Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 437: 85th Floor, The Ashen Lady. Societ Gardenia (5)

“With my pact with Societ, I will assist you, Apostle of Ehilie.”

[Derzha has transferred control of the puppet.]

Bardray gained temporary command over Societ, now a vessel controlled by Derzha’s authority.

“She is my possession. If she sustains even a scratch, I won’t let it go unpunished,” Derzha warned.

“I can’t make any guarantees, but I will try my best,” Bardray replied calmly.

“Hmph.”

Derzha scoffed, her presence withdrawing from Societ’s body.

“Well then, shall we begin anew?”

“Do as you wish.”

‘Forced Duel won’t be of use here,’ Taesan thought, observing the situation.

The mechanics were like puppetry. While Forced Duel prevented damage to non-targeted entities, it allowed attacks on targets’ puppets or possessions without restriction.

“Societ.”

At Bardray’s curt command, Societ moved mechanically, slashing the air with precision, devoid of will or hesitation.

Screech.

The space split apart. A chaotic void of black and crimson appeared, swirling violently.

At first glance, it seemed like nothing more than paint smeared across an empty canvas.

But Taesan could sense the truth.

It was death—pure and unrelenting.

The aura of death surged toward Taesan. In response, he unleashed his divine energy, forcing it outward in all directions.

The collision of divine power and the crimson-black void resounded in a deafening cacophony, both forces shattering each other.

Bardray didn’t remain idle. Channeling his strength, he gripped his sword with both hands.

[Bardray has activated Divine Sword Unification.]

Tap.

Bardray leaped forward.

His movements now transcended anything he had displayed before, his speed and precision reaching an overwhelming level. Taesan, even with his immense power, had to focus fully to keep up.

Clang!

Taesan deflected Bardray’s strike, dodging and countering the flurry of attacks while activating his own skills.

[You activated Flow.]

Using the labyrinth skill Flow, Taesan redirected Bardray’s blade, diverting its trajectory effortlessly. Bardray, having faced Flow before, understood its mechanics well.

But instead of retreating, Bardray pressed his assault, swinging with even greater force and aggression.

The moment Flow deflected his attack, Taesan countered, thrusting his blade at Bardray.

Just as their swords were about to collide, Flow activated again, twisting the trajectory of Bardray’s blade.

At that instant, Bardray’s wrist moved.

With a smooth, almost unnatural motion, his wrist corrected the twisted trajectory, realigning the sword instantly. There was no delay in his movements—it was a display of swordsmanship bordering on divine mastery.

Clang!

The clash of swords reverberated through the labyrinth.

Taesan widened the distance between them, but Bardray closed the gap in an instant.

[You activated Heavy Strike.]

[You activated Acceleration.]

Taesan’s blade descended with immense force, bolstered by his abilities.

Even as an Apostle of Ehilie, Bardray’s stats couldn’t compare to Taesan’s. With the added effects of Heavy Strike and Acceleration, the attack should have been impossible to counter.

Yet Bardray didn’t retreat.

Instead, he met the descending blade head-on, redirecting it with a swift, precise motion.

Clang!

As Bardray’s blade clashed with Taesan’s, it began to buckle under the overwhelming difference in power. But Bardray’s wrist moved again, as fluidly as before, redirecting the force of the strike.

Like a living creature, Bardray’s blade twisted and flowed, dispersing the force of Taesan’s attack entirely.

Taesan clicked his tongue, retreating once more.

Such movements couldn’t be attributed to mere skill or experience.

Bardray had become an Apostle of the God of Swords, gaining access to divine authority. His swordsmanship now transcended human limitations.

Bardray advanced again, his blade sharp and unrelenting, like a wolf’s fang.

The First Blade of the Storm Scar—Wolf’s Fang.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

[You activated Gale Run.]

Taesan unleashed a flurry of strikes, his movements mirroring the ferocity of a storm. The sheer speed and force of his attacks countered Bardray’s relentless pressure.

But strength and speed alone wouldn’t be enough to prevail.

[You activated Counter.]

The Counter skill allowed automatic retaliation to enemy attacks, ensuring a defense even against impossible strikes.

Taesan’s body moved instinctively, evading Bardray’s attacks and launching precise counters.

But Bardray adapted again. His blade moved like a serpent, sliding along Taesan’s sword to strike with precision.

The Second Blade of the Storm Scar—Dancer’s Waltz.

Counter was enough to neutralize Dancer’s Waltz.

But Bardray wasn’t using just one technique.

He combined the ferocity of Wolf’s Fang with the fluidity of Dancer’s Waltz, overwhelming Taesan with a relentless assault.

Even Counter struggled to keep up with the seamless fusion of techniques.

Clang!

Taesan was forced to retreat once more.

[“...Can the Storm Scar style even be used like that?”]

The ghost, observing the fight, couldn’t hide his astonishment.

Bardray’s swordsmanship had evolved beyond anything imaginable after becoming Ehilie’s Apostle.

For the first time, Taesan found himself being pushed back. Despite his superior stats and abilities, Bardray’s divine swordsmanship dominated the fight.

‘So this is the power of the God of Swords’ Apostle,’ Taesan thought.

He realized that victory wouldn’t come through swordsmanship alone.

[You activated Frozen World (Negation).]

A wave of icy magic mixed with negation surged toward Bardray.

Bardray swung his blade, countering the freezing magic with sheer force. But negation magic, with its universal dominance, couldn’t be easily dismissed.

While Bardray focused on repelling the magic, Taesan seized the opportunity.

He lunged, aiming for Bardray’s back—a gap so perfect that only a skill could defend against it.

But Bardray moved again.

Even as he resisted the magic, he twisted impossibly, slashing at Taesan with a motion that defied the laws of space and time.

Clang!

Taesan’s attack was thwarted. He stepped back, narrowing his eyes.

“It seems you’re not just skilled with the sword,” Taesan muttered.

“Societ!” Bardray shouted.

At his command, crimson death surged forward again.

Taesan countered with divine energy, forcing the deadly force back.

But Societ, wielding Derzha’s authority, moved. She summoned waves of undead, their movements eerily fluid and brimming with killing intent.

[You activated Mana Storm (Negation).]

A black storm tore through the labyrinth, shredding the undead. But a few managed to endure, charging toward Taesan with lethal precision.

‘Troublesome.’

Realizing that neither swordsmanship nor magic alone could turn the tide, Taesan readied himself for the next phase of the battle.

***

Clang!

Blades clashed violently, the sound reverberating through the labyrinth.

Death surged around them, but Taesan countered its overwhelming presence with a combination of dark magic and divine power.

He didn’t stop moving.

Blocking every strike from Bardray and Societ, Taesan retaliated with precision. Bardray staggered backward, his face contorted in frustration.

‘He doesn’t tire, does he?’ Bardray thought, glancing at Taesan.

While his own breathing was starting to grow labored, Taesan showed no signs of fatigue. Not even a bead of sweat marred his calm demeanor.

‘And just how many skills does he have?’

Bardray continued to exploit every opportunity, relying on Societ’s aid to probe for openings in Taesan’s defenses.

But Taesan countered each time with a new skill, rendering Bardray’s attempts futile.

He cloaked himself in shadows, summoned destructive powers, and even erased Bardray’s attacks entirely. No matter how much pressure Bardray applied or how many gaps he created, Taesan neutralized them all with unparalleled resourcefulness.

As the fight dragged on, Taesan began to grow accustomed to Bardray and Societ’s movements. With each passing moment, it became harder for Bardray to find an opening.

In truth, without Societ’s assistance, Bardray would have already lost.

Gritting his teeth, Bardray lowered his sword.

“What are you doing?” Taesan asked coldly.

But Bardray wasn’t addressing him. His gaze shifted to the ghost watching from the sidelines.

“I’ve realized I can’t defeat you with my strength alone,” Bardray admitted, turning to his spectral counterpart. “So let me ask: why are you just standing there, doing nothing, when we share the same fate?”

The ghost remained silent as Bardray continued.

“If he dies, I will be resurrected. I will descend into the labyrinth again, and I will clear it. I know I can.”

It wasn’t arrogance.

Even Taesan acknowledged Bardray’s talent and skill. If anyone could conquer the labyrinth, Bardray had the potential to do so.

“You’ve been with him for a long time. You must know all his weaknesses and the cards he holds. Tell me everything, and I will strike him down. Together, we can achieve our shared goal.”

[That’s impossible.]

The ghost’s voice was steady, devoid of emotion.

“Lies,” Bardray spat.

“If you clear the labyrinth, you’re granted your wish. That’s the reason I came here—to achieve that goal.”

[Clearing the labyrinth and conquering it are two different things. As you are now, conquering it is impossible.]

“I don’t believe you,” Bardray said sharply.

“Even if what you say is true, what of it?” Bardray slammed a fist against his chest.

“I came here to save everyone! Even if it’s an impossible task, I’ll keep going! If fulfilling my wish isn’t possible, then I’ll find another way—turn back time itself if I must! I will save my world!”

It was a declaration of madness, the cry of someone who would never give up on their desires.

[You... truly are different from me.]

The ghost spoke softly, almost to himself.

Once, he too had been like that, willing to sacrifice everything for his desires. Perhaps that was why Taesan had betrayed him without hesitation.

But the ghost had experienced too much, seen too much. His youthful fervor had faded, tempered by reality.

In the end, he had come to accept his failures.

[I won’t say you’re wrong. But I am no longer you. Your words no longer reach me.]

“Damn you!” Bardray snarled, his face twisting with fury.

Taesan raised his sword again, his stance unyielding.

Exireia, Ehilie, Derzha—their divine powers were overwhelming. Their authority bent the very laws of reality, making them difficult to oppose.

Yet, instead of focusing on offense, Taesan had concentrated on defense and evasion, slowly analyzing their abilities.

‘If this is all they’ve shown me so far, then it must mean these are their limits,’ Taesan concluded.

It was time to end this.

[You activated Baal’s Abyssal Surge.]

A black tide of energy surged outward, consuming everything in its path.

“Societ!” Bardray shouted.

At his command, crimson death surged forth, colliding with the black wave.

The forces clashed, neither side giving way.

[You activated Great Collapse (Negation).]

Taesan’s power surged again, twisting the very fabric of space.

Through his mastery of negation magic, he unleashed a devastating force, overwhelming the stalemate.

[You activated Magic Explosion.]

[You activated Aegis Shield.]

A sphere of darkness erupted, shaking the labyrinth to its core. Death was distorted, pierced by the explosive force.

Caught in the aftermath, Bardray wisely chose to evade rather than block. The destructive power of Great Collapse was too immense to withstand without sustaining damage.

But his retreat created distance between him and Societ.

Seizing the opportunity, Taesan reached into the void.

[You activated World’s Blade.]

Boom!

A massive blade materialized in Taesan’s hands, its form brimming with the essence of the world itself.

Taesan infused the blade with black energy and swung it toward Bardray.

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Clang!

Bardray barely managed to block, but the force sent him flying.

“Damn it!” Bardray groaned, struggling to recover.

But Taesan didn’t give him time to regroup. He charged toward Societ, his blade aimed at her heart.

Societ raised her hand, attempting to summon more undead, but Taesan was faster.

Bardray, focused on defending against the World’s Blade, couldn’t react in time to issue commands.

Thud!

Taesan’s sword pierced through Societ’s body.

The divine power of Derzha within her began to stir violently.

[You dare harm what is mine?]

Derzha’s enraged voice echoed, shaking the labyrinth.

[Did you think you could touch the possession of a transcendent being and walk away unscathed?]

Societ’s eyes snapped open as Derzha’s power surged.

“AAAHHH!”

Societ let out a blood-curdling scream as Derzha’s authority exploded outward, engulfing Taesan.

It was the very concept of death made manifest.

[You activated All Things’ Collapse.]

[You activated Law Negation.]

[You activated Selective Exclusion.]

Taesan unleashed his own transcendent abilities in response, pushing back against the overwhelming force.

But death itself had consumed him—a law of reality that couldn’t simply be denied. It sought to leave an indelible mark on Taesan’s soul and body.

[Let’s see how your precious Boundary resists this,] Derzha mocked.

Taesan’s Boundary Line was typically limited to his sword, incapable of covering his entire body.

Yet Taesan showed no hesitation.

His mastery over the black energy had reached 20%, allowing him greater control. He infused the energy into his entire body, mixing it with divine power.

The result was a complete Boundary surrounding him, seamless and unyielding.

The laws of the world could no longer touch him.

Death itself began to recoil, retreating from Taesan.

[You... bastard!]

Derzha’s voice, filled with shock, echoed in disbelief.

Taesan detonated the Boundary surrounding him, obliterating Societ’s corpse in an instant.