Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 481: 91st Floor. Ouroboros (2)

Among the skills that reached 100% proficiency, one stood out in particular: Let It Pass.

[Special Active Skill: Let It Pass]

[Mana Cost: 5]

[Proficiency: 100%]

[Description: Negates almost anything that interferes with you.]

The skill’s description was much shorter now, but its functionality had evolved.

It no longer only nullified attacks but almost anything that attempted to interfere with Taesan. The phrase “almost anything” implied that only in rare, extraordinary cases, or against powers beyond his capability, would it fail.

Recently, Taesan hadn’t used Let It Pass often. The enemies he faced were all overwhelmingly powerful, brute-forcing their way past the skill’s utility.

However, with the wizard’s adjustments to the labyrinth system, Taesan’s skills now fully belonged to him.

This meant Let It Pass could be deployed even in high-stakes, full-power battles without hindrance.

And this wasn’t limited to Let It Pass.

[Special Active Skill: Counter]

[Mana Cost: 5]

[Proficiency: 100%]

[Description: Counters nearly any attack. For attacks that cannot be countered, enables Cross Counter.]

[Special Active Skill: Cross Counter]

[Mana Cost: 20]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Description: Instead of avoiding an attack, uses the opponent’s strength to deal greater damage. Can also be triggered for avoidable attacks.]

With Counter at maximum proficiency, Taesan unlocked a new skill, Cross Counter.

While Counter allowed him to retaliate against most attacks, some were simply beyond its capability. Cross Counter addressed this gap, letting him absorb an attack's force and turn it into an even more devastating counterstrike.

For Taesan, who already had numerous skills to nullify or erase attacks, this added immense value.

[Special Active Skill: Acceleration]

[Mana Cost: 5]

[Proficiency: 82%]

[Description: Accelerates toward a target at high speed. The greater the distance, the stronger the effect.]

[Special Passive Skill: Unshaken Calm]

[Proficiency: 88%]

[Description: An unshaken mind, immutable will, and indomitable spirit. Represents insight and self-reflection.]

Other skills like Acceleration, Critical Strike, Leap, and Vital Spot Designation had also seen significant proficiency increases. The sheer number of improvements was almost overwhelming.

Taesan had expected it to take much longer to reach this level of mastery, yet here he was, progressing faster than anticipated.

“I didn’t expect my proficiency to rise like this.”

But he understood why.

Taesan had grown far too powerful. The labyrinth’s system, which was originally designed to support adventurers, had become a limitation for him.

The wizard had likely found this incongruity troublesome and had anticipated that the restrictions would need to be lifted eventually. That moment had simply arrived sooner than expected.

For Taesan, it was an unexpected but welcome boon, like receiving a gift out of the blue.

Among the newly refined skills, one remained particularly critical:

[Special Active Skill: Essence Perception]

[Proficiency: 94%]

[Description: Perceives the essence of a target, revealing the source of their power and their vulnerabilities. Provides insight into their fundamental beliefs and origins. Can glimpse into the depths of their being. Ineffective against targets of significantly higher rank or those who resist intensely.]

Essence Perception had finally surpassed 90% proficiency.

And at last, one of Taesan’s core reconnaissance skills had reached 100% proficiency.

[Special Active Skill: Complete Reconnaissance]

[Mana Cost: 10]

[Proficiency: 7%]

[Description: An evolved form of Reconnaissance. Reveals everything within a certain range. Depth of information is still limited.]

Taesan had now unlocked Complete Reconnaissance.

Although its proficiency was still low at 7%, the potential was immense. In his past life, he had reached 100% proficiency with this skill, so he knew it could grow far more effective.

Even now, the ability to “reveal everything” was literal. It could even uncover information that Taesan himself had no prior knowledge of.

Complete Reconnaissance shone not in combat but in non-combat situations, where its utility was unparalleled.

Taesan turned toward Akasha.

“Hold still for a moment.”

[Understood.]

Akasha responded calmly. Taesan activated his skills.

[You have activated Essence Perception.]

[You have activated Complete Reconnaissance.]

[Akasha]

[A disciple of a forgotten goddess. Now under your ownership.]

[She is unaware of her true self.]

[She has forgotten the one she once served.]

[She was revered and admired by countless people during her lifetime.]

[She is...]

A flood of previously unknown information overwhelmed Taesan’s vision, revealing even aspects Akasha herself was unaware of.

“This is the issue with Complete Reconnaissance.”

The sheer amount of information was staggering.

At higher proficiency levels, it would allow him to filter out irrelevant details, but he hadn’t reached that stage yet. By focusing on the most critical details, Taesan pieced together the essence of Akasha’s identity.

She had been a disciple of a forgotten goddess, serving in a pivotal role directly by the goddess’s side.

And aside from Akasha herself, anything tied to the goddess had been entirely erased from existence.

Even with Complete Reconnaissance, no trace of the goddess remained—not a single relic, star, or fragment of her influence.

“A usurper, perhaps?”

Who or what had usurped the goddess? And why?

Even the wizard, with all his knowledge, had no insight into this mystery.

Taesan closed his thoughts for now and opened his status window.

[Kang Taesan]

[Level: 197]

[Shield: 39,138/39,138]

[Health: 400,665/400,665]

[Mana: 58,458/58,458]

[Magic Power: 2,488/2,488]

[Strength: 81,827]

[Agility: 82,958]

[Intelligence: 75,821]

[Attack Power: +26,093]

[Defense: +14,542]

[Status: Optimal.]

Taesan let out a dry laugh.

These stats were monstrous. Strength, agility, and intelligence were nearing 100,000, making even his past self, Lee Taeyeon, seem insignificant by comparison.

Yet, even these absurd numbers didn’t fully capture his power. The status window only reflected what the system could quantify, but Taesan’s true strength lay beyond its boundaries.

“Alright.”

He murmured to himself, turning his attention to the newly acquired skills and rewards.

[Special Active Skill: Absolute Resistance]

[Mana Cost: 100]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Description: Provides absolute resistance against a foe of higher rank and power. Temporarily elevates the user’s rank to match the opponent’s. After the effect ends, the user suffers significant repercussions. Cooldown: 1 week.]

“What the...”

Taesan couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

He hadn’t expected much from the skill, but its effect was beyond his imagination.

Even if only for a short time, the ability to elevate himself to match an opponent’s rank—be it Lakiratas or even an Old God—was astounding.

While the penalty afterward would undoubtedly be severe, it was a worthwhile trade-off. Against such overwhelming foes, survival was often improbable without such a skill.

Satisfied, Taesan checked his 90th-floor rewards.

[Wizard’s Hat]

[Magic: +200]

[Mana: +3000]

[Intelligence: +2000]

[Attack Power: +300]

[Defense: +1000]

[Description: A hat once used by the labyrinth’s creator. Its essence and power remain within.]

The stats were impressive, offering significant boosts to intelligence, mana, and even physical attributes like attack and defense.

[??? Used.]

[You have obtained the Radiant Holy Sword.]

[Radiant Holy Sword]

[Strength: +700]

[Attack Power: +1800]

[Description: A holy sword personally bestowed by a god to a cherished disciple. While both the god and disciple have vanished, the sword’s power remains undiminished. Using divinity enhances the weapon’s potency.]

The sword was equally formidable. Taesan nodded in satisfaction, collecting his rewards.

Finally, he descended to the 91st floor—the starting point of a new theme and the prelude to the labyrinth’s final stages.

As usual, the shopkeeper awaited him at the entrance, greeting Taesan with a knowing smile.

“You’ve finally arrived.”

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“What do you want from me?”

Taesan asked bluntly. It was clear the shopkeeper had expectations of him.

“Is what you desire in this place?”

“It will be.”

The shopkeeper’s grin widened.

“With your current strength, you can make it happen. You’ll achieve it. You’ll fulfill... my accursed wish.”

His words dripped with unspoken emotion, and for once, Taesan didn’t need skills like Complete Reconnaissance to sense the depth of his feelings.

“Go further. Just a bit further. Fulfill my wish, and I’ll reward you handsomely.”

Leaving the enigmatic shopkeeper behind, Taesan pressed onward to the 91st floor.

The new floor was unexpectedly unremarkable. It seemed far more ordinary than any he had faced before.

Awaiting him was the wizard—or rather, a projection of him.

“Hello again.”

“We meet again.”

“From here on, things will require explanations. Except for extraordinary circumstances, my projection will provide the necessary guidance.”

The wizard’s form flickered slightly, confirming it wasn’t his true body.

**“Let’s start with the 91st-floor quest. It’s called Ouroboros.”

Taesan’s eyes glinted at the name.

“The world swallowed by the infinite cycle of the serpent. Your task is to enter that world, achieve your objective, and return.”

[91st Floor Quest Initiated.]

[Quest: The Serpent’s Cycle. Enter the world devoured by Ouroboros and achieve your goal before returning.]

[Reward: The Flute of Return.]

[Secret Reward: ???]