Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 468: Floor 89: The Old God’s Outpost (1)

Upon arriving at the 89th floor, Balbabamba appeared as usual.

[You’ve done well. That’s not a bad outcome.]

“Really?”

[You didn’t align with the immortals to destroy the world, nor did you forcibly brainwash the people for their faith. You simply killed two immortals. That much falls within acceptable limits.]

Balbabamba’s tone was calm, yet carried an air of resignation.

[When you reach the 90th floor, you’ll escape my jurisdiction entirely. Do as you please. I can tolerate this much.]

His demeanor now was one of complete detachment.

“So the 89th floor is the last one under your management?”

[That’s correct. Although we might cross paths again, you’ll no longer be a problem for me.]

Balbabamba spoke with satisfaction.

[Finally, freedom. It’s a relief, truly.]

After expressing his delight, he composed himself and got down to business.

[Now, I’ll explain the quest for the 89th floor. Your task is to infiltrate an outpost planet of the Old God in the universe, eliminate its slaves, and destroy the world itself.]

“What exactly is an outpost?”

[The Old Gods are fundamentally beings exiled from this world. They are not permitted to intervene directly.]

“For beings who aren’t allowed to interfere, they certainly meddle a lot.”

Taesan had experienced this firsthand, as the Old Gods had repeatedly intervened whenever he acted. It was becoming tiresome.

Balbabamba responded nonchalantly.

[What you’ve seen is them holding back. Otherwise, they’d consume entire galaxies.]

“Their scale is ridiculously massive.”

[They once ruled this world. It’s no surprise. Regardless, you’re aware there are fools who have contracted with them, aren’t you?]

Taesan nodded.

The Spirit World. The fool Arulia. The Chinese leader, Jinryong. The embodiment of the Empty Abomination in the Ravineno world.

All of them had accepted the Old God’s offer.

[The Old Gods can’t interfere in this world easily, which is why they confine their contracted pawns to planets they’ve consumed. Those planets are their outposts.]

Balbabamba’s tone grew more exasperated.

[Once devoured, those planets fall under the Old God’s influence. Transcendents try to eliminate the pawns whenever possible, but there are too many. A mistake can result in severe damage even to a transcendent. That’s why we usually deal with pawns that emerge, rather than attacking the outposts directly.]

“So the universe is in worse shape than I thought.”

[The universe has always been unstable. Even without the Old Gods, worlds collapse regularly. Their involvement just adds another layer.]

Balbabamba’s voice lacked emotion, as though he were speaking about mundane matters.

[While it’s been worsening recently, it’s still manageable.]

“So you want me to enter the outpost and destroy it? A place even transcendents can’t access easily?”

[That’s correct. However, you’re an exception. You’re unaffected by their corruption.]

Taesan possessed the Black Energy, not only immune to the Old God’s corruption but capable of wielding it freely.

[The transcendents will handle any direct intervention by the Old Gods. Your task is to deal with their slaves.]

“Understood.”

Taesan nodded.

“I accept.”

The quest was accepted.

Balbabamba instructed him to speak up when ready. Before that, Taesan offered a tribute to obtain a new black magic skill.

[You have obtained Baal’s Spatial Collapse.]

Baal’s Spatial Collapse

Mana Cost: 2,500

Magical Energy Cost: 1,000

Mastery: 1%

Description: Summon a distorted space from Baal’s domain at a designated location. The power to collapse time and space has deteriorated, resulting only in physical destruction.

The new intermediate black magic skill was akin to a long-range sniping spell. Testing it a few times, Taesan found it effective for targeting distant enemies.

The range extended as far as his sight, which was practically limitless. The spell’s destructive power didn’t diminish over distance, making it highly versatile.

While acquiring the black magic, the Demon God spoke to him.

[So, you’re heading into their lair this time?]

“Yes.”

[Do you know why we don’t target the outposts?]

“Because the Old God’s corruption threatens even transcendents?”

[That’s part of it. But there’s a bigger reason.]

The Demon God’s voice was languid.

[Outposts usually house the avatars of the Old Gods. An avatar is an extension of the Old God itself—something that cannot truly die. Even if we crush it, we gain little. So we leave them alone. But... you’re different.]

Taesan could kill avatars. That was likely why he had been assigned this quest to destroy the outpost.

[As always, I’m looking forward to your success.]

“Understood.”

Taesan replied. The Demon God, preparing to leave, hesitated.

[...You.]

Her gaze turned to Taesan’s hand—more precisely, to Akasha.

[You’ve changed somehow.]

[...You are the great ruler of the demon realm, the Demon God. Do you... know who I am?]

Akasha spoke in a tone of confusion, addressing the Demon God.

The Demon God frowned, her elegant forehead creasing.

[...I don’t know you. But I sense something—something I can’t identify. What are you?]

[So you feel the same.]

[Hmm...]

After observing Akasha briefly, the Demon God stepped back.

[This isn’t something I can determine by looking. Intriguing. Is it related to the Old Gods?]

She murmured with a curious expression.

[It’s worth investigating. Until next time.]

With those words, the Demon God vanished.

Taesan turned to Akasha.

“Do you remember anything?”

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[...It’s hard to say.]

After a moment of silence, Akasha began to speak hesitantly.

[Fragments of memories are surfacing. They’re about my final moments. I was... fighting someone.]

Slowly, she pieced together her thoughts.

[My master was with me. No, we all were. We resisted desperately against it.]

“What is it?”

[That... I cannot say.]

Akasha struggled to recall, eventually closing her mouth in distress.

[I don’t know. It feels like everything has been painted over in a different color.]

“Don’t force it. Take your time.”

Taesan reassured her.

“Is it that?”

He pondered, his thoughts turning to what lay ahead.

The Demon God claimed to sense something from Akasha but admitted she couldn’t identify it.

One of the strongest beings in the universe didn’t know who Akasha truly was.

The likelihood that Akasha was connected to the Old Gods was high, just as the Demon God had suggested.

"She was a forgotten goddess."

Akasha was an apostle of a deity erased from memory—one no one remembered.

Taesan found himself curious about the goddess Akasha once served. Who was she? What had transpired that even the Demon God couldn’t discern her nature?

Yet, as the Demon God had pointed out, it wasn’t something that could be resolved immediately.

After settling his thoughts, Taesan approached Balbabamba.

“I’m ready.”

[Understood. Let’s begin. Do not resist my power.]

Vrrrmm!

Balbabamba’s power enveloped Taesan. Though he could have shrugged it off effortlessly, Taesan chose to cooperate.

The energy tightly sealed away Taesan’s strength, ensuring it wouldn’t leak.

[Once you descend in this state, they will detect you immediately. I don’t know how you’ll handle it, but being unnoticed for as long as possible will give you the upper hand.]

“Thanks.”

Balbabamba manipulated the energy, opening a portal to a vast space. Rather than a planet, it led to the universe itself.

[Since this world is under the Old God’s influence, I can’t send you directly to the outpost. I’ll place you nearby. Make your way from there.]

Taesan stepped into the portal.

Before him stretched an endless expanse of space.

Although this was an environment inhospitable to life, Taesan was unaffected. Turning his gaze toward his destination, he saw it—a planet shrouded in blackness.

A sinister energy spread across the entire planet, seeping into space like tendrils of corruption.

That was his target. Taesan moved toward the planet, his body propelling him effortlessly.

As he approached, the black energy surrounding the planet stirred, reacting to his presence. It moved to block and reject him.

Taesan cloaked himself in Black Energy. When the planet’s energy touched his own, it merged seamlessly.

Without resistance, Taesan penetrated the planetary barrier and entered its atmosphere.

What greeted him was a world entirely engulfed in blackness.

Taesan had witnessed worlds on the brink of destruction—or already destroyed—due to the Old Gods, but this was different. It was more alien, more deeply intertwined with the Old Gods themselves.

The black energy blanketing the planet acted like a cradle, encapsulating the entire world.

The number of the Old God’s pawns on this planet and their strength were unknown. Even Taesan’s senses were obstructed by the overwhelming corruption.

Caution would be necessary. He decided to proceed carefully, prioritizing reconnaissance.

But his adversaries found him first.

“Who’s there?”

A man dressed as a mercenary, a sword slung over his shoulder and a bottle of liquor in his hand, looked at Taesan.

The sudden encounter sent Taesan’s mind racing. He prepared to eliminate the man swiftly and silently.

“New recruit?”

The man spoke casually, devoid of any tension or suspicion.

In an instant, Taesan relaxed his posture, loosening his muscles, and nodded.

“Which master do you serve?”

“...The World Breaker.”

“The World Breaker?”

Surprise flashed across the man’s face.

“That one created an apostle? You’re lying, aren’t you?”

The man didn’t look particularly distrustful—more like he assumed Taesan was bluffing to make himself seem more impressive.

Taesan raised his arm. The man stepped closer to examine it, letting out an astonished sound when he saw the self-stabilizing Black Energy covering Taesan’s body.

“It’s real... That’s impressive. Follow me.”

The man walked ahead.

Taesan followed him.

After walking for a while through the blackened world, they arrived at a small building.

The structure was crude, barely holding its shape.

From within, Taesan could sense multiple presences.

The man entered the building.

“Oh, you’re back?”

“Judging by your appearance, there weren’t any problems?”

“A world without a planetary deity or immortals? Of course, there weren’t.”

Puffing his chest proudly, the man gestured toward Taesan.

“And look—I found a new recruit.”

“Oh!”

“A new recruit?”

Their expressions lit up, welcoming Taesan with genuine enthusiasm.

“Who’s your master?”

“The World Breaker.”

“Huh?”

“Seriously?”

“That one actually created an apostle?”

“I was skeptical too, but he carries their authority.”

“Amazing.”

They regarded Taesan with awe and curiosity, but that was the extent of their interest. There was no hostility or suspicion.

“Guess what I brought?”

The man who had escorted Taesan held up the liquor bottle, grinning.

Their eyes sparkled.

“Whoa!”

“What’s that?”

“I got it from an empire on the last world I destroyed. It’s a vintage prepared for the crown prince’s coronation! Had to smash a few skulls to grab it.”

Laughter and cheer filled the room as they celebrated.

It was a peaceful and jovial atmosphere—at least on the surface.

But the content of their conversation revealed them to be traitors who had sold their souls to the Old Gods, betraying their worlds.

“Hey, rookie! Come over here! Tell us what you offered up to join!”

One of the men, mid-drink, gestured toward Taesan.

In that moment, Taesan knew.

These people had no idea who he was.

Whether information hadn’t reached them or they assumed he couldn’t be there, they welcomed him with open arms.

“So, the pawns aren’t as hostile toward each other as I thought.”

This was unexpected. He had assumed they would be paranoid, constantly backstabbing or betraying one another.

But it wasn’t a bad development.

“This works in my favor.”

If they accepted him so easily, he could use the opportunity to gather information. The Old Gods’ capabilities, powers, and numbers remained largely unknown. Here, he might glean some answers.

Taesan sat beside the man who had brought him and began to speak.