Ascension Through Skills
Chapter 419: 83rd Floor, Essence The God Of Descent (1)

First, he needed to figure out how to use the Demon’s Domain. That had to be confirmed first.

Taesan manifested his will. As a result, the domain transformed in various ways according to his intention.

Ku-gu-gu-gung!

Cliffs emerged, and massive mountain ranges soared beyond his field of vision. With a wave of his hand—

The mountains collapsed, and vast plains took their place.

This place was Taesan’s domain.

No matter how he altered the terrain, everything moved according to his will.

For a moment, Taesan modified his domain, but soon he realized that his actions were meaningless.

Although the appearance of the domain changed, it was only superficial. There was no actual shift in power.

It wasn’t difficult to guess what that power might be.

Dark energy seeped out from Taesan’s body, spreading throughout his domain.

Ku-gu-gu-gung!

At that moment, the domain began to transform.

Unlike when he had altered it with mere willpower, this was a fundamental shift.

It felt as if he was expanding his own body and adjusting it at will.

Taesan focused his will on the dark energy permeating his domain.

What he sought was a sharp, heavy, black wind capable of slicing through mountains and splitting the sea.

The dark energy responded to his will and started changing.

Whiiiiiiing!

Then, the wind blew. Its color was black.

A dense, dark wind began swirling through the once silent domain.

“So, this is how it works.”

At this moment, Taesan used his magic while thinking of the Seir’s Black Wind, the basic black magic he had obtained.

As a result, black winds began blowing in his domain for real.

Taesan swung his hand. The scattered black wind gathered and soon formed a storm.

Ka-ga-ga-ga-k!

The fierce, jet-black storm shredded everything in its path. In an instant, a massive clearing was created.

By infusing his domain with dark energy, he could materialize phenomena and summon them at will. This seemed to be the nature of black magic.

However, for now, it was difficult to use freely. Taesan opened his status window.

[Level: 171]

[Shield: 25,162/25,162

[Health: 260,901/260,901]

[Mana: 23,558/23,558]

[Dark Energy: 3,244/5,798]

[Strength: 47,027]

[Agility: 47,558]

[Intelligence: 42,221]

[Attack Power: +12,238]

[Defense Power: +7,422]

[The target is in optimal condition.]

“The consumption of dark energy is too high.”

It had cost him 2,500 just to create the black wind.

For now, using it perfectly would be difficult.

Still, the fact that he could create his own black magic was significant. He was certain that he could craft the necessary magic according to the situation and conditions.

[……Huh.]

The ghost let out an astonished breath, at a loss for words.

He had gained a Demon’s Domain—one that had existed since before the dawn of creation, belonging to the 72 demons.

This was a different kind of miracle than before.

[You’re not actually human, are you? Are you some transcendent being or a demon’s incarnation?]

“I’m human.”

Taesan answered the ghost’s joking remark. He was human. Even if he had become something mixed, his essence had not changed.

[Then… can I consider you a transcendent?]

A transcendent who ruled over his own domain.

But Taesan denied even that claim.

“No. This is indeed a domain that I possess, but it’s not truly my own.”

Ultimately, it was a Demon’s Domain. He had accumulated and claimed this domain, but it wasn’t one that solely belonged to him. At this moment, he was closer to an immortal being who had a domain.

“Hmm…”

It was a dilemma.

What kind of black magic should he create?

A power unique to him, one that only he could wield.

The answer did not come easily.

“I’ll figure it out gradually.”

He needed to fully grasp what he could do with his domain.

Recovering the dark energy spent on the domain wasn’t difficult. Taesan reclaimed the black wind.

From now on, what he needed was to increase his total dark energy. Fortunately, he had obtained a skill that would greatly aid him.

[Special Passive Skill: Lord of Darkness]

[Mastery: 1%]

[The true ruler of darkness. Gains dark energy upon defeating an enemy. Additionally, continuously absorbs weak darkness in the surroundings to accumulate dark energy.]

It was a skill that facilitated the acquisition of dark energy.

By defeating enemies, he could gain dark energy, and even by standing still, he could absorb the ambient darkness and increase his reserves. Given his current situation, this was an incredibly fitting skill.

Now, Taesan had obtained a Demon’s Domain and taken a seat among the 72 Demons. He had fundamentally drawn closer to the essence of black magic.

Because of this, the constraints on black magic had been lifted.

[Special Passive Skill: Master of Black Magic]

[Black magic is the power to summon forces from the Demon’s Domain. As its ruler, you are no longer restricted in the use of black magic.]

There was now only one restriction left.

Taesan raised his arm.

[You have activated Decarabia’s Twisted Flora.]

Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gang!

Roots that pierced through the world spread wildly through Taesan’s domain, filling the space.

A smile formed on Taesan’s lips.

Black magic was the act of summoning forces from the Demon’s Domain.

In other words, to truly wield its full power, one needed to open a passageway to the Demon’s Domain.

However, opening such a passage took considerable time. Until now, he had used conventional magic first to buy time, then linked it with black magic. This method was powerful but imposed significant constraints on his actions.

But now, that restriction—the need to open a passage—was gone.

“This is good.”

Just this alone made clearing the trial worthwhile.

Taesan opened a space and returned to the Labyrinth.

At that moment, a system window appeared, announcing his progress.

[Your level has increased.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Your level has increased.]

[You have obtained the Belt Soaked in the Deep Darkness.]

[You have obtained ???.]

His level increased by 3, and he received the floor clear rewards.

[Belt Soaked in the Deep Darkness]

[Black Magic +50]

[Magic Energy +500]

[Strength +400]

[Intelligence +400]

[Attack Power +300]

[Defense Power +300]

A belt crafted from the leather of a lifeform dwelling in the deepest reaches of an unknown demon's domain. The darkness condensed within is so thick that an ordinary person would go insane upon touching it.

It was an equipment piece with a high Black Magic and Dark Energy stat boost, along with decent attack power.

The secret reward turned out to be a potion that permanently increased Dark Energy by 500—without any conditions. Since the total amount of Dark Energy was becoming increasingly important, this was an invaluable reward.

Then, the final reward.

Two Intermediate Black Magic Spells directly granted by Baal.

[Intermediate Black Magic: Baal’s Rushing Abyss]

Mana Consumption: 2,000.

Dark Energy Consumption: 800.

Mastery: 1%

Summons a space devoured by darkness within Baal’s domain. This space, which distorts the concepts and laws of objects, is heavily degraded and now possesses only physical destructive force.

The mana and dark energy cost were twice that of other black magic spells.

Baal was a Great Demon, and even though this was still categorized as an intermediate black magic spell, its power was on a completely different level.

Taesan immediately decided to test it.

[You have activated Baal’s Rushing Abyss.]

Mana and dark energy drained from his body as a space devoured by darkness was summoned.

The concentrated onyx-black space, crushing and distorting everything within, surged forward like a tidal wave.

Zzzzzhhhhhung!

A deafening noise echoed as the space itself began to warp and distort. The surging wave then clashed against the walls of the Labyrinth.

Kuuuuung!

A massive explosion reverberated.

When the distorted space returned to normal, deep scars were left on the Labyrinth walls.

“This is on another level.”

Compared to all the black magic spells he had obtained so far, this one stood in a class of its own.

Of course, high-tier spells like Grand Collapse had greater raw power, but Grand Collapse required a considerable charge time to gather strength.

Meanwhile, Baal’s black magic manifested almost instantly.

Its high consumption cost was a drawback, but its utility far outweighed that issue. Satisfied, Taesan moved on to the next spell.

[Intermediate Black Magic: Baal’s Overlapping Darkness]

Mana Consumption: 1,700.

Dark Energy Consumption: 700.

Mastery: 1%

Summons multiple layers of darkness from Baal’s domain to conceal the user’s body. This degraded darkness is imperceptible even to transcendent beings.

A spell that cloaked the body in darkness.

Since this was a stealth-based ability, he needed a witness to confirm its effects.

Taesan summoned Minerva and Barkaza.

[What is it?]

“Master. It’s been a while, huh?”

Minerva appeared in the Labyrinth, looking at Taesan before letting out a dry chuckle.

“Master, you’ve gone too far ahead again, haven’t you?”

The difference in power between them was now overwhelming. She groaned in frustration.

“It’s great that you’re getting stronger, but as a spirit, it’s kind of sad that my value is disappearing.”

“You both still have your own roles. As spirits, your detection abilities are outstanding, right?”

“Of course. In terms of sensing, I’d say we’re second only to immortals.”

“And since we’re contracted, you can sense me even better.”

“No spirit ever loses track of their contractor.”

Minerva grumbled as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Taesan nodded.

“Good. Then let’s test something.”

[You have activated Baal’s Overlapping Darkness.]

Multiple layers of darkness wrapped around Taesan’s body.

His presence vanished completely.

Minerva frowned in confusion.

“…Master? Are you actually there? I can’t feel anything.”

Minerva was a contracted spirit.

She should be able to sense where Taesan was, what he was doing, and even gauge his strength.

But now, even she couldn’t detect him through the darkness.

“So this is how it works.”

Taesan moved his arm. The layered darkness flowed smoothly along with his movements.

As long as he didn’t make any sudden movements or receive an attack, the darkness wouldn’t break.

Even his contracted spirit couldn’t track him.

He thought it might pair perfectly with the Shadow Concealment skill.

“This is useful.”

Satisfied with the results, Taesan resumed his descent through the Labyrinth.

[Floor 83 Quest Initiated.]

[Overcome the Trial of Essence.]

[Reward: The Ring of Endless Abyssal Descent.]

[Secret Reward: ???]

“All the floors from level 80 onward are just trials from gods, huh?”

Taesan muttered.

Floor 83. The God of Descent—Essence.

As he walked through the passage and opened the door, he found himself before Essence’s Altar.

The altar was shaped like those used for human sacrifices.

The energy emanating from it was incredibly deep.

It felt as though he was falling into an endless abyss—an eerie sensation.

At last, he stood before the God of Descent.

A deity who had devoured Princess Veldencia and treated Amelia like a mere toy.

One of the few malevolent gods Taesan had encountered so far.

Taesan placed his hand on the altar. A powerful energy surge engulfed him.

The space distorted, and his body was transported elsewhere.

Minerva and Barkaza were forcibly unsummoned.

His instincts told him—he had arrived in Essence’s Domain.

And a domain always had its rightful master.

Taesan turned his head.

It was enormous.

So vast that its true form was impossible to comprehend.

Its entire body writhed, an amalgamation of countless lifeforms forcibly fused together—an abomination.

Now, Taesan could finally see Essence’s true form.

This was the God of Descent.

Essence.

A malicious gaze locked onto Taesan.

At that moment, he felt himself falling.

His strength, his being, his mind, and body were all being pulled into an endless abyss.

Simply looking at Essence was enough to trigger its power of descent.

“It doesn’t work on me.”

Taesan tensed his entire body ever so slightly—and shrugged off Essence’s power.

The force that had been dragging him into the abyss vanished.

Essence’s gaze now carried a hint of emotion.

Taesan met its gaze head-on.

The stare of two transcendent beings clashed.

A wave of displeasure emanated from Essence, but it failed to affect Taesan directly.

In the end, Essence was the first to speak.

[Let us make a deal, adventurer.]

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