Ascension Through Skills
Chapter 432: 84th Floor, Levynenoff’s World (5)

[Ahhhhhh!]

The man’s soul let out a desperate scream.

He struggled, trying to break free from Taesan.

But Taesan easily crushed that resistance, forcibly seizing the power and essence contained within the soul.

[Your Soul Ascension has activated. Your HP has permanently increased by 10,147, Strength by 2,278, Agility by 2,202, and Intelligence by 587.]

[Your Soul Ascension has activated. The proficiency of Twisted Soul Tuning has increased by 5%. The proficiency of Black has increased by 5%.]

[Your Soul Ascension has activated. You have acquired the soul skill Sword of the World.]

The activation of Soul Ascension.

At the same time, the divine blessing placed upon Taesan vanished.

A wave of exhaustion swept over his entire body. He was strong now, but he had received more than ten blessings. Since his body and soul had been forcibly elevated to a higher realm, it placed a significant burden on him.

“So, that sensation just now was Ainzhar’s level…”

A feeling of having almost reached the peak of a higher realm.

Taesan clenched his fist. It wouldn’t be long before he reached that level himself.

Checking his skill window, he finally saw that the proficiency of Twisted Soul Tuning had reached 80%, while Black had reached 20%.

“Took long enough.”

He wanted to test it right away, but there were things he needed to take care of first.

Taesan raised his hand.

“Rise.”

[You have activated Declaration of Levitation.]

The ruins of the temple floated into the air. Amidst the debris, Taesan spotted a Sacred Relic.

The temple had been located at the center of battle. The wreckage was shattered beyond recognition, reduced to dust.

Yet, the Sacred Relic remained without a single scratch.

Just like when he first saw it, it radiated an overwhelming divine presence.

Taesan grasped the Sacred Relic. Looking up at the sky, he saw that the battle was nearing its end.

His business was done. Taesan returned to the Labyrinth.

[84th Floor Cleared.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Your level has increased.]

[Your level has increased.]

[You have obtained Weapon Inscription.]

[You have obtained ???.]

[You're back.]

In the Labyrinth, Balbabamba was waiting for Taesan.

[You seem to be in one piece. That’s a relief. So, did you learn enough of the truth?]

“More or less.”

Taesan looked at Balbabamba.

Seeing his expectant gaze, Balbabamba spoke.

[You secured the Sacred Relic, didn’t you?]

Taesan took out Levyneoff’s Sacred Relic and showed it. Balbabamba nodded.

[Good. Then let’s move immediately.]

[Balbabamba has activated #000231.]

Rumble!

The Labyrinth twisted. In an instant, Taesan arrived on the 78th Floor – The Library of All Things.

[You have a lot of questions, but let’s settle Ainzhar’s Quest first. That would be best for both you and us.]

“If that’s the case.”

Taesan went to find Ainzhar.

Ainzhar was resting at the entrance of a hidden chamber where Levyneoff was.

The moment he saw Taesan, he sprang up.

“Y-you’ve already returned? Did you retrieve the Sacred Relic?”

Taesan showed it to him.

Ainzhar’s eyes widened.

“O-ohhh…”

“How is Levyneoff?”

“She had a seizure just moments ago but has stabilized now.”

“Then we can proceed immediately.”

Taesan entered the Hidden Chamber.

The Goddess was there. She was in the same posture as before, with a gentle smile.

However, the energy emanating from her was noticeably weaker than before. The corrupt energy flowing from her heart had grown even stronger.

His goal was to cleanse the corruption and restore the Goddess to her original state. Taesan raised the Sacred Relic.

[So, what will you do?]

Balbabamba had not left. The Library’s administrator, Jorge, had also arrived to observe Taesan.

“Purifying a god’s corruption is not an easy task, even for my master. If it’s truly possible, I would like to gain that knowledge.”

[Jorge, that’s fine and all. But Balbabamba, why are you still here? Don’t you have a lot to manage?]

[We don’t know what effect this event will have on the Labyrinth. As the administrator, I must observe.]

[Ah, so it’s because of that.]

The ghost acknowledged it. Ainzhar looked at Taesan with trembling eyes.

“How do you plan to proceed?”

“Much of her body is corrupted, but Levyneoff is protecting herself. She has gathered the corrupted portion within her heart. And that corruption is similar to my Boundary Line.”

In other words, by using his Boundary Line, he could cleanse the corruption that had overtaken Levyneoff’s heart.

“I initially thought of purifying Levyneoff’s entire world, but that proved impossible.”

That place had completely transformed into a High God’s domain. Even Taesan couldn’t interfere. So, he decided to focus on purging the corruption consuming Levyneoff’s body.

“The Goddess will lose her domain. Most of her power will be gone.”

“The chances of failure aren’t low either.”

“It doesn’t matter. As long as there’s even the slightest possibility, that’s enough.”

Ainzhar spoke with a face full of excitement.

Taesan grasped the Sacred Relic and approached Levyneoff.

The corrupt energy within her heart lashed out violently, as if trying to repel Taesan.

Taesan pushed back with divine power and raised his hand.

Kiing!

A Boundary Line formed above his hand.

Taesan drove it straight into Levyneoff’s heart.

Her eyes flew open wide.

[Kyaaaah!]

Levyneoff screamed. Like a beast sensing mortal danger, she unleashed bursts of power in all directions. Ainzhar hurriedly erected a Golden Barrier, and Balbabamba reinforced the defenses using his authority as the administrator.

The corrupt energy embedded in Taesan’s hand resisted fiercely. It tried to invade his body and corrupt him.

But it was useless.

The Boundary Line surrounding Taesan’s hand devoured the corrupt energy instead.

Even the High God’s corruption, which had shaken transcendents, held no power before Taesan. He strengthened the Boundary Line and pushed his hand in deeper.

As a result, Taesan saw something shifting deep within the corrupt energy.

That was the source of the corruption that had tainted the Goddess.

Taesan detonated his Boundary Line. The source desperately retaliated, unleashing everything it had.

Rumble!

A gray mist engulfed the surroundings. Ainzhar, overwhelmed by instinctual fear, leaped back. His very essence warned him—if he touched that gray mist, his being would be distorted. Balbabamba drew upon his administrative powers.

[Balbabamba has activated #0000.]

Rumble!

The Labyrinth began to fracture.

Balbabamba severed the connection between the Hidden Chamber and the Labyrinth. This was his divine authority—the power of the Labyrinth’s administrator.

But even that power wavered dangerously as the gray mist spread.

[Hmm.]

Balbabamba gathered even more strength. As if sealing something, he completely isolated the Hidden Chamber.

Crack.

Taesan seized the source.

At that moment, he felt a presence.

Something vast, something beyond this world, was watching him.

And it was smiling at him.

Taesan detonated his Boundary Line with full force. He crushed the emerging resistance along with the gaze and yanked.

The source of the corruption that had tainted the Goddess was ripped out.

[You have obtained Fragment of a High God.]

[Your Boundary Line proficiency has increased by [asdcuh98]%$.]

[You have purified the High God’s Corruption. You have acquired the special skill Purification of the Profane.]

[Kyaaahhh…!]

The screams were abruptly silenced.

Life rapidly drained from the Goddess’ face.

Even though only the corrupted parts had been removed, a part of her body had been forcibly torn away. She could not endure it—her soul and body were fading.

Without hesitation, Taesan plunged the Sacred Relic into her heart.

Rumble!

The Sacred Relic fused with the Goddess in an instant. Since it originally belonged to her, there was no resistance. The relic filled the void left by the corruption and began to restore her.

“Done.”

Taesan inhaled deeply.

As the gray mist gradually settled, Ainzhar rushed forward.

“Goddess!”

He caught the collapsing Goddess in his arms. She was breathing faintly.

The strange sensation that had surrounded her before was now completely gone.

“A-ah… Ahhh… Ahhhh!”

Ainzhar let out a cry of joyous relief. He clung to the Goddess, weeping.

[Subquest Completed.]

[Ainzhar and Levyneoff reward you.]

---

Taesan looked at the corrupt entity in his hand.

[Fragment of a High God]

[A part of a High God, existing beyond the laws of this world.]

The fragment continuously emitted corrupt energy, attempting to consume Taesan.

But it had no effect—his Boundary Line blocked it completely.

“You really succeeded.”

Jorge watched Taesan with great interest.

“There is no knowledge in the Library of All Things about an existence like you. My curiosity about you only grows.”

His gaze was filled with deep fascination.

Ainzhar, who had been holding the Goddess while shedding tears, staggered to his feet.

“Truly… truly, thank you.”

Ainzhar grasped Taesan’s hand firmly.

“I will make sure to repay you.”

“Not yet. We don’t know when she’ll wake up. For now, just continue watching over the Goddess.”

“Yes. I should focus on Levyneoff for the time being. Forgive me. But once she awakens, I will give you the reward you deserve.”

It seemed that the quest’s reward would be given once Levyneoff regained consciousness.

Since Taesan had expected this, he accepted it calmly.

“It’s all done.”

[……Good.]

Balbabamba stared at Taesan in silence.

[I will open the passage.]

[Balbabamba has activated #000004.]

A portal opened.

Beyond it was a space belonging to the Labyrinth’s Wizard.

[I have no authority here. You’ll have to ask the wizard yourself.]

Taesan stepped into the portal.

A space filled with swirling, prismatic energy greeted him.

The wizard was waiting there.

“Sorry, but you shouldn’t be here. Step outside for a moment.”

[What?]

The ghost vanished from Taesan’s side without resistance.

“The same goes for you, Green Witch. This is a secret you are not permitted to know.”

[Wait!]

A flustered voice echoed but was swiftly erased. The Mage created a chair and sat down.

“From here on, this is a deep secret. I can’t reveal it to anyone but you. You’ve grasped the general idea, haven’t you?”

“For the most part.”

Taesan sat down.

“The High Gods are slowly revealing themselves in this world.”

“It will take a very long time, but eventually, they will return. The thought of going through that wretched war again makes me sick.”

The wizard muttered with a bitter expression. It was the tone of someone who had once fought against the High Gods before their banishment.

“If we’re lucky, we might be able to banish them again… but who knows how things will turn out.”

“That thing called me a key.”

Taesan spoke.

“It said that as long as I exist, many things become possible. Do you know what it meant?”

“You’ve already guessed, haven’t you?”

The wizard pointed at Taesan.

“You can wield the Black. And you do it without any issue.”

“Is it so rare for someone to use the power of the High Gods? I saw a High God’s Avatar in Levyneoff’s world, and it wielded Blackness just fine.”

“That’s different. He reached an immortal level first, then offered himself to a High God. In return, he gained the ability to control the Black.”

The wizard explained.

“But you… you made no such contract with the High Gods. And yet, you wield not only Black, but also an alien power—the Boundary Line—which blends divine energy into it.”

His abyss-like eyes locked onto Taesan.

“That power makes many things possible. It can sever the connection between High Gods and their avatars, and it can purify a corrupted Goddess. If that power can do all of this… what else could it accomplish?”

“So, did you find out what I am?”

The wizard had previously mentioned his struggle to uncover the truth behind Taesan’s Boundary Line, but the answer was not easy to find.

“I did.”

The wizard let out a bitter smile and spoke.

“We waged war against the High Gods.”

It was a war that even most Transcendents were unaware of—a battle only a select few remembered.

“Countless Transcendents died and were reborn. Space collapsed, and the fabric of time distorted. Even concepts themselves were shattered. It seemed as if the war would never end—not until the universe itself was on the brink of annihilation.”

The victors of the war were the Transcendents.

“But we could not kill the High Gods. The only choice was banishment. Every Transcendent united to create a seal, reinforced by countless laws. No matter how powerful the High Gods were, they could not break that seal. That was how the universe was freed from their influence.”

But that seal was now breaking.

The High Gods were reappearing in the universe, and their target was Taesan.

“Why are they after you? It’s simple. With your Boundary Line, you could undo the seal that binds them—and set the High Gods free.”

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