Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 465: Floor 88: Those Who Aspire to Godhood (4)

Taesan continued his march.

Traveling through various cities and towns, he broke the chains of divinity-induced brainwashing and freed the people. Like Keboruak, Paragup also tried to retaliate by shaking the ground, but Taesan dispelled their efforts with nothing more than a firm step.

To those freed from their mental enslavement, Taesan spoke only one command:

“Follow me.”

The people, as if entranced, obeyed without hesitation.

As the group expanded, the journey grew arduous. Many became exhausted, and some even collapsed under the strain of traversing the continent. But Taesan’s divine power healed their wounds and relieved their fatigue, allowing them to continue.

The result was the formation of a massive following.

For many, reverence and worship for Taesan grew naturally, though not everyone was convinced. Some were overwhelmed by confusion, unsure of what was happening, while others suspected Taesan of having ulterior motives.

Still, none doubted that he was a god.

This collective belief began to leave an imprint on the world itself.

[Divine Skill Proficiency increased by 1%.]

For the first time since Taesan’s divine power had transformed into true divinity, its proficiency increased. At the same time, his divine power stabilized slightly.

“So this is how it works,” Taesan murmured.

As more people believed in him—whether through faith or sheer acknowledgment—his divine power grew steadier.

The more time passed and the larger his following became, the more stable his divinity would be. Unless every single believer disappeared, like with Levinenov, his power would not waver.

Taesan moved with purpose. His aim was simple: to bring all belief in this world under his control.

By freeing the enslaved and leading them, he shifted the tide of faith. Of course, there were still those who fanatically worshipped the immortals, unaffected by brainwashing. But Taesan didn’t need to intervene—those liberated from the immortals’ control dealt with them instead.

“You killed my family!”

“Because of you, I’ve suffered so much!”

The world began to reshape itself in Taesan’s image.

At some point, the fighting between the immortals ceased entirely. This change did not go unnoticed.

“The world... it’s so quiet!”

The endless clashes between Paragup and Keboruak had been like the constant droning of cicadas, gnawing at everyone’s nerves. Now, the silence brought a rare sense of peace, and the people rejoiced.

Taesan, however, could sense the emotions of the two great beings.

Confusion.

Wariness.

Doubt.

That night, Taesan used his divine power to manipulate the earth, creating makeshift shelters for his followers. Once they were settled, he moved away from the group.

Reaching a vast plain, he called out:

“Come out.”

Buzz!

A massive presence descended from the sky, landing with enough force to shake the ground.

The figure had a humanoid body but was far from human. Its sharp beak and raptor-like eyes glinted in the moonlight, and four wings flapped powerfully behind its back. Its towering frame, three times the size of an average human, marked it as a member of the Avian race.

Thud. Thud.

Footsteps echoed as another figure approached.

This one was a man with dark, leathery skin and grotesquely overdeveloped muscles, making his form appear more monstrous than majestic.

One detail stood out most to Taesan.

“Ah, a bald one,” he remarked with a slight smirk.

Gesturing casually, Taesan addressed them.

“You must be Keboruak, and you must be Paragup.”

Paragup’s expression twisted with displeasure.

“What brings a god from another world to this place?”

[Leave. This is our world. Even if you are a god, you have no right to meddle here. You are an outsider.]

The rejection in their tone was palpable, and their postures bristled with aggression, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

“You seem confused.”

Taesan’s voice was calm, almost mocking.

“First of all, you’re not gods. You’re just immortals born of this world, with no rightful claim to its ownership. If a true god existed here, you wouldn’t have been allowed to wreak such havoc.”

This world lacked a planetary god, which was why the immortals could ravage it unchecked, pursuing their selfish desires.

“You’re already doing whatever you please to satisfy your ambitions. I’m simply doing the same.”

[You’re an outsider! You weren’t born of this world!]

“And yet, I’m a god. Doesn’t that make me more legitimate than you, who dare claim authority over this world just because you were born here?”

Taesan’s taunting words made Keboruak’s aura ripple with anger.

“I don’t care what you think,” Taesan continued, his tone shifting to a razor’s edge. “Decide. Will you die or step aside?”

“Arrogant fool,” Paragup growled, his eyes glinting dangerously.

“You cannot comprehend the consequences of your choices.”

“That’s not for you to decide.”

Taesan raised a hand, unleashing a wave of force that crashed over the two immortals.

Boom!

Their limbs seemed to tear apart—only, they hadn’t. What Taesan struck were not their true forms.

“Next time, don’t send avatars. Show up in person.”

[You’ll regret this!]

“Sure, sure.” Taesan waved dismissively, his expression bored.

The next morning, Taesan resumed his journey with his followers. None of them noticed what had transpired during the night.

Meanwhile, the places where the immortals resided fell into an eerie silence, the air thick with one overwhelming emotion:

Rage.

They waited, seething, for Taesan to come to them.

Of course, Taesan had no intention of rushing.

“I’ll handle everything else first.”

He continued traveling across the world, liberating every city. One by one, the chains of brainwashing shattered, and the forced faith in Keboruak and Paragup dwindled to nothing.

With each city he freed, the immortals’ rage grew stronger, becoming so intense that even ordinary people began to sense it. But Taesan took it all in stride, amused by their impotent fury.

Finally, Taesan completed his mission. He had freed every city in the world.

There were no longer any worshipers of Keboruak or Paragup.

[Divine Skill Proficiency increased by 1%.]

Among the liberated, some chose to worship Taesan, while others refrained.

But regardless of their choice, one truth was firmly etched into their minds: Taesan was a god.

That was enough.

Their belief would accumulate over time, further strengthening him.

Now, it was time to bring the quest to its conclusion.

***

“Ugh...”

The people hesitated, staring ahead at an immense chasm that stretched across the continent.

This was no ordinary chasm—it was a scar upon the world, its depths unfathomable and its vastness incomprehensible. It was the site where the two immortals had waged their centuries-long battle. A place so legendary that none dared approach it, spoken of only in hushed tales.

Now, they beheld it with their own eyes.

“You may leave,” Taesan declared, his voice calm yet commanding. “Wait for the world to correct itself.”

With those words, he stepped into the void, his body vanishing into the darkness below.

Behind him, the people fell to their knees and began to pray fervently.

“Lord Taesan...”

“Please, deliver us from this torment...”

Their prayers carried powerful faith, and Taesan could feel it binding to him, strengthening his divinity.

At the bottom of the chasm, Taesan landed gracefully.

“Hello.”

His casual greeting broke the oppressive silence, and two immense figures turned to face him. Keboruak and Paragup stood before him, their presence radiating hostility.

[Die.]

No further words were exchanged.

The two immortals unleashed their full power simultaneously. Their combined might surged forward, threatening to obliterate Taesan in an instant.

Taesan tightened his grip on his sword.

Boom!

The resulting shockwave shook the entire world.

Taesan sidestepped, his lips curling into a smirk.

“So, the two of you, who’ve spent centuries trying to kill each other, are now working together just to take me down?”

Paragup growled, his massive frame swelling as his body morphed. Muscles bulged grotesquely, and his skeletal structure expanded until he towered tens of meters high.

“Haaaah...”

A low, guttural hum escaped him, resonating with the earth. The ground rose up in response, encasing Paragup’s body in a seemingly indestructible armor of earth.

Boom!

Paragup’s colossal fist swung down, aiming to crush Taesan.

Taesan met the blow with his blade, the clash reverberating like thunder.

Though Paragup was forced back, his armor remained intact, quickly repairing itself from the impact.

“So, this is your power...” Taesan muttered.

Paragup was known as The One Who Walks the Earth. His power allowed him to harmonize with the land, encasing himself in an infinite, self-repairing shield of earth.

Above, a deafening screech echoed.

The sky darkened as Keboruak summoned a tempest, wind and lightning converging into a monstrous storm.

As the storm hurtled toward Taesan, he clenched his fist.

[You have activated Great Collapse.]

A dark sphere materialized, pulsating with destructive energy.

Before Taesan could unleash its full force, Paragup’s massive hand shot out, gripping the sphere tightly.

Boom!

The explosion reverberated through the canyon, but Paragup’s earth armor absorbed the brunt of it. He let out a low grunt, his protective shell barely cracking under the strain.

Keboruak seized the opportunity, condensing the storm into a singular force and directing it straight at Taesan.

Buzz!

Taesan responded by summoning his divine power, a golden aura enveloping his body. The storm battered against it, but no harm reached him.

“Impressive teamwork,” Taesan remarked, dodging their combined assaults with precision.

[This is my world!]

Keboruak’s voice roared, shaking the heavens.

The sky responded to his call, bending to his will. Every inch of the atmosphere within the chasm became his domain.

“And the earth belongs to me.”

Paragup’s declaration was calm but resolute.

The ground, the rocks, even the planet’s very core resonated with his presence, reinforcing his domain.

Together, they transformed the battlefield into their own territory—a harmonious blend of sky and earth.

Taesan assessed the situation.

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‘Strong,’ he thought.

The two immortals, entrenched in their respective domains, were formidable. Though weaker than Ainzharvo, they were only a step below, their combined efforts creating a synergy born of centuries of conflict.

Against most opponents, this union would have been insurmountable. Even the highest-ranking immortals would struggle to withstand them.

[You may have reached a higher level than us, but you are no god of this world!]

Keboruak’s laughter was wild, filled with confidence.

[You’ve barely just become a god, and your power is unstable! You’re nothing more than a trembling novice!]

Taesan didn’t deny it.

They weren’t wrong.

Though he had begun to garner faith in this world, his foundation remained tied to Earth. Outside his domain, his strength was significantly diminished, barely scraping the level of a transcendent.

Had more time passed since his ascension, his power would have stabilized, transcending the constraints of any single world. But for now, he was vulnerable.

[Now, we will destroy you!]

“Your bodies and souls will serve as stepping stones to the higher realms,” Paragup added, his tone brimming with certainty.

They truly believed in their impending victory.

Taesan smirked, his eyes gleaming with disdain.

“You think you can defeat me?”

Keboruak roared, gathering the full might of his domain. The sky coalesced into an enormous, glowing sphere of energy, brimming with destructive force.

It hurtled toward Taesan with unstoppable momentum.

Taesan didn’t move to evade it.

Instead, he reached out with one hand.

Crack!

The sphere collided with his palm, its energy thrumming violently.

Keboruak’s triumphant laughter echoed across the chasm.

[How arrogant! That attack will tear you apart, body and soul!]

The sphere was a culmination of Keboruak’s full strength. Even a transcendent weakened in a foreign world couldn’t withstand it—or so he thought.

Taesan clenched his hand.

The sphere’s energy screamed in protest, its volatile power straining to escape. Yet, it failed to inflict even the slightest damage.

[W-What?]

For the first time, Keboruak’s confidence wavered.

He realized that his attack hadn’t even touched Taesan.

Something intangible, something beyond this world, had utterly nullified it.

Crack!

The sphere shattered, scattering harmlessly into the void.

“You misunderstand something.”

Taesan dusted off his hand, his voice steady.

“You’re right—I’m not a fully realized god yet. My power is unstable, and I’ve barely begun to adapt to this world.”

He paused, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“But none of that changes the fact that I’ve already surpassed you.”

The gap between immortality and transcendence was an insurmountable one, an unyielding wall.

No matter how strong Keboruak and Paragup were, they would always remain immortals. And immortals, no matter how exceptional, could never stand against a transcendent.

“Show me,” Taesan said, spreading his arms. “Show me everything you’ve got.”

[You have activated Sanctuary Creation.]

Golden light erupted, engulfing the battlefield.