Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 479: 90th Floor. The Wizard (5)

Until now, Taesan’s body had been deeply influenced by the labyrinth’s system.

Whenever his strength, agility, intelligence, or stamina stats changed, his body would transform accordingly. It was a state of dependency, far from being self-reliant.

But now, he had broken free of that dependency, achieving a body that was entirely and uniquely his own.

Taesan clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly.

He felt the sensations within his body, the texture of the outside world through his skin.

Everything was different from before.

“Hah.”

The wizard let out a dry chuckle.

He clapped his hands softly.

“Congratulations. I didn’t expect you to reach a higher realm like this. To think you’d find such a way to use the Boundary Line. What did you realize?”

“About my origin.”

Although he hadn’t fully uncovered it, he now understood where he came from and what had twisted him.

The wizard’s gaze grew curious.

“I’m intrigued, but... I shouldn’t ask. You mustn’t tell anyone, either. That’s a matter of your core essence. No one else should know.”

“I don’t intend to.”

Taesan answered as he steadied his body. He would need time to fully control the surging power within him, and the wizard seemed happy to wait.

While adjusting to his transformed body, Taesan examined the power he had gained.

He had discovered a new way to use the Boundary Line.

Perhaps because of this revelation, many of his skills had increased in proficiency. Among them, the most notable was his mastery over the black energy.

[Transcendence: Black Energy]

[Proficiency: 42%]

[Consumption ???: ???]

[Pre-Creation ??? Laws ???]

The descriptions for the black energy had always been fragmented and incomprehensible.

Now that it had reached 40%, parts of the text were starting to become readable.

“Pre-Creation. And Laws.”

The content itself wasn’t groundbreaking. He had long suspected that the Old Gods existed before the creation of the world and that their power could corrupt and destroy laws.

What mattered was the tangible change brought about by reaching 40% proficiency.

As Taesan examined the black energy within him, he noticed something remarkable.

Its total amount had increased—by nearly double.

“That’s a lot.”

Previously, the quantity of black energy he had possessed was overwhelmingly small compared to his divine power, creating an imbalance that had often frustrated him. Now, that gap had significantly closed.

Other skills seemed to have increased in proficiency as well, but the distorted system interface made it difficult to confirm the details.

Nevertheless, he doubted the improvements were minor; they might even rival the gains made in his black energy.

“Phew...”

Taesan exhaled deeply.

His body was now entirely under his control, emanating an immense, undeniable power.

Taesan extended his hand, and the power manifested instantly, taking on an ashen form.

There was almost no delay. The Boundary Line emerged as naturally as moving a limb.

Taesan smiled.

“It was worth the effort to achieve harmony.”

He had fused the Crystallized Divine Blood and the Drop of the Worldbreaker’s Blood, not by forcibly merging them, but by creating harmony while preserving their unique traits.

The result was that Taesan’s body now contained both divine blood and the essence of the Worldbreaker. Both traits coexisted simultaneously.

Previously, Taesan had struggled to use the Boundary Line effectively, largely because his body was ordinary by comparison.

While his transcendent stats elevated him to a superhuman level, and his divinity forcibly enhanced his body, its fundamental structure still belonged to this world.

This inadequacy had caused significant strain whenever he wielded powers beyond the laws of the world, such as the black energy or the Boundary Line, forcing him to constantly adjust and restrain himself.

But now, his body no longer belonged to this world.

It had become something entirely unique to Taesan.

As a result, he could wield the Boundary Line as freely as an extension of his body.

“Good.”

Both the divine blood and the Worldbreaker’s blood were extraordinary materials, their very nature incompatible with conventional equipment. Crafting them into gear would have resulted in substantial degradation.

So, he had used them on his own body instead. The only entity capable of fully harnessing their potential was his body, and the results were perfect.

Taesan swung his fist. The air cracked as the force rippled through the labyrinth. Even a simple punch now carried significantly more power than before.

“Stats still influence me,” he noted, “but I’m no longer dependent on them.”

The core framework of his body had been reshaped by the divine blood and Worldbreaker’s blood, tailored to suit him perfectly.

This transformation had also strengthened his Immutable Essence, increasing both his recovery speed and capacity.

Even his Apostle Transformation had evolved.

[Special Activation Skill: Chaos Calling]

[The power of countless gods has resonated with chaos, transforming into something new. For one hour, your magical energy increases greatly, granting control over dark magic. All magical consumption is drastically reduced. Additionally, your body harmonizes with divinity and black energy, allowing near-perfect control over both and enabling you to shroud your body in chaos. This skill cannot be used again for 24 hours after activation.]

The Apostle Transformation had become a new skill altogether.

Its new effects included perfect synchronization between his body, divinity, and black energy, as well as the ability to envelop himself in chaos.

The powers bestowed upon him by the gods had evolved to suit him perfectly.

Among the many changes, the most significant was a new skill.

[The Vessel of [ ]]

[The Vessel of [ ]. It can contain and draw from many things.]

The description was brief and cryptic.

Yet, Taesan understood its importance instinctively.

Among all his newfound abilities, this was the most crucial.

“What is this?”

Amelia had once remarked that part of his divine name was missing. Similarly, the new skill’s name also appeared as a blank space.

That void was a mystery he would need to unravel.

“Are you done examining yourself?”

“Yes.”

Taesan nodded, and the wizard smiled.

“You’ve learned a lot about yourself, haven’t you? As a result, much has changed, and you’ve gained new powers. An impressive achievement.”

The air shifted.

The wizard’s presence began to spread, his domain subtly consuming the surrounding space.

“But the 90th-floor quest is ultimately about breaking through me. If you can’t accomplish that, none of this will matter.”

Would the power Taesan had gained reach him?

Taesan’s answer was to draw his sword.

“Come. Show me the new heights you’ve reached.”

The wizard stomped his foot.

A wave of incomprehensible energy rippled outward, shaking the labyrinth.

It was the wizard’s domain, the authority of a transcendent being who governed laws.

In the past, Taesan had been unable to withstand even this lightest touch of the wizard’s power.

But not anymore.

[You have activated Chaos Calling.]

Chaos began to envelop Taesan’s body.

Previously, when Taesan had tried to shroud himself in the Boundary Line, it had been a crude method—suppressing its rebellious nature and forcibly wrapping it around himself.

Now, it was different.

The Boundary Line fully engulfed him, leaving no gaps. It wrapped around his arms, legs, and entire body.

Even his face was swallowed by the ashen energy.

The Boundary Line now served as armor, seamlessly protecting him.

Gripping his sword, Taesan infused it with the same ashen energy, fully harmonized with his newfound power.

He swung the blade.

BOOM!

The ash exploded outward, colliding with the wizard’s chaotic wave.

The wave distorted and twisted. Taesan pressed harder.

CRACK!

The wave shattered.

The wizard’s eyes flickered with surprise.

Even with his transcendent sight, he could no longer see Taesan clearly beyond the Boundary Line.

This wasn’t just the Boundary Line—it was the Chaos Domain compressed into the form of armor.

Taesan moved.

[You have activated Acceleration.]

[You have activated Skill Acceleration.]

He was fast—unbelievably so. Faster than ever before. Even the wizard struggled to follow him.

The wizard swung his arm, unleashing another wave of power.

It was a force derived from the labyrinth’s very foundation, the authority that governed its systems and laws.

BOOM!

Taesan’s ashen armor held firm, pushing forward. Neither Acceleration nor Skill Acceleration faltered.

“Ha!”

The wizard laughed.

He wasn’t using his full strength, but it wasn’t a light attack, either. Only an equal could withstand such a strike.

Yet Taesan had endured and continued advancing.

“Excellent! Truly excellent!”

The wizard stomped again, unleashing his full authority.

The labyrinth shifted, its laws turning against Taesan.

Bricks shattered under the impact of Taesan’s strikes, and the ashen energy around him suppressed the labyrinth’s attempts to expel him.

With a snap of the wizard’s fingers:

[The Wizard has activated Creator Authority.]

An invisible force descended, aiming to crush Taesan.

BOOM!

For a moment, Taesan faltered.

The power that struck him was the labyrinth’s ultimate law, a force that nullified all stats and skills, rendering them meaningless. Only the wizard could wield such authority.

No one under the labyrinth’s system could escape it.

But the ashen energy around Taesan held strong.

It trembled and distorted but did not break, shielding him completely from the labyrinth’s laws.

Step.

Taesan advanced.

Each step brought intense pressure, but he maintained his focus, drawing out more of the ashen energy.

He reached the wizard’s side.

CRACK!

A force unlike anything before slammed into Taesan, peeling away his ashen armor and exposing his body.

The wizard’s authority descended upon him, consuming him.

BOOM!

But Taesan neither yielded nor retreated.

His body no longer belonged to this world—or to the Old Gods.

It was entirely his own.

Taesan resisted the wizard’s authority head-on, barely holding his ground as he raised his sword and swung.

The wizard reached out and caught the blade.

CRACK!

The ashen energy began to erode the laws surrounding the wizard, breaking them down.

But the wizard’s domain simply regenerated.

Destruction wasn’t enough.

So Taesan changed tactics.

The ashen energy shifted, seeping into the wizard’s laws.

It didn’t destroy or corrupt them; it altered them.

The wizard’s eyes widened as he tried to pull back, but it was too late. The Boundary Line was being accepted into his domain, transforming it.

THUNK.

Taesan’s sword pierced the puppet’s chest.

BOOM!

A burst of energy erupted, scattering the oppressive force that had been weighing down on Taesan.

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Breathing heavily, Taesan couldn’t suppress the grin that spread across his face.

He had landed a meaningful blow against one of the strongest beings in existence.

[You have struck a transcendent being with a significant attack. You have obtained the special skill [Absolute Resistance].]

“I didn’t think you’d break through so soon,” the wizard murmured, shaking his head with a faint laugh.

Then he nodded.

“You’ve succeeded.”

[90th Floor Quest Complete.]

[The Wizard rewards you according to the magnitude of your achievement.]