Ascension Through Skills

"If a god loses their domain, does their divine rank fall?"

"Not for everyone. Those like Rakiratas or Maria, who reached their heights through their own power, won't lose their strength even if their domain is gone. But I was a native god who received faith from people."

Her divinity and godhood had been sustained by her world. But now, she had lost that world.

"Normally, I should have perished there. But I was able to hold on because of Ainzhar's faith."

Levinenov looked at Ainzhar with a gentle expression.

"Thank you, Ainzhar."

"I only did my duty, my goddess."

"There's no need to call me goddess anymore. I'm no longer a god."

"No."

With an unwavering face, he said,

"You will always be my goddess. That will never change."

"…Is that so? Thank you."

Levinenov didn't deny it any further.

And watching the two quietly was Akasha.

[…]

Through the connection with Taesan, he could feel Akasha's emotions—filled with complex longing and confusion.

Akasha had once prayed before the statue of the forgotten goddess.

Her relationship might not have been so different from Ainzhar and Levinenov's.

"And it wasn't because of me, Levinenov. The one who saved you was Taesan."

"That's right. Thank you so much, Taesan."

Levinenov spoke with a joyful face.

"Even though I've lost everything and fallen to the level of a mortal… I'm alive. That alone is enough. All thanks to you."

"I only did the job I accepted."

Taesan spoke calmly. He had received a quest, accepted it, and cleared it.

That was all there was to it for him. Levinenov gave a faint smile.

"Then I should give you a fitting reward for what you've done."

Levinenov extended her hand. In her pure white palm, an energy began to gather.

"I am no longer a god. I would love to bless you, but I no longer have that power. All I have left are fragments from that time."

Kiiiiing!

It was a platinum shard, shaped as if iron had been forcibly torn apart.

The dignity it radiated exceeded Taesan's comprehension.

"It's useless to me as I am now… but perhaps it will be different for you. Take it."

The platinum shard floated into Taesan's hand. He grasped it.

[You have obtained the Fragment of Godhood.]

[Fragment of Godhood]

[A fragment of the godly rank once held by a being who can no longer be called a god.]

"…This is—"

"I don't know what can be done with it either," Levinenov said gently.

"But you possess a very special power. You purified my corruption, and you can even intervene with the laws themselves. Perhaps you can find a way to use it."

"Thank you."

Taesan stored the Fragment of Godhood.

The rank of a god. Even as just a fragment, it was worth more than divine blood. It was a material Taesan couldn't yet imagine how to use.

But it was a priceless resource he could get nowhere else. He would have to find a way to use it, but it was already more than enough as a reward.

"I'm glad you're satisfied."

"Then I suppose it's my turn."

Ainzhar stepped forward, laughing as he clapped Taesan on the shoulder.

"As I've said before, I'm truly grateful. Thanks to you, I was able to achieve my wish. So I must give you a proper reward. First… here's the wealth I've gathered while traveling the world."

[You have obtained 300,000G.]

Three hundred thousand gold.

Even after reaching the deep layers, it was no small sum.

Then Ainzhar began removing the armor he wore.

"I thought long about what to give you, and this was the only thing I felt you'd be satisfied with. Take it. It's the armor I've worn all my life, personally blessed by Lady Levinenov."

[You have obtained Ainzhar's Armor Blessed by Levinenov.]

[Ainzhar's Armor Blessed by Levinenov]

[Attack Power +1000]

[Defense +1000]

[Armor personally crafted by the goddess for her beloved apostle. Though much of her divine power has faded, the armor retains traces of it from being worn for so long.]

[Increases attack power from Airach Martial Technique by an additional 10%.]

Taesan was impressed.

The +1000 attack power was remarkable, but the special effect was the true value.

A 10% additional boost to attack power gained from Airach Martial Technique.

It was effectively the same as a flat 10% attack power increase—a piece of gear he could use until the end of the labyrinth, practically graduation equipment.

"Are you satisfied?"

"Completely."

"That's good. I thought hard about how to repay you for saving the goddess. I'm glad you're pleased."

Ainzhar grinned.

"So, are you planning to descend further?"

"No. I need to return because of the Old Gods' summons. I have some time left over."

He had a few days' leeway—not enough to descend another floor. Ainzhar drew his sword.

"Then until then, how about it?"

Taesan nodded without hesitation and drew his own sword.

—

Until it was time to return to Earth, Taesan sparred with Ainzhar.

Now, he could withstand Ainzhar's full-power attacks. There was still a gap, but it wasn't so large anymore.

As they fought, they exchanged conversation.

"Come to think of it, Hero, you've become a sword."

[Took you long enough to bring it up. I thought you'd forgotten about me.]

"Apologies. My conversation with him took priority."

Ainzhar gave Bardray, now a sword, a curious look.

"…So you were born as a sword. Are you satisfied?"

[More or less.]

"Then that's enough. As long as you're alive, the day will come when you achieve your wish. Don't give up."

[We'll see.]

The spirit replied vaguely. At this point, he had let go of everything—there was nothing he could truly call a wish anymore.

Meanwhile, Akasha had something to ask Levinenov.

[My goddess.]

She spoke quietly.

[Do you… know anything about me?]

"You…"

Levinenov frowned slightly as she looked at Akasha. After a moment, she shook her head.

"I'm sorry. I don't."

[I see…]

"You carry a familiar aura… it feels like you were once the same kind of being as me. But beyond that, I can't say."

Even Levinenov, once a transcendent, didn't know about the god Akasha had served.

If Akasha didn't remember on her own, it seemed there was truly no way to learn about the goddess.

And so, the two of them continued their battles for several days.

At last, the time came to an end.

"Is it time for you to return already?"

"I have a little leeway, but I have one last thing to do, so I think this is a good stopping point."

"That's a shame."

"You're my benefactor. Come see me anytime."

"What will you do now?"

Ainzhar's contract had been for Levinenov's sake.

But now, his wish was fulfilled.

"Hmm… I'm not sure. I should meet the labyrinth's magician and talk. I also need to visit Metis to thank her. After that… I'll have to think about it."

"Even if you've fallen, you're still a goddess, Levinenov. The magician will surely accommodate you."

Taesan told them, as he had with Diana and Beldenkia, about the possibility of coming to Earth.

But Ainzhar's expression was uncertain.

"I've received a great favor from you, one I can never repay. I won't deny I have some desire to take revenge on the Old Gods. But… for now, I want to stay by Lady Levinenov's side."

"I see."

Taesan didn't push further.

Ainzhar had achieved the goal he had devoted his life to.

If he wished for peace, Taesan had no right to deny him.

"But revenge… that is tempting. Once I've found stability and sorted out my thoughts, I'll consider it."

"That's enough."

Taesan bid them farewell and headed to the 61st floor.

There, Beldenkia and Diana were chatting pleasantly.

"You're here? What's up?"

"Where's Lilith?"

"She said she was tired and went to sleep."

"I'll be returning to Earth soon," Taesan said.

The atmosphere shifted. Their peaceful expressions were replaced by the faces of adventurers who had endured countless trials.

"So it's time. How long?"

"About a day."

"A day, huh. Is there anything we should prepare?"

"There is, actually."

After a moment's thought, Taesan asked,

"Can you make magic circles for teleportation?"

"Depends on the type. Long-range or short-range? For many or for a few? Specific targets or random ones? What do you need?"

"All of them."

"Hm."

Beldenkia stroked her chin.

"I can think of a few. I'll prepare them."

"Thanks."

Taesan parted with them and went to the 87th floor.

As always, the shopkeeper was there.

"Going down?"

"No."

Taesan shook his head and approached.

"I'm thinking of buying some equipment."

"Oh?"

The shopkeeper smirked.

"You've saved up quite a bit, then?"

"Just enough."

At the moment, Taesan had about 1.5 million gold—the total he had amassed while descending the labyrinth. The shopkeeper opened a space.

"Good. At your level, I can show you just about anything."

Shhhhk!

A flood of equipment poured out.

Taesan began looking them over, but when he saw the prices, he chuckled.

[2,000,000G]

[1,800,000G]

Even after reaching the 87th floor, there were still items he couldn't afford.

"What's with these?"

"Take a look. They're worth the price."

Taesan examined them carefully.

[Extremely Compressed Mithril Sword]

[Attack Power +4000]

[Made by gathering all the mithril in a world and compressing it to the limit into a single sword. Its immense weight makes it impossible for anyone to wield properly.]

[Imposes a weight penalty on the user.]

[1,700,000G]

[Necklace Made from a God's Remnants]

[HP +10%]

[MP +10%]

[Strength +4%]

[Agility +4%]

[Intelligence +4%]

[Attack Power +1000]

[Though gods are fundamentally eternal, there are times when even they cannot escape the end of existence. This necklace was made from the remnants left after such an end.]

[1,800,000G]

Purely in stats, they offered thousands in increases, with percentages over 10%.

Not on the same level as Bardray and Akasha, but close. There were dozens of such items.

'Impressive.'

Taesan continued browsing.

Then he spotted a familiar piece of equipment—jet-black bracers.

[Jet-Black Bracers]

[Bracers woven from threads of colorless light. The power within protects the wearer.]

[Reduces all incoming damage by 50%.]

[2,000,000G]

[…What the hell is this?]

Bardray's voice was incredulous.

Two million gold.

The most expensive item in the shop.

Its performance was beyond reason—halving all incoming damage.

And Taesan had seen these before.

They were the very bracers Lee Taeyeon had worn.

Then it hit him.

The equipment here was the labyrinth's graduation gear.