Ascension Through Skills
chapter-299

A week passed after that.

Though it was a mere speck of time compared to the witch’s long life, she had been more diligent than ever since becoming an immortal. She tried to understand the power Taesan possessed and find clues to transcendence.

However, the answers were elusive.

The witch tousled her hair. She hadn’t slept at all this week. Being an immortal, sleep wasn’t important, so her hair was still soft and her skin flawless, but her expression showed unmistakable fatigue.

“I don’t understand.”

She muttered.

The past week’s efforts had yielded nothing.

She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but she hadn’t expected it to be this difficult to find any answers.

‘Soul Ascension is the key.’

Both the gray aura and the words of power originated from Soul Ascension. It was a power that no mortal could possess.

Perhaps it was the one pure power that only Taesan could wield in the world.

Experience, knowledge, ideology, values. It was the culmination of everything an individual had built up.

But she could learn no more.

How a mortal could acquire such power, what processes were involved, nothing could be figured out.

‘What in the world?’

She clenched her fist.

She was an immortal.

Though not a transcendent, she had surpassed mortality.

Thus, she had confidence in analyzing the power of the mortal Taesan.

She wanted to fully understand the activation conditions of Soul Ascension and find out what “plundering” meant. She wanted to analyze how exactly the gray aura’s power worked and draw out that power.

But she failed.

She couldn’t understand anything about the power Taesan possessed.

The one thing she could grasp was that the power was perfect.

Pure and absolute, it was a power that no one could interfere with or change.

‘……Is the gap this wide?’

Even seeing the answer, she couldn’t find the path; the distance between immortality and transcendence was vast.

The witch gave a bitter smile.

Though it was daunting, she did not despair.

She had experienced despair countless times. She had come too far to fall now.

She couldn’t find the answer now.

So how could she find it?

Lost in thought, she stood up.

Approaching Taesan, who was resting, the witch spoke.

“It’s over now.”

“Did you find what you wanted?”

“No. I couldn’t find it. But I don’t think there’s any point in analyzing further.”

The witch shook her head. It was impossible to understand. Continuing to experiment on Taesan wouldn’t yield anything.

“But the situation is much better than before.”

The mortal Taesan had a power that she, as an immortal, could not understand.

This meant there was something different in what Taesan had built up as a mortal compared to what she had built up as a mortal.

That difference created the immortal and the transcendent.

So the witch intended to confirm it.

“Let’s make a contract, child.”

“A contract?”

“Yes, a contract of observation.”

The witch began to explain.

“You will continue to descend into the labyrinth, won’t you?”

Taesan nodded. His goal was to conquer the labyrinth. He had no intention of stopping.

“That will be the contract. You will descend into the labyrinth. I will watch over everything you see and experience from behind you.”

And the witch would confirm it. The difference between them. What it was.

“And when I realize the answer… we’ll talk again about the power you hold and the path to transcendence.”

“Is this an extension of the quest?”

“Yes. Right now, I cannot analyze your power.”

The witch pointed at Taesan with her finger.

“And you, too, do not fully understand the power you hold.”

Taesan did not deny it.

Soul Ascension, the gray aura’s power.

Taesan also did not fully understand what exactly those two powers were and how they originated.

He thought the immortal witch could figure it out, but she seemed unable to as well.

“So let’s postpone it. Until I can analyze your power better than you. Until you can understand the power you possess.”

The witch asked quietly.

“Will you accept?”

“If that’s what you wish.”

Taesan nodded.

The gods were already watching his battles one by one. It wouldn’t change anything if one more observer was added among the many beings already watching.

The witch smiled in relief.

“Thank you. Then let’s form the contract.”

The witch raised her staff. Her power enveloped Taesan.

A link began to form, connecting Taesan and the witch.

[Contract of Observation] [The Green Witch can observe all your actions through the contract.]

“I accept.”

Taesan accepted the contract.

Simultaneously, a strange sensation overcame him.

It felt as if someone was watching from behind.

And Taesan had felt this sensation many times before.

‘Is it the gaze of the gods?’

The sensation he had felt until now but never understood; it seemed to be the gaze of the transcendent beings watching him conquer the labyrinth.

“Then I should reward you for this.”

The witch waved her staff. A powerful torrent of energy began to envelop Taesan.

[The Green Witch’s Authority is manifesting.] [You have learned the Green Witch’s magic.]

The witch’s expression turned colorful as she granted him power.

“Though I don’t know who taught you, you have knowledge of alchemy?”

“Yes.”

The alchemy he learned from the gremlin was still within him. The witch smiled quietly.

“But you can’t handle it properly yet, can you?”

“It’s tricky.”

It wasn’t useless. Thanks to alchemy, he was able to prevent sacrifices on Earth.

But it was rarely used in the labyrinth. Since setting up the domain took time, it was impossible to use it in the labyrinth, where immediate response was necessary.

“That’s fortunate. My magic is quite similar. It will be easy to understand.”

The witch clapped her hands and pointed her staff at the wrist guard on Taesan’s arm.

“Come here.”

The roots wrapping around Taesan’s forearm crawled toward the witch. She tapped the roots with her staff.

“Alchemy is a power that creates a favorable space by establishing a domain. But because it requires a foundation made from materials, creating a domain takes considerable time. So I changed my thinking.”

Creak.

The roots twisted, changing color from dark red to a neutral hue. Various powers were infused into the roots.

“By embedding the core that generates the domain into one of my weapons.”

[The wrist guard with murderous intent has transformed into the wrist guard of World Alteration.]

“This is a magic I created. Where I walk becomes my domain, and my world, a magic that devours the world.”

The witch smiled and returned the wrist guard.

“Check it out.”

[Wrist Guard of World Alteration.] [A wrist guard created by the witch with her power. It has the power to alter the laws of the world around the equipment using certain conditions and catalysts.] [Attack Power + 500] [Defense Power + 400] [If you have learned the Green Witch’s magic, you can use [Partial World Alteration].]

Both attack and defense power had greatly increased.

Additionally, a special skill called Partial World Alteration was attached.

“That wrist guard is a catalyst that can use my magic. The more mysterious things it devours, the more its effect increases and the more of my magic it can handle. So even if you go deeper, there will be no problem using it.”

“Thank you.”

It seemed to be equipment he would use until he cleared the labyrinth, like a pair of rings. He had no complaints about its performance.

He didn’t know its full potential, but it was magic of an immortal. Its value would certainly not be small.

Taesan accepted it gratefully.

“So, what do you plan to do now?”

“Originally, I would have stayed here to find the answer, but now it’s different.”

The witch sat down leisurely.

“For now, I need to watch you descend into the labyrinth. I also need to travel around various places. And if I find the answer… I might be able to trade with the mage again.”

She smiled brightly.

“Then you might help me again.”

The world began to fade away. As the witch’s domain closed, they began to return to the labyrinth.

“See you later, precious child.”

With those words, Taesan returned to the labyrinth.

Taesan began to descend into the labyrinth again.

The witch’s gaze was felt behind Taesan’s back.

It seemed like one more observer was added to those who hadn’t been there before.

From Taesan’s perspective, it wasn’t a bad experience. Although he didn’t fully understand his power, he had learned new magic, and above all, he had gained more knowledge on how to handle the words of power.

Since the witch could uniquely understand the power of words, she provided various experiments and advice. The advice from an immortal who mastered the words of power was immensely helpful to Taesan.

Although he still couldn’t fully handle the gray aura, he was able to significantly improve his proficiency with the words of power.

Now he could use it meaningfully even in battles against the Guides.

Taesan opened his skill window. It was time to check what exactly the witch had given him.

[Green Witch’s Magic] [Proficiency: 1%] [A magic built up since her mortal days, completed as an immortal. It materializes her domain around the equipment that contains the catalyst, influencing the world.]

Materializing a domain. It was indeed similar to alchemy.

[Partial World Alteration] [Proficiency: 1%] [Continuous mana consumption: ???] [It can alter the laws of the world within a certain range. It can be used in both attack and domain forms, but for now, it seems to only have physical interference capabilities.]

To understand the detailed contents, he would have to experience it himself. Taesan descended into the labyrinth.

[Quest on the 66th floor begins] [Defeat the shadows on the 66th floor and pass through.] [Reward: Special Attack Power Boost Potion] [Secret Reward: ???]

“…You. That.”

As usual, the shopkeeper waiting at the entrance frowned.

His gaze was on the wrist guard.

“Something’s different. You didn’t…”

“I met her.”

“What? She went in here? When?”

“It seems to have been quite a long time ago.”

Judging by the story with the giant of the lake, it had been at least five hundred years.

“The power I feel from that wrist guard is…”

The shopkeeper let out a hollow laugh.

“Right. You’ve become immortal.”

He asked with bloodshot eyes.

“Where is she?”

“She’s on the 65th floor… but I’m not sure if you can enter.”

To visit the witch’s domain, one needed to have the power of the words. The shopkeeper didn’t seem to possess that kind of power.

“I’ll handle that. I have some questions for her.”

He muttered. It seemed he had something he wanted from the witch, but it wasn’t important to Taesan.

Taesan passed the shopkeeper and proceeded to the 66th floor.

The monsters on the 66th floor appeared.

It was a shadow.

A shadow that looked exactly like Taesan was waiting for him.

Taesan drew his sword. The shadow also drew its sword.

Taesan watched as the shadow mimicked his movements, drawing its sword roughly. Dozens of afterimages appeared in the air.

And the shadow mirrored the movements.

Its posture was very similar to Taesan’s.

“Imitating?”

A monster that steals the adventurer’s power and mimics their form.

[The Shadow Eater has appeared.] [Shadow Eater. A monster that resides in the deep forest. It steals the power of those who come and mimics their form as if it were the original.]

The ghost spoke.

[Originally, it’s a monster that can be defeated by a skilled warrior, but it seems the magician has significantly strengthened it. It’s unusual to see such a monster here.]

Taesan looked at the shadow before him. A monster that mimicked him. How far did this imitation go?

Tap.

He stomped his foot.

Clang!

He swung his sword roughly. The shadow followed every move of his sword.

Whirl.

He twisted his sword, activating Flow and changing its trajectory. He stabbed and activated his magic.

The shadow mirrored his movements.

But its response was slightly delayed. It wasn’t a huge difference, but it wasn’t a small one either. The shadow began to be slowly pushed back.

‘A monster that imitates deteriorated movements.’

The strategy was to push it to the limit with strength and skills. It could be quite difficult for other adventurers, but not for Taesan.

He understood the strategy roughly. It was time to check the new skill he had acquired.

The description of Partial World Alteration mentioned that it could be used for both attack and domain purposes.

First, he decided to use it for attack.

[You have activated Partial World Alteration.]

Scratch.

With a scratching sound, the roots of the wrist guard began to shake.

Crash!

The roots rose and swept through the entire room.

They were literally roots of destruction, crushing and breaking everything in their path.

The shadow initially responded, but it couldn’t withstand the torrent of roots and was shattered in an instant.

“This is…”

Its power was superior to intermediate-level magic.

Although it didn’t seem as versatile as the magic of the god of magic, its sheer power was greater.

However, it wasn’t without drawbacks.

Taesan opened his status window.

[Mana: 6130/6560]

The skill had been used for less than 10 seconds. Yet it consumed 400 mana.

While its power was certainly stronger than intermediate magic, it consumed a lot of mana as well.

‘I can’t use it for long.’

It seemed suitable for momentary bursts or as a trump card.

Still, being able to use such power without any delay was certainly an advantage. Considering that the reason black magic wasn’t used effectively despite its power was due to the time required to open a passage, there were plenty of situations where this could be useful.

And how would it work in terms of domain? Taesan took out the catalysts he had brought from the witch’s domain and created a simple domain.

The domain he created was to block the enemy’s approach.

[You have activated Partial World Alteration.]

Screech.

A neutral-colored domain formed around Taesan.

Taesan moved, and the domain moved with him.

As the witch said, the wrist guard was the basis of the domain.

Taesan moved to the next shadow.

He approached the shadow. The shadow tried to approach Taesan but was blocked by the domain.

The shadow raised its sword and swung it.

Clang!

Even though it was a deteriorated version, the shadow that had taken Taesan’s stats couldn’t break through the domain. The defense was quite strong.

Alchemy had been made more convenient to use. This meant that even in the labyrinth, he could handle alchemy meaningfully.

Moreover, using the domain didn’t consume much mana, so it could be used continuously.

“Not bad.”

The confirmation was over.

Taesan turned off the domain.

As he drew his sword, the shadow also drew its sword. Taesan clashed swords with the shadow, assessing its movements.

‘Deteriorated movements.’

But it was still enough to follow him. It seemed impossible to shake off the shadow unless he went all out.

In other words, Taesan could fight for days if he wanted to.

‘Is it possible?’

Taesan had regained many skills he had learned in his previous life.

Addition. Attack Nullification. Absolute Judgement. Endurance, and so on. He had acquired most of the key skills.

But there were still some skills he hadn’t obtained yet.

Most of them were skills he couldn’t acquire because the conditions weren’t met. He was waiting for the conditions to be met as he descended the labyrinth.

And that wasn’t all.

Balbamba said that the skill acquisition system of the labyrinth created skills when related achievements were reached.

In other words, there were certainly skills that could only be obtained here, which he couldn’t get in his previous life.

There were many skills he had tried but failed to acquire in his previous life.

Taesan intended to acquire them now.