Ascension Through Skills

"What the hell."

Bardray looked around with a scowling face.

"I was definitely resting on the 10th floor, wasn't I?"

"H-hahaha. Hahahaha…"

Sociét, collapsed on the floor, laughed madly.

Even though everything of hers had been absorbed by Exirea, and nothing remained for her, she remained conscious with a near-insane level of mental strength.

"Ahhh. My prince…"

"…Sociét?"

Bardray looked at the fallen Sociét in confusion.

"You know, my prince."

Sociét spoke with a lifeless face.

"You died. I borrowed Exirea's authority to bring you back."

"…What the hell are you talking about?"

Bardray's face twisted.

"There are no monsters on the 10th floor that could kill me."

"I don't know either. But what I do know for sure is that you died. Who knows? Maybe one of the higher-ups secretly killed you."

"There's no way I wouldn't notice some bastard trying to approach me."

Taesan looked at Bardray.

That Bardray had the memories of just before his death—memories of when he had fallen asleep to rest on the 10th floor. Since his corpse had been revived through divine authority, it made sense that he retained memories up to that point.

Though Bardray initially denied it, as Sociét's explanation continued, he slowly began to accept reality.

"…If that's the method, it's possible."

"There were a lot of Guides you didn't get along with. They led it. I tried to stop them… but they didn't listen."

"Why should I believe you?"

Bardray spoke sharply. Having been brought back, he now doubted everything.

Sociét smiled calmly.

"If I killed you, why would I bring you back? Look at me."

Sociét raised her arm. Like a fragile woman, she had no strength.

"I gave everything I had to bring you back."

"…You borrowed her power."

[That's right, Labyrinth Hero.]

Exirea answered calmly.

[She sacrificed herself to bring back the dead you. There's no lie in that.]

"I see."

[Then I shall give the resurrected you a chance.]

A system window appeared before Bardray.

[Defeat the adventurer contracted with the prince's ghost from the destroyed world.]

[Condition: Kang Taesan's death.]

[Reward: Resurrection.]

Reading the system window, Bardray opened his mouth.

"I'll trust you, Sociét."

[You really believe her?]

The ghost sneered. Bardray turned his gaze toward the ghost.

Looking at it, Bardray suddenly said:

"So it's me."

[You're me.]

"You made a contract with the Labyrinth's magician for revenge? To think I'd see my own soul like this. Fascinating."

[Sociét did bring you back. But she also killed me.]

"I'll repay it in kind. I can't trust your words either."

Bardray even doubted the ghost, his former self.

"You've probably experienced and seen a lot in that form. You're me, but you're not. I can't trust that."

[I know that's the past me, but wow, I was a real pain.]

"Even if what you say is true, it changes nothing."

Bardray stretched his hand into the air. Space split. It was the inventory granted to Labyrinth adventurers.

"What matters is that I was dead. And now I've been given another chance."

Bardray withdrew his hand from the inventory.

A longsword was now in his grip.

"I can't waste this miraculous opportunity."

The look in Bardray's eyes toward Taesan held clear murderous intent.

The hero who once stood by Taesan's side, helping and sharing critical information, was now aiming to kill him.

[Then let those with desire move for their own sake.]

With those final words, Exirea retreated.

"I wouldn't make a contract with an ordinary adventurer, so they must be quite skilled."

Bardray raised his sword, more confident than anyone else.

"I'll personally test you, adventurer."

Tap.

Bardray moved.

His sword left afterimages.

He attacked with multiple trajectories, as if several people were charging at once.

The first sword of Storm Scar. Wolf's—

Taesan raised his sword.

Ka-ga-ga-kak!

Sword strikes rained down. The ghost had died on the 80th floor during life. While stronger than the average 80th floor adventurer, he wasn't overwhelming.

Taesan was an [Immortal]. Even dozens of Bardrays wouldn't leave a scratch.

But Bardray's attacks were sharp and powerful.

The authority granted by Exirea, who had taken everything from Sociét. For the one she loved.

That authority raised Bardray's entire being to a considerable level. Right now, Bardray wielded power on par with Princess Diana or Beldenkia.

Ka-ga-ga-ga-kak!

Numerous afterimages appeared, and at the same time, he widened the distance. Bardray's face was twisted.

"…You learned my swordsmanship."

[Ability Sword] was based on the swordsmanship of Storm Scar.

"Even if you made a contract, how dare you teach my unique swordsmanship?"

Clicking his tongue, Bardray raised his sword again.

"That sword style belongs to me alone. I can't allow anyone else to use it. Let me show you the true Storm Scar sword."

An arrogance and confidence that acknowledged no one but himself.

"That's your past self?"

[…Yeah.]

The ghost answered quietly.

Bardray charged once more. His sword movements were different from before.

Like a dance, he smoothly aimed for Taesan's vital points.

The second sword. Dancer's Dance.

[You have activated Strong Strike.]

Taesan widened the distance.

But Bardray slithered along Taesan's sword like a snake, aiming for the nape of his neck.

[You have activated Deflection.]

Ka-kak!

The sword bounced away as if repelled. Bardray immediately regained his stance.

"That's different from what I know. Are you deflecting the weapon clash itself?"

Bardray murmured quietly and pulled out another sword. Holding twin swords like Taesan, he charged again.

His stance was extremely low.

Spinning his body while wielding the twin blades, he attacked like a storm.

Ka-ga-ga-kak!

The blades brushed past Taesan. The mix of real and feint made it hard to distinguish the attacks.

In terms of swordsmanship alone, he was superior to Taesan.

Blocking the attacks, Taesan spoke.

"Have you sorted out your thoughts now?"

[…What? Were you waiting for me?]

"This is your quest."

Taesan said calmly.

"I can't just finish it on my own."

[Ha.]

The ghost laughed.

[I sorted things out a long time ago. You can end it. All of it.]

The ghost spoke.

Taesan gripped his sword with both hands and swung it down. In response, Bardray elastically countered with his twin swords.

He used Dancer's Dance to close in and aim for Taesan's heart.

Taesan watched briefly, then applied strength to his blade.

Crunch.

Bardray's snake-like sword was crushed.

His eyes widened. He hurriedly activated his trump card skill to repel Taesan's sword.

Taesan responded with simple ease.

He didn't move. He merely applied more strength to the sword.

And with just that, Bardray's body was slammed into the ground.

"Urgh!"

Taesan imbued his sword with [divinity] and thrust.

Rumble!

[Divinity] exploded toward Bardray. The golden light engulfed the Labyrinth. It was enough to annihilate even an [Apostle] of an Old God.

Yet Bardray did not die.

A barrier protected him tightly.

[You have activated Absolute Judgement.]

Taesan struck the barrier, but it didn't even scratch.

[Absolute Judgement] was a Labyrinth [skill]. It was close to a law.

The only meaning behind its ineffectiveness was this—

That the shield too was something close to a law.

"For the one she loved." That authority must include an effect that blocks death-dealing damage for a certain time.

Bardray staggered to his feet, his face hardened.

"You won't be able to win against him now. He's reached a higher dimension than you."

Sociét, her face growing more lifeless, spoke.

Though Bardray was empowered by Exirea's authority, its limits were clear. Taesan, an [Immortal], was not weak enough to lose to an 80th floor adventurer blessed by a single god.

Bardray didn't deny it.

"I can't win like this."

"Don't worry, Bardray. I knew that much. I will make sure you win."

The last remaining vitality drained from Sociét's body.

"So please, don't forget me even after I die."

[Sociét Gardentia has died.] (T/N: Why does it feel so anticlimatic. Or is it just me?)

"Sociét?"

Bardray's eyes trembled.

She had been holding on purely by will after dying, but the end came too suddenly. It looked as though she chose death on her own.

At that moment, a vast presence descended again.

But it wasn't Exirea.

It was someone else.

[Posthumous Contract of Dersha activated. Dersha's interference range has decreased.]

Sociét opened her eyes.

"Hmm."

She slowly rose.

But unlike before, she now had an utterly alien air—like a puppet.

"I didn't like Exirea's meddling, but since I've obtained the body I originally wanted, I suppose it doesn't matter."

The being occupying Sociét's corpse murmured. She turned to Taesan.

"You're the one causing a racket in the Labyrinth."

"…You are?"

Taesan frowned.

The presence emanating from Sociét exceeded even Exirea's. Sociét opened her mouth.

"I am Dersha. [God of Death]."

"Lord Dersha?"

Bardray's eyes widened.

Dersha was the one who truly governed death—an [Transcendent] who existed since the beginning of the world.

Rakiratas also governed war and death, but only deaths resulting from battle. He didn't control death itself.

Though most [Transcendents] were called gods, Dersha was a being truly close to a god in every sense.

As far as Bardray knew, Dersha resided in the deepest parts of the Deep Layer—around the 90th floor.

"Why are you in her body, Lord Dersha…"

"I've been watching her since she entered the Labyrinth. I offered a contract, but she kept refusing. Then, perhaps on a whim, she accepted recently."

[So that's how it is.]

The ghost fell silent.

There had been hints. Sociét had always possessed a special power since birth.

The power to command the dead—a force the upper ranks could never fully understand. It made sense that the [God of Death] took interest.

'So that's why she was on the 85th floor.'

She must've received part of Dersha's power through the contract.

"My contract with her was simple. In exchange for her body, she would help someone once."

Dersha was now staring at Taesan.

There was nothing gentle in that gaze.

Taesan immediately understood.

The god the magician said wanted to kill him—

One of them was the [God of Death].

"Normally, I wouldn't like this kind of contract… but if it's you, then it changes things."

[Dersha's Puppet activated.]

Rumble!

The [God of Death]'s authority manifested through Sociét's body.

"The magician says you can create a new world. But what is a new world? This world is already perfect. Why preserve a being that only brings chaos?"

Death crept in. Dersha declared judgment.

"A being like you cannot be tolerated."

"So Sociét… gave her life for me. If she wanted my victory that badly, I must answer that."

[Hah.]

The ghost gave a hollow laugh. Knowing the truth, it was all too absurd to him.

"Ehilliye. I accept your contract now."

[God of the Sword, Ehilliye descends.]

Ehilliye. A god Taesan had once faced in a trial. Ironically, Ehilliye had once descended into Bardray's body during Taesan's own trial.

Now, that same god was making a [contract] with the revived Bardray.

The ghost had once said that he'd received many offers for [Apostle] contracts during life, but rejected them all because they limited growth.

Yet now, Bardray was accepting an Apostle contract just to defeat Taesan.

"O-ohhh…"

Bardray groaned. His rank evolved to [Apostle]. He instantly rose to a lofty level.

"So many of them."

Taesan clicked his tongue. Exirea, Dersha, Ehilliye.

Three [Transcendents] were now aiming for Taesan.