Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 419: 83rd Floor, Essence of the Falling God (1)

First, Taesan needed to confirm how to handle the demon’s domain.

He released his will. As he did so, the domain shifted in response to his thoughts, changing in various ways.

*Boom!*

Cliffs formed, and massive mountain ranges shot up in the distance. With a wave of his hand, the mountains crumbled, and a vast plain emerged.

This place was now Taesan's domain.

No matter how the landscape changed, everything was under Taesan's control.

As Taesan altered the domain for a while, he realized that his actions held no real meaning.

The appearance of the domain was changing, but it was only surface-level. There was no actual change in power.

A different kind of force was needed.

What that force was wasn’t difficult to guess.

Magic began to flow out of Taesan’s body. The magic spread throughout his domain.

*Boom!*

At the same time, the domain began to transform.

This change was fundamentally different from when he altered the domain with just his will.

It felt like he was expanding his own body and fine-tuning it as he desired.

Taesan focused his will on the magic that was spreading through the domain.

What he desired was a sharp, heavy, black wind that could carve through mountains and cut across seas.

The magic, responding to his will, began to change.

*Whiiiiiiing!*

Then, the wind began to blow. It was black.

The deep, dark wind started to swirl in the once-silent domain.

*“Is this the feeling?”*

Right now, Taesan was using the magic, thinking of his basic dark magic, Seir’s Black Wind.

And, as expected, the black wind began to blow through his domain.

Taesan swung his hand. The scattered black wind gathered together and eventually became a storm.

*Ka-ka-ka-kang!*

The rough, pitch-black storm ground everything in its path. In an instant, a massive empty space appeared.

By using magic to inject power into the domain, Taesan created a phenomenon and summoned it. This seemed to be the nature of dark magic.

But for now, it was not something he could use easily. Taesan opened his stat window.

---

**[Level: 171]**

**[Shield: 25,162/25,162]**

**[Health: 260,901/260,901]**

**[Mana: 23,558/23,558]**

**[Magic: 3,244/5,798]**

**[Strength: 47,027]**

**[Agility: 47,558]**

**[Intelligence: 42,221]**

**[Attack Power +12,238]**

**[Defense +7,422]**

**[The target is in optimal condition.]**

---

*“The magic consumption is too high.”*

It had cost 2,500 magic to create the black wind.

For now, it seemed difficult to use it perfectly.

Still, it was possible to create his own dark magic. The ability to generate the necessary dark magic according to the situation and conditions was certainly an advantage.

---

**[...Huff.]**

The ghost lost its words and exhaled in awe.

Taesan had gained the domain of a demon. Specifically, the domain of one of the 72 demons that had existed since the dawn of time.

It was truly something extraordinary in a direction never seen before.

---

**[You're not actually human, are you? A transcendent or the avatar of a demon?]**

*“I’m human.”*

Taesan responded to the joking words. He was human. Even if he was mixed with something else, his essence had not changed.

---

**[In that case... Should I consider you a transcendent?]**

A transcendent who controlled their own domain.

But Taesan denied that too.

---

*“It’s different. This is certainly my domain, but it’s not my true domain.”*

In the end, it was a demon’s domain. It wasn’t something that Taesan, on his own, could have claimed as his own. Right now, he was more like an immortal who had gained control over a demon’s domain.

*“Hmm.”*

He pondered.

What kind of dark magic should he create?

It had to be Taesan’s, something that he could use.

The answer didn’t come easily.

*“I’ll have to think about it over time.”*

He needed to figure out everything he could do with this domain.

Retrieving the magic consumed by the domain wasn’t difficult. Taesan gathered the black wind back.

What he needed now was to increase the total amount of magic. Fortunately, he had gained a skill that would help with that.

---

**[Special Passive Skill: Virtuous of Darkness]**

**[Proficiency: 1%]**

**[Master of darkness itself. When you defeat an opponent, you gain magic. Additionally, you absorb the faint darkness around you, constantly increasing your magic.]**

---

This skill helped with acquiring more magic.

He gained magic by defeating enemies and, even while idle, absorbed the surrounding magic, increasing his own reserves. It was the perfect skill for the current situation.

Now, with the demon’s domain, Taesan had taken one of the 72 demon seats. He was essentially closer to the essence of dark magic.

Because of that, the restrictions on using dark magic had been lifted.

---

**[Special Passive Skill: Master of Dark Magic]**

**[Dark magic is the power to summon forces existing in a demon’s domain. As the new master of this domain, you no longer face any restrictions on using dark magic.]**

---

The restriction was only one. Taesan raised his arm.

---

**[You have activated Dekarabia’s Twisted Vegetation.]**

*Ka-ga-ga-gang!*

Roots that pierced through the world were summoned. The entire body of the roots spread roughly throughout Taesan’s domain, filling the space.

A smile appeared on Taesan’s face.

Dark magic was the act of summoning forces within a demon’s domain.

In other words, to fully wield the true power of dark magic, Taesan needed to open a passage to the demon’s domain.

However, opening that passage took time. So far, he had used magic to buy time before linking it to dark magic. While powerful, it was a substantial constraint that forced action.

But now that the restriction to open the passage had disappeared, Taesan could finally use dark magic without delays.

---

*“This is nice.”*

This alone made it worth clearing the trial.

Taesan opened a passage and returned to the labyrinth.

At the same time, a system window appeared, announcing the clearance.

---

**[Your level has increased.]**

**[Your level has increased.]**

**[Your level has increased.]**

**[You have obtained the Belt of Water Consumed from the Depths of Darkness.]**

**[??? obtained.]**

---

Three level-ups. And the reward for clearing the floor.

---

**[Belt of Water Consumed from the Depths of Darkness]**

**[Dark Magic +50]**

**[Magic +500]**

**[Strength +400]**

**[Intelligence +400]**

**[Attack Power +300]**

**[Defense +300]**

**[A belt made from the skin of a creature that lived in the deepest parts of an unknown demon’s domain. The darkness within it is so dense that anyone who touches it will go mad.]**

---

The belt provided high dark magic and magic stats, along with a decent boost to attack power. It was a useful item.

The secret reward was a potion that permanently increased magic by 500, with no conditions. This was incredibly useful since the total amount of magic would become important going forward.

The last remaining rewards were the two intermediate dark magic skills that Ba’al had personally given him.

---

**[Intermediate Dark Magic: Ba’al’s Abyssal Surge]**

**[Mana Cost: 2,000]**

**[Magic Cost: 800]**

**[Proficiency: 1%]**

**[Summons a space consumed by darkness from Ba’al’s domain. This space shatters the concepts and laws of objects, leaving it a decayed space with only physical force.]**

---

The mana and magic consumption for this dark magic was higher than most.

Ba’al was a great demon, so even with the same intermediate level, the power was much greater. Taesan immediately tested it.

---

**[You have activated Ba’al’s Abyssal Surge.]**

Mana and magic surged out, summoning a space consumed by darkness.

As the space crumbled, the concentrated blackness surged forward like a wave.

*Whoooosh!*

With a loud crash, everything began to distort. The space collided with the labyrinth’s walls.

*Boom!*

A tremendous sound echoed.

When the distorted space returned to normal, a deep mark had appeared on the labyrinth’s walls.

---

*“This is on a completely different level.”*

The power of this magic was on a whole new scale compared to any dark magic Taesan had used so far.

Of course, it wasn’t as powerful as *Great Collapse*, but while *Great Collapse* took time to gather its force, Ba’al’s dark magic was much quicker to manifest.

While the mana cost was high, it was definitely useful. Satisfied, Taesan checked the next skill.

---

**[Intermediate Dark Magic: Ba’al’s Overlapping Darkness]**

**[Mana Cost: 1,700]**

**[Magic Cost: 700]**

**[Proficiency: 1%]**

**[Summons layers of darkness from Ba’al’s domain and wraps them around the body. This darkness is so

decayed that it can hide even from the gaze of transcendent beings.]**

---

A darkness that cloaks the body. This skill would only show its true potential in the presence of an enemy. Taesan summoned Minerva and Barka.

---

**[What’s going on?]**

*“Master, it’s been a while!”*

Minerva appeared in the labyrinth, gazing at Taesan with a chuckle.

*“Master, you’ve really gone too far, haven’t you?”*

Now, the gap in their powers was enormous. Minerva groaned in frustration.

*“It’s good that the master has gotten stronger, but it’s a bit sad that the value of being a spirit is fading.”*

*“You’ve got your own tasks, right? You’re a spirit, so your perception is quite good, isn’t it?”*

*“Yeah, I’d say I’m as good as an immortal when it comes to perception.”*

*“And since you’ve contracted with me, you should be able to detect me even better.”*

*“A spirit who can’t sense their contractor? That’s unheard of.”*

Minerva grumbled, and Taesan nodded.

---

**[You have activated Ba’al’s Overlapping Darkness.]**

Several layers of darkness cloaked Taesan’s body.

His presence disappeared entirely. Minerva was bewildered.

---

**“...Master, are you really there? I don’t sense anything.”**

Minerva, a spirit contracted with Taesan, could usually sense where he was, what he was doing, and his power.

But now, Taesan was hidden so perfectly by the darkness that even Minerva couldn’t detect him.

---

**“So, this is what it’s like.”**

Taesan moved his arm. The overlapping darkness shifted smoothly with his motion.

If he were to make violent movements or be attacked, the darkness would likely break, but moving while maintaining the darkness was no issue at all.

A power that even Minerva, his contracted spirit, could not detect. This skill could be combined with the *Shadow Walker* skill for even more effectiveness.

---

**“This is good.”**

It was a skill Taesan was fully satisfied with.

After confirming everything, Taesan began descending again into the labyrinth.

---

**[83rd Floor Quest Started.]**

**[Pass the Trial of Essence.]**

**[Reward: The Ring of Endless Descent into the Abyss.]**

**[Secret Reward: ???]**

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---

“From the 80th floor onward, it’s all godly trials.”

Taesan murmured. The 83rd floor. Essence.

The God of Falling.

He passed through the passage and opened the door to see the Altar of Essence.

The Altar of Essence resembled an altar used for human sacrifices.

The power emanating from within was very deep.

It felt like an endless descent into an abyss, a completely alien sensation.

Finally, the God of Falling had appeared. The god who had devoured Princess Vendingkiah and toyed with Amelia.

One of the few evil gods Taesan had encountered.

Taesan placed his hand on the altar. A strong wave of power struck him.

The space twisted, and Taesan’s body shifted. Minerva and Barka were somehow teleported back. Instinctively, Taesan knew he had arrived in Essence’s domain.

And, as expected, the rightful owner of the domain was waiting for him.

Taesan turned his head.

It was massive.

Its size was so enormous that he could barely discern its form.

Its entire body was squirming, as if it were made of every kind of life forcibly fused together.

With his enhanced senses, Taesan could see the true form of Essence, the God of Falling.

The gaze of malevolence turned towards Taesan.

At the same time, Taesan felt himself begin to fall.

The essence of power and strength, his body and mind, seemed to be falling into an abyss. The God of Falling’s power was one that could make anyone fall simply by looking at them.

---

**“It won’t work.”**

But Taesan shrugged off Essence’s power by lightly tensing his whole body.

The falling force that had gripped him quickly dissipated, and he returned to his original state.

Essence’s gaze toward him carried a trace of emotion. Taesan met that gaze.

The gaze of two beings who had transcended mortality crossed.

A sense of displeasure flowed from Essence, but it had no direct effect on Taesan. Ultimately, it was Essence who spoke first.