]

A fire-based intermediate spell, its fundamental power was comparable to Frozen World, exuding an extremely intense heat. It seemed to be a skill that could be used effectively under specific conditions.

[Intermediate Magic: Forced Expulsion.]

[Mana Cost: 500]

[Proficiency: 5%]

[Forcefully pushes enemies within a certain range. Cannot be reused for 10 minutes.]

Even Ainzhar flinched momentarily at its force. Without any warning signs, its effectiveness was enough to draw his admiration.

[Intermediate Black Magic: Gaf’s Solid Boulder.]

[Mana Cost: 800]

[Base Magic Energy Consumption: 350]

[Proficiency: 3%]

[Summons a boulder from Gaf’s domain to strike enemies. Its toughness is impervious to damage but weakens significantly during summoning.]

The spell summoned an enormous, solid boulder that fell rapidly onto the enemy. Simple but undeniably powerful, it would likely see frequent use.

[Intermediate Black Magic: Astaroth’s Encroaching Darkness.]

[Mana Cost: 400]

[Base Magic Energy Consumption: 300]

[Proficiency: 3%]

[Envelops the caster in darkness from Astaroth’s domain, greatly reducing the damage of incoming attacks.]

A defensive black magic, it halved damage and, despite its short duration, imposed no restrictions on movement, making it highly practical in certain situations.

All were highly practical skills. Normally, they would require extensive practice in real combat to master, but thanks to Ainzhar, Taesan rapidly raised their proficiencies to combat-ready levels.

Among them, the standout skill was Airak Martial Technique.

[Advanced Skill: Airak Martial Technique]

[Proficiency: 60%]

[A technique for wielding weapons and the body. It now prevents power loss during force transmission, slightly altering attack and defense values. Even unfamiliar weapons can be handled as extensions of the body.]

At 60% proficiency, the technique allowed seamless handling of any weapon. Testing it with the scythe earned from a secret reward, Taesan found he could somewhat counter Ainzhar’s attacks. It was now viable for real combat.

“You’ve already reached 60%? As expected, you’re fast.”

Ainzhar laughed heartily, praising Taesan.

“With your talent, you might eventually reach 100%. Satisfied?”

“More than enough.”

The Airak Martial Technique, a top-tier skill integrating the attack power of all equipment, was one of the most valuable skills Taesan acquired in this life. It had helped him overcome countless challenges.

Though he had once wondered how such a skill existed, he now understood. The technique was Ainzhar’s creation. For an immortal like him, crafting such a skill wasn’t particularly difficult.

After the sparring ended, Taesan informed Ainzhar about his imminent return to Earth in a week, explaining that he might be away for some time.

He also mentioned that gods had descended on Earth, surprising Ainzhar.

“That’s intriguing. Gods and the High Gods making deals? Such occurrences are exceedingly rare.”

“Is that so?”

“Essentially, they are fundamentally opposing existences. They instinctively despise each other. For them to strike a deal… it means there’s something of immense value there.”

Ainzhar gazed at Taesan.

“And that’s likely because of you.”

Taesan did not deny it. He felt the same.

Ainzhar fiddled with the hilt of his sword.

“I’m deeply grateful to you. Thanks to you, I can hope for what I once thought impossible. But at the same time… I have so many questions.”

A single emotion shone in Ainzhar’s eyes as he looked at Taesan: curiosity.

“What exactly is that power of yours?”

Taesan explained the reasons behind obtaining the power of the ancient gods and about Soul Ascension. Ainzhar, who was among the stronger immortals, seemed likely to know something.

But even Ainzhar could not explain Soul Ascension.

“I’ve traveled across countless worlds in search of the goddess. Hundreds, no, thousands of worlds across the universe. I’ve seen countless abilities, yet none had power like yours.”

The power of the ancient gods was unattainable for beings bound by the laws of the universe. It existed beyond those laws.

Soul Ascension had stolen the power of the high gods.

It even fused with divinity to create a new power and allowed Taesan to control it.

What even the gods, the pinnacle of the universe, could not achieve, Taesan, not even a true immortal, had accomplished.

“Despite wielding such power, why haven’t you transcended yet? Why are you still bound by the wall of physical form?”

Ainzhar kept questioning, not to hear answers but to reflect aloud.

“Taesan.”

Ainzhar looked at him quietly.

“What level have you truly reached?”

After the conversation, Taesan wandered through The Library of All Things. With a week left before his return, he had no intention of wasting time.

“Have I found everything there is to find?”

He had discovered a total of twenty-five secret rooms, the exact number Lee Taeyeon had found. Despite numerous attempts, he failed to locate rooms she had missed.

There was no way to solve it with his abilities alone; it relied entirely on time and intuition.

When Taesan asked Jorge if he would lose the secret reward if all secret rooms weren’t found, Jorge replied:

“You can get the reward even if you find just one secret room. Honestly, finding as many as you have is unusual.”

Even Jorge and the ghost hadn’t known about the existence of secret rooms in this place. Taesan’s success was extraordinary.

There was no need to spend more time searching for additional secret rooms.

Yet Taesan felt uneasy.

His intuition told him something significant remained undiscovered. He continued examining the bookshelves.

As it was a simple task requiring only time, he had the mental capacity to reflect. He recalled Ainzhar’s final words.

“Level, huh…”

Taesan knew he was peculiar.

He wielded the power of the high gods, a force unattainable even by the gods themselves. Despite the mental strain, he had not been corrupted or destroyed like the goddess.

Soul Ascension had even stolen the authority of immortals.

But he was mortal. Though he had become partially immortal by growing stronger, everything he achieved had been done as a mortal.

What had he truly reached?

That question lingered in his mind.

Taesan reviewed memories of gods in their mortal days, which he had found in The Library of All Things.

The God of Victory, Baltazahar, had risked his life in countless challenges during his mortal life.

He sought archery from the elves, strength from the giants, craftsmanship from the dwarves, and strategy from humans.

He challenged every living being in the world.

The wager was always his own life.

In every single challenge, using any means necessary, he emerged victorious without a single defeat.

After defeating all living beings, Baltazahar became the God of Victory.

The God of Struggle and Death, Lakiratas, was born in a world of endless war.

Always accompanied by death, he fought to survive.

After overcoming countless life-and-death situations, he gained immense power and ended the eternal war.

When peace returned to the world, Lakiratas reignited war.

Bestowing the world with eternal struggle and death, he became the God of Struggle and Death.

Other gods’ stories were similar.

They had all become consumed by one thing, dedicating everything to it, and eventually carved out their domains.

The only exception was Lucifer, the Demon God created by demons to oust the ancient demon gods.

What was Taesan consumed by?

The answer didn’t come easily.

As he pondered, Taesan continued searching for the secret rooms.

Finally, he found what he was looking for.

Click!

Rumble…

It was a bookshelf filled with magical tomes. As he pulled out various books, the shelf itself began to move.

[You found another one… You really are remarkable.]

The ghost clicked its tongue in astonishment.

Taesan extended his hand toward the passageway.

As gentle waves of energy spread, Taesan felt a gaze directed at him.

From the aura within, Taesan discerned who owned this place.

“The God of Magic, Zelbando.”

[Secret Room of the God of Magic.]

[You cannot enter unless permitted by the god.]

Zelbando silently observed Taesan.

With a small laugh, the energy blocking the passage dissipated.

Taesan stepped inside.

The vast room contained only a single floating tome.

Taesan grabbed the tome.

He didn’t have high expectations.

He assumed it would be another intermediate spell.

But the system message astonished him.

[You have obtained an advanced magic tome: Magic of Cataclysm.]