Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 462: Floor 88: Those Who Aspire to Godhood (1)

[I anticipated that you would return as a god.]

A voice filled with weariness and caution resonated through the space.

[We are aware of the situation on Earth. It wasn’t a difficult prediction. That’s why the labyrinth’s difficulty was calibrated accordingly. Your reaching the threshold of transcendence, albeit incomplete, was within expectations.]

Balbabamba manifested in his perfect form, descending into the labyrinth.

[However... the power of the Ancient God’s Authority was beyond my calculations.]

The skill that defied the world’s laws weighed on him heavily—Taesan’s transcendent skill, [Self-Unchanging].

“Is it a problem?”

[A problem? It’s more than that. That power is dangerous. Your mere existence could distort the labyrinth’s laws.]

“Don’t worry. I can’t fully control it yet.”

Self-Unchanging only activated when directly targeting Taesan. It had no effect on passive laws like the labyrinth’s, which influenced everything naturally.

However, Balbabamba’s wariness didn’t fade.

[While it’s not a problem now, there’s no telling what might happen in the future.]

“If that time comes, I’ll make sure the labyrinth remains unharmed.”

[That remains to be seen. No one in this world has ever wielded the Ancient God’s Authority. Nothing can be assumed.]

Taesan didn’t deny the statement. Balbabamba’s concerns were entirely reasonable.

“So, what now?”

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

[Frankly, I want to seal your power.]

As the labyrinth’s administrator, Balbabamba’s role was to maintain its integrity, eliminate uncertainties, and correct any errors. He was created for that purpose.

Thus, Taesan’s Self-Unchanging was a source of immense discomfort.

[However... the Magician has ordered me to leave you be.]

Balbabamba strained to suppress his emotions.

[As my master commands, I will not intervene.]

“The Magician said that?”

[I don’t understand it. Allowing something that could potentially collapse the labyrinth? Absurd.]

Although grumbling, Balbabamba showed no intention of disobeying the Magician’s orders. His eyes gleamed with frustration.

[Let me ask, though—would you consider sealing Self-Unchanging yourself?]

“Not a chance.”

Taesan shook his head firmly. Seeing his resolve, Balbabamba said no more.

[You should be careful. I don’t know how you stole the Ancient God’s Authority, but that power doesn’t belong to this world. It could disrupt and destroy it, taking you down in the process.]

Balbabamba’s warning was direct and to the point. Taesan nodded in acknowledgment, understanding its validity.

[I’ll have to start preparing rewards in case you end up breaking something. Just when I thought my work was settling down, things are getting hectic again.]

“Wait a second.”

Taesan stopped Balbabamba, who was about to leave.

[What is it now?]

“Can points be used in ways other than the standard options?”

Taesan currently had over 20,000 points. Until now, he had used them exclusively to increase skill proficiency. However, as many of his skills reached higher levels, the cost-effectiveness of using points had drastically decreased. For top-tier skills, even spending all his points would barely increase proficiency by 3-4%.

Using points to increase proficiency for lower-tier skills seemed equally pointless, as they would eventually reach 100% naturally through practice.

Exchanging points for gold or stats was the least appealing option of all.

Having no clear use for the points, Taesan decided to ask the labyrinth’s administrator.

[Points, you say?]

Balbabamba paused mid-motion. After a moment of thought, he spoke.

[It’s not impossible. The three standard options were created for convenience, but points are a form of reward given to you. They can indeed be used in other ways. However, it was assumed that the standard choices would suffice.]

“Is that so?”

Indeed, points had been incredibly useful during Taesan’s journey thus far. However, he had grown too powerful for the current system to keep up with him efficiently.

Balbabamba made his decision.

[Very well. I’ll allow you to use your points for a reward. You may choose between equipment or a skill. Which will it be?]

“Wait a moment.”

Now it was Taesan’s turn to ponder.

“What’s the level of the equipment?”

[It will be enough to meet your expectations. To be specific, it matches the quality of what is currently available in the shop.]

“Well, that’s a relief.”

Equipment worth 20,000 points would only translate to about 200,000 gold. Such a purchase would have been an enormous waste.

Thankfully, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Between equipment and skills, Taesan’s decision came quickly.

“I’ll go with a skill.”

With access to master blacksmiths like Haphran and Kosrun, equipment could always be crafted as long as he had the materials.

Skills, on the other hand, were different. Meeting the conditions to acquire them was often arduous. Even now, Taesan had yet to reacquire several skills he had obtained in his previous life.

In terms of equivalent value, skills were the clear winner. Upon hearing Taesan’s decision, Balbabamba swiftly responded.

[Then I’ll present you with options.]

[1. Offensive Skill]

[2. Defensive Skill]

[3. Support Skill]

“Only three choices?”

[If you were hoping to specify a skill and receive it, I’m afraid that’s impossible. That would exceed the labyrinth’s allowed framework.]

Offense, defense, or support.

Taesan made his choice.

“Support skill.”

Given his possession of Boundary Line, offensive skills held less importance. Defensive skills were equally redundant, as he already had abilities like Self-Unchanging, Attack Nullification, Last Chance, and Endure, all ensuring his survival.

Support skills, then, were the natural pick. Balbabamba accepted the decision.

[Among the skills available to you now... this one seems fitting.]

[Balbabamba activated #000421.]

[You have acquired the special passive skill: Cooldown Acceleration.]

Taesan’s eyes sparkled.

The name alone gave him a good idea of its effects.

[Special Passive Skill: Cooldown Acceleration]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Designate equipment or a skill with a cooldown to reduce its cooldown by 10%. Equipment or skills with cooldowns exceeding one month cannot be designated. Once designated, the target cannot be changed until its original cooldown is restored.]

As expected, the skill accelerated cooldowns for designated skills or equipment.

“Impressive.”

Taesan couldn’t help but be amazed.

A 10% reduction in cooldown wasn’t particularly significant for now. Reducing a 30-day cooldown to 27 days wouldn’t make much of a difference.

The real value lay in the future. As the skill’s proficiency increased, the reduction percentage would undoubtedly rise—10% to 30%, 30% to 50%, and perhaps even beyond.

When that happened, the utility of the skill would skyrocket exponentially.

Using Replication every 30 minutes and Choice Exclusion every half-day—this skill would multiply his efficiency manifold.

Cooldowns exceeding a month couldn’t be designated, but Taesan didn’t possess any skills with such long cooldowns, making this limitation irrelevant.

[Judging by your expression, you seem satisfied.]

“More than satisfied.”

This was far beyond what Taesan had anticipated.

He immediately designated a skill for Cooldown Acceleration: Restricted Blink. Since the initial reduction was only 10%, it was logical to select a frequently used skill to quickly build proficiency.

As Taesan worked, Balbabamba observed him silently before speaking again.

[Is your choice finalized?]

“Yes. But why are you still here? Don’t you have work to do?”

[I just realized there’s something else I need to explain. You’ll be descending soon, correct? I’ll be waiting on the 88th floor.]

Balbabamba’s form vanished, teleporting away. Taesan descended the stairs.

[Quest for the 88th Floor has begun.]

[Bring stability to the world.]

[Reward: Staff of the Crawling One.]

[Hidden Reward: ???]

On the 88th floor, Balbabamba was waiting.

[You’ve arrived. The 88th floor is a new stage I’ve prepared just for you. Allow me to explain the quest.]

Taesan stood before Balbabamba, listening intently.

[Your destination is Mariseion—a world where two immortals have been locked in conflict for centuries, both striving to ascend as gods.]

***

"That's interesting," Taesan murmured.

He hadn’t been a god for long, yet the quest on the 88th floor was intricately tied to the concept of divinity. Balbabamba responded calmly.

[It’s pure coincidence. Your task is simple. The prolonged conflict between two immortals has devastated their world. Bring stability to that place and restore it to its original state.]

“Hold on,” Taesan interrupted, raising a hand.

[Do you have questions?]

“When they say they want to become gods, are they trying to achieve universal worship like I did?”

[No. There are many ways to ascend to godhood. The method you achieved is a rare and special case. Normally, it’s far simpler.]

“Could you explain the other methods?”

Though it didn’t matter much to Taesan, who had already transcended, he was curious about the paths to godhood. After all, the Green Witch’s goal was to become a transcendent, and understanding more about the process could be useful.

[You’re already aware of some. For instance, Bekveseta’s god, Harmon, didn’t achieve universal worship, yet he was still a god.]

“That had puzzled me.”

Taesan only knew of two methods: attaining divinity through universal worship or carving out one’s domain to rise to supreme heights. Balbabamba elaborated.

[There are various ways. One is through imprinting upon the world.]

“Imprinting?”

[If a being is universally recognized as a god—embedded in the collective consciousness as an undeniable fact—it can ascend. Like common knowledge solidified over time. Once that belief is etched deeply enough into the fabric of the world, the being becomes a god.]

If people began to view a specific being as a god and that belief spread, eventually encompassing everyone, then that entity would truly become a god.

[While worship enhances a god’s rank and power, the key lies in imprinting. Human thought manifests as force, shaping reality. Through this process, one can ascend.]

Balbabamba pointed at Taesan.

[Your case is an extreme form of imprinting achieved forcibly through universal worship. Normally, such recognition would take centuries or millennia to cultivate.]

“Is that so?”

[Another method involves simply having the qualifications—by birth, contract, or otherwise. Once qualified, undergoing and overcoming appropriate trials leads to godhood. There are additional ways, but... I can’t share them. The two I mentioned are the most common paths to transcendence.]

“It doesn’t sound particularly difficult,” Taesan noted.

[It’s not impossible. But there are limits to what can be achieved through those methods.]

Balbabamba’s tone was indifferent.

[There are two kinds of transcendent beings: those dependent on external factors for their existence and those who govern and embody concepts within the world’s laws. The latter cannot be destroyed as long as their concept endures.]

Taesan was already aware of this distinction. Planetary gods like Levinenov and Harmon were fundamentally different in stature from transcendents like the God of Magic or Maria.

[There are unique exceptions, such as Demon Gods, but reaching the level of governing concepts cannot be achieved through reliance on external forces. That domain is only accessible through one’s own strength.]

“So that’s the difference.”

Taesan thought of the Green Witch. It was unlikely she was unaware of these facts. With her capabilities, slowly cultivating universal worship wasn’t out of reach.

“She must be aiming to reach the level of governing the world’s laws.”

After organizing his thoughts, Taesan spoke again.

“So, these two immortals are trying to imprint themselves as gods.”

[That’s the idea. As a result, their world is in complete disarray, and their struggle is causing adverse effects far beyond their immediate surroundings. Your mission is to resolve this and return.]

“Understood.”

[Good. Off you go.]

Balbabamba opened a rift in the space. Just before stepping into it, Taesan asked:

“Does it matter how I handle this?”

[Not at all. Whether you seek a peaceful resolution, negotiate a deal, or crush them with brute force, it’s entirely your decision.]

“I see.”

Hearing Balbabamba’s response, a smirk spread across Taesan’s lips.

He stepped through the portal, and a new world unfolded before him.