Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 501: The Forgotten Goddess (3)

[Who... are you?]

Balbabamba addressed Arilnan with formal respect.

Despite her ordinary mortal-like presence, devoid of any divine aura or transcendent power, Balbabamba’s instincts screamed that this woman was not someone to trifle with.

“I am Arilnan,” she said calmly.

[Arilnan...?]

Balbabamba quickly sifted through the vast archives of knowledge stored within him. Countless records flashed before his mind’s eye.

And then, he froze.

There it was—information about Arilnan.

It was fragmented, distorted, and incomplete, but undeniably present.

[This can’t be...]

He was shaken.

It wasn’t that he had forgotten about her. It was as if her existence had been erased from his perception entirely, only to suddenly resurface.

[...This is not for me to judge.]

Balbabamba swiftly made a decision, recognizing the situation as beyond his jurisdiction.

[When my master returns, I will inform him of this. He will decide what to do regarding Lady Arilnan.]

“The Magician,” Arilnan mused. “The one who created this domain? Interesting. I find myself intrigued.”

She nodded with a faint smile.

“Very well, I’ll wait.”

[Taesan... what is this all about?]

“How should I know?” Taesan shrugged.

Balbabamba looked visibly conflicted for a moment but eventually sighed in resignation.

[Forget it. This is beyond me. Let the Magician handle it. I’ll focus on my own duties.]

With that, Balbabamba turned to Taesan, his voice more composed.

[You’ve cleared the 92nd floor. I’ll begin processing your rewards. It took longer than usual since the one responsible abandoned their duties and ran off.]

The reward for the 92nd floor was equipment from the shop. Ordinarily, this required the shopkeeper’s presence, but he had returned to his own world.

[I didn’t expect a final thank-you, but I didn’t think he’d leave us in the lurch like this. Damn him.]

Balbabamba clicked his tongue in irritation.

“So, what happens now?” Taesan asked.

[The reward is the shop’s equipment. But you won’t receive all of it.]

“I figured as much.”

Taesan never expected to receive every piece of equipment available. The question was, how much of it would be accessible.

[You can choose up to five items.]

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“Five?”

Taesan raised an eyebrow.

“That seems excessive.”

The shop’s equipment wasn’t ordinary. It was the pinnacle of craftsmanship, the kind of gear that had enabled others to survive insurmountable challenges.

To receive five such items was highly generous.

Balbabamba, however, remained indifferent.

[You are now a transcendent, a god of faith. How much value do you think the labyrinth’s equipment still holds for someone like you?]

Taesan had grown too powerful.

The labyrinth’s equipment was, ultimately, designed for mortals. Even if Taesan could use it more efficiently due to his connection with the system, the equipment’s inherent power and rank were now far beneath him.

Items like the Crimson Giant’s Sword, which could obliterate S-rank monsters, were once invaluable.

But for Taesan, ordinary attacks could now accomplish the same feat.

The Obsidian Bracers, which reduced incoming damage by 50%, were similarly less impactful.

Very few enemies, save for High Gods or Conceptual Deities, could even penetrate the Chaos Cloak Taesan wore.

[It’s not entirely useless. The stat boosts and special effects are still valuable, but they’re tools, nothing more.]

“I see your point.”

Taesan was no longer so weak that a piece of equipment could make or break him. He had reached a level comparable to those who crafted such items.

After a moment of thought, Taesan asked, “What about the secret reward?”

[That’s also tied to the shop’s inventory. But you can choose what you want, and I’ll create it for you.]

“So, I have options.”

This was acceptable. Taesan still valued equipment that affected cooldowns or other strategic advantages.

However, he remained silent, deliberating.

Balbabamba waited patiently.

After a while, Taesan spoke.

“I have a question.”

[Ask away.]

“Can I receive a skill instead of equipment?”

[A skill?]

Balbabamba hesitated, caught off guard by the request.

[You mean a specific type of skill, one of your choosing?]

“Exactly.”

[...Give me a moment.]

Balbabamba searched through his extensive knowledge, processing the unusual request.

[...It’s possible.]

He finally answered.

[It depends on the skill’s effect, but the system allows for such a reward.]

“That’s good enough for me,” Taesan murmured, a faint smile playing on his lips.

[Skills are certainly more versatile than equipment. But you’ll need to pay a price. Your limit of five items will decrease if you choose a skill.]

“That’s fine.”

[Very well. What skill do you want?]

“Something that changes the nature of my attacks,” Taesan replied, his voice steady.

“Specifically, I want a skill that lets me imbue my attacks with pure physical force.”

***

Balbabamba froze, unable to comprehend Taesan’s request at first.

It was too unexpected. Imbuing attacks with physical force?

After a moment’s hesitation, Taesan clarified.

“More precisely, I want to convert damage into physical force.”

[...Ah, I see now.]

Finally, Balbabamba understood.

[You’re talking about the system’s mechanics.]

In the labyrinth’s system, Attack Power was one of the foundational metrics. It scaled with the user’s equipment and determined the amount of damage dealt when hitting an enemy.

However, Attack Power wasn’t inherently physical. It didn’t translate into raw kinetic energy or force.

Instead, it was an abstract calculation, representing the extent of harm inflicted upon the opponent. Movement speed and strength were governed by other metrics, like agility and raw power.

Until an attack landed, damage was essentially intangible.

By Taesan’s request, this intangible damage would now manifest as physical force, meaning every attack would carry the tangible power equivalent to its damage value.

Balbabamba grasped the idea, but he couldn’t understand the purpose.

[Do you really need something like that? Your current abilities far surpass any concept of "damage." Frankly, Attack Power as a stat is almost irrelevant for someone like you.]

Taesan had grown beyond what the labyrinth’s system could calculate. His abilities, particularly the Chaos Cloak, existed on a conceptual level, far beyond mere numerical stats.

Even if physical force was added to his damage, the improvement wouldn’t be significant.

That was Balbabamba’s assessment.

[It’s not impossible. It’s certainly doable.]

Balbabamba deliberated.

Skills weren’t simple tools like equipment. They were a direct extension of the labyrinth’s system, almost like imparting a piece of the Magician’s authority.

Granting such a skill required careful consideration. It needed to align with the recipient’s achievements and ensure balance within the labyrinth.

But compared to Taesan’s monumental accomplishments, this skill seemed relatively minor.

[...It should be fine.]

As the labyrinth’s administrator, Balbabamba had discretionary authority. By his judgment, granting this skill wouldn’t disrupt the system’s balance.

[Very well.]

Balbabamba made his decision.

“I’m serious?”

Taesan’s eyes widened slightly at how quickly the request was approved.

[It’s acceptable. However, since this is a direct manipulation of the system, you’ll forfeit all other rewards.]

Even if the skill wasn’t groundbreaking, it was still a system-level authority. This necessitated a higher cost compared to regular equipment.

Taesan nodded without hesitation.

“That’s fine. Let’s do it.”

[What an unusual request...]

Balbabamba sounded bemused as he activated the labyrinth’s authority.

[You have acquired the special passive skill [Physical Force Conversion].]

[Special Passive Skill: Physical Force Conversion]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Description: You can now imbue labyrinth-calculated damage with direct physical force. The physical force scales proportionally with the damage dealt. For now, the effect may seem minimal.]

Taesan grinned, satisfied. Balbabamba, on the other hand, was perplexed.

[I may have made a mistake this time.]

“We’ll see,” Taesan said, his expression calm but brimming with confidence.

For him, even the slightest enhancement—even the smallest shift—was enough to justify the skill.

[...I don’t get it.]

Balbabamba dismissed his doubts and returned to his work.

[Lady Arilnan, the Magician is currently away. Until he returns, I’ll arrange a place for you to wait.]

A rift opened in the air.

Balbabamba gestured for Arilnan to follow.

“Thank you,” Taesan called after him, his tone sincere.

Arilnan, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke with a faint smile.

“So that is the Magician’s authority? It’s quite peculiar.”

[You’ll have the chance to meet him soon.]

“I look forward to it,” Arilnan said as she stepped through the portal, her tone tinged with curiosity and excitement.

The rift closed, leaving Taesan and Akasha alone once more.

“How do you feel?” Taesan asked.

[...Not bad. No, it feels good. I feel... fulfilled.]

Akasha’s voice held a quiet joy.

[But... it’s clear now. My master is you.]

“That’s all that matters,” Taesan replied simply.

He had considered the possibility that Akasha might change her allegiance after meeting her former master. Thankfully, that fear was unfounded.

Satisfied, Taesan turned his attention to the new blessing Arilnan had bestowed upon him.

[Divine Blessing: Arilnan’s Blessing]

[Description: This is the blessing of Arilnan. Despite her fragmented state, her blessing retains immense power. It enhances all regenerative abilities, fortifies the will, and stabilizes one’s elevated rank. Once Arilnan fully regains her concept, additional authority will be granted.]

The effects of her previous blessings had been consolidated and strengthened. Taesan could feel the significant boost in power.

Though Arilnan’s current state limited her influence, her full authority would someday transform this blessing into something far greater.

With everything sorted, Taesan prepared to move forward.

The 92nd floor was behind him. He had claimed rewards that would only grow in value over time.

It was time to descend to the next level.

From the depths of the labyrinth, he felt a familiar energy calling to him.

Taesan stepped onto the stairs leading down.