Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 442: 86th Floor, The World of Armaments (4)

[...Even so, the idea of becoming a sword doesn’t sound all that appealing.]

“Of course, certain sensations and experiences would change. After all, you wouldn’t be reborn as a human but as a sword. But your sense of self and free will wouldn’t disappear.”

[How can I trust that you won’t mess with me in the process?]

“I, Kosrun the Dwarf, swear upon my desire and everything I’ve built in my life: I will place no restrictions upon you.”

Kosrun immediately declared, “If I violate this oath, I’ll suffer eternal torment, achieving none of the things I desire.”

It was a declaration tied to his name and pride. With that, the possibility of Kosrun betraying him was eliminated.

[...Well, damn.]

There was nothing more to say. All the obstacles had been addressed, leaving only the ghost’s decision.

[This is giving me a headache.]

The ghost was torn.

He couldn’t make the decision easily.

[Give me some time.]

“Take all the time you need,” Kosrun replied without pressure.

“Think it over at your own pace. I’ll be working on other things in the meantime. Let me know once you’ve made up your mind.”

The cave fell silent, leaving only Taesan and the ghost.

[What should I do?]

Just when he thought everything had concluded, a new option had presented itself.

The ghost worked to calm his turmoil and assess the conditions rationally.

[Becoming a sword, huh.]

To exist not as a living, breathing body, but as a sword.

It was an unsettling idea, but Kosrun’s explanation made it sound less horrifying than it initially seemed.

He would retain his freedom and act autonomously as a sword. Only the vessel housing his soul would change.

There were, of course, clear downsides. He would no longer feel the warmth of life. He wouldn’t be able to embrace others or experience deep emotional connections.

And there was no guarantee Kosrun would succeed. This was Kosrun’s first time attempting to turn a soul into a weapon, so problems were almost inevitable.

But on the other hand, he could live again.

He could talk with others, experience new things, and grow stronger.

Perhaps, as a sword, he might even achieve his own desires.

The advantages and disadvantages were clear, which only made the decision harder.

[What should I do?]

In the end, the ghost turned to Taesan.

“You shouldn’t leave this decision to me. It’s something you need to choose for yourself.”

The ghost’s future hinged on this choice. No one else had the right to intervene. The ghost nodded in agreement.

[You’re right. In the end, it’s my decision to make.]

“But...” Taesan trailed off.

The ghost waited for him to continue.

After a moment, Taesan spoke.

“I think it would be better if you lived on, even as a sword.”

[...I see.]

The ghost let out a small laugh, a smile forming on his face—a light, relieved expression, as if he had let go of a burden.

[I’ve made my decision. Someday, I might regret it... but it’s my choice, and I’ll bear the consequences.]

Taesan called for Kosrun.

Kosrun approached with a face full of expectation, eager for the ghost’s answer.

[I accept, dwarf.]

“Great! I promise you won’t regret it!”

***

"So, what exactly needs to be done?"

Turning a living soul into a sword—a feat unheard of. Even Kosrun, who was thrilled at the opportunity, couldn’t hide his uncertainty.

“I’ve figured out the basics, but this is my first time embedding a soul into a weapon. I’ll need to run some experiments. How much time do we have?”

[About... two weeks. After that, I’ll have to leave.]

“Two weeks, huh? That’s cutting it close.”

Kosrun furrowed his brows and quickly started calculating.

“To begin with, we’ll need a weapon tied to you. Since the sword will act as the vessel, compatibility is critical. Can you retrieve the sword you used during your lifetime?”

[That’s not a problem. Taesan.]

At the ghost’s request, Taesan pulled out Cavert’s Relic. It was the sword the ghost had used before entering the labyrinth, the very weapon he had wielded until his death. It had been his companion throughout his entire life. Kosrun’s eyes sparkled as he took hold of the relic.

“This sword holds a strong connection to you. It’s more than enough—perfect, in fact. I’ll hold onto it for now.”

Kosrun carefully set aside Cavert’s Relic and continued.

“Next, we’ll need a vessel capable of holding immense willpower. To house a soul in a sword, the weapon must be imbued with such space. Unfortunately, the weapons here lack that kind of capacity... I’ll have to gather and assess them first.”

“No need,” Taesan said.

From his inventory, Taesan produced a Fragment of the World’s Will. Kosrun’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“This is...”

“A shard of the world’s will. Will this do?”

“More than enough,” Kosrun said, letting out a dry laugh.

“With this, there’s more than enough space for the soul. Where did you even find something like this...?”

“And there’s this as well.”

Taesan also showed him Bardray’s Legacy. Kosrun let out an astonished exclamation.

“This resonates deeply with the soul. In theory, one sword would suffice, but the more materials like this we have, the higher the chances of success.”

Kosrun smiled, clearly satisfied.

“Perfect. With this, most of the problems are solved.”

It was as though everything had been prepared from the start, with each condition falling into place.

“We have the basic materials ready. Now I need to get a better feel for the process. Adventurer, bring me as many weapons from outside the cave as you can. They need to be subdued.”

“How many are we talking about?”

“As many as possible. As much as your abilities allow.”

Kosrun grinned.

“I have a feeling we’re going to need a lot.”

Taesan nodded and stepped out of the cave. He intended to fulfill Kosrun’s request to the best of his ability.

Standing on the weapon-strewn ground, Taesan raised his hand.

“Gather.”

[You have activated Declaration of Cohesion.]

Clang! Clang! Clang!

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Weapons were uprooted en masse and flew toward Taesan. The weapons, seemingly shocked at being forced against their will, struggled in resistance, but his command overwhelmed them. Every single one was drawn to his hand.

Taesan declared again.

“Submit.”

[You have activated Declaration of Submission.]

There was no need for overwhelming force.

One simple phrase sufficed.

The power of his words etched itself into the world. The weapons collectively ceased their resistance, submitting to Taesan.

He continued moving without pause.

In less than an hour, he had gathered over a hundred weapons.

“This should do, right?”

“...For now, it’s more than enough,” Kosrun said, his face blank with astonishment.

“I didn’t think you’d bring this many...”

“Didn’t you say to bring as many as possible?”

“Well, I did, but... still, this is impressive. Fine. Thanks to you, we’ll be able to proceed much faster.”

With hundreds of weapons now at his disposal, Kosrun carried them into the cave.

***

Kosrun continued experimenting.

He fused weapons, refined them, and extracted the will contained within.

Though Taesan, an outsider to such work, couldn’t fully grasp the details, it was clear how arduous the process was. Each time Kosrun refined a weapon, his eyes grew hollow, and his cheeks sunken.

Yet, Kosrun looked utterly delighted.

Even as his body reached its limits, he didn’t stop. In less than two days, he had used every weapon Taesan had brought him.

“Do you think it’ll work?”

“I’ve got a sense of it, but there’s still a lot missing. I’ll need more—more than last time.”

Taesan agreed without hesitation.

Just as before, he swiftly gathered more weapons.

Kosrun used them all and once again asked Taesan for new ones.

The countless weapons scattered across the land began to vanish. Soon, Taesan had to venture further afield to find more.

During this process, Taesan had only one task: collecting weapons.

While Kosrun conducted his experiments, time opened up for Taesan. He found himself with moments of respite.

So, during those intervals, Taesan talked with the ghost.

Their conversations weren’t extraordinary. The ghost spoke about when he first met Revancia, how he obtained Cavert’s Relic, and the experiences that shaped him throughout his life.

In turn, Taesan shared stories about his life on Earth—what he had done before entering the labyrinth and the ordinary events of his past. Most of their dialogue revolved around the mundane, simple aspects of their lives.

And so, ten days passed.

“I’ve wrapped up most of the preparation.”

Kosrun’s face was gaunt, but his determination remained.

“But there’s still one thing missing. The final material. The quest reward for this floor: Ego Soul. Bring it to me.”

Taesan agreed.

He moved swiftly toward the location of the King’s Sword, which he had already identified.

There, embedded in a rock, was a magnificent sword, dazzling like an ornate piece of decoration.

Clang!

The King’s Sword was pulled free.

Unlike the other weapons, it didn’t exude malice or a will to resist.

Instead, it radiated a strong determination to test Taesan.

The King’s Sword moved. The power within it coalesced into its blade, and it swung.

The energy turned into a blade of force, slashing toward Taesan.

Taesan raised his sword and countered.

Boom!

The battle began.

The King’s Sword, without a master, moved of its own accord, pressing Taesan with relentless attacks. The strength it displayed approached the pinnacle of mortality, on the verge of crossing into the realm of immortality.

For Taesan, however, it posed no real challenge. He had already surpassed mortality.

But for someone like I-Taeyeon, it would have been a different story.

For her, simply surviving against this sword would have been an achievement, let alone subduing it.

‘So, she managed to overcome this.’

The quest condition for the floor was to subdue the King’s Sword. Judging by the aura emanating from the sword, it was unlikely any shortcuts could have been used.

This meant she had cleared the 100th floor purely with her own ability.

She was undoubtedly remarkable.

‘I’ll have to ask her how she managed it once I return to Earth.’

Taesan put aside his thoughts and focused on the fight.

Clang!

He gripped his sword tightly and swung powerfully. The King’s Sword couldn’t withstand the force and slid backward.

Given the gap in their fundamental levels, there was no need for Taesan to employ advanced skills or finesse. He subdued the King’s Sword in an instant, grasping its hilt and driving it into the ground.

He then infused it with his aura.

The King’s Sword trembled violently for a moment, as if in defiance, but it soon calmed. The power it had been exuding dissipated. The King’s Sword rested quietly in Taesan’s hand.

[You have subdued the King’s Sword.]

[86th Floor Cleared.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Your level has increased.]

[You have obtained Ego Soul.]

[You have obtained ???.]

Ego Soul

An artificial vessel for souls. Empty and ready to be filled.

??? Used.

[You have obtained King’s Pommel.]

King’s Pommel

Strength +200

Agility +200

Attack Power +200

Defense +200

A pommel from the sword wielded by the King of the World. Can be attached to any sword, perfectly balancing its weight.

Taesan had cleared the 86th floor.

With the Ego Soul in hand, he returned to Kosrun, who greeted him with a grin.

“Just a little longer. Wait just a bit more while I finish up.”

Kosrun took the Ego Soul and retreated to his private workspace.

Two days later.

“It’s done.”

Kosrun returned.

Everything was ready to transform the ghost into a sword.

“Let’s get started. Are you ready?”

[I am,] the ghost answered calmly.