Ascension Through Skills

Chapter 334

Chapter 334

The four prophecies had been fulfilled.

Only one remained. Bradley looked around the burning forest.

“Elves. Such an ancient race, yet such boring creatures.”

Bradley turned away with a bored expression.

“Let’s go back.”

They left. The elves’ resentment and hatred could be heard from behind them, but they didn’t care.

Back at the imperial city, the ghost spoke softly to Taesan. His emotions had calmed down somewhat, possibly because he had already vented his anger.

[ I begged them, risking everything, asking them to concede. But the elves refused. They mocked me and blocked my approach. ]

“Did you fail to fulfill the prophecy because of the elves?”

[ No. In the end, we used the full force of the empire to flatten the entire forest. The sacrifices were great, but the prophecy was fulfilled. However, because so much time had passed, the plan that followed was completely derailed. ]

The ghost had cleared the fourth prophecy. But the last prophecy remained unfulfilled.

It wasn’t long before Bradley came to see them.

“Only the last prophecy remains. It’s progressing faster than I thought.”

Bradley had expected it to take at least a few months.

But in just two days, the fourth prophecy had been completed. Bradley marveled at the speed.

“You remember what the final prophecy is, don’t you?”

“To retrieve the fragment of the god from the Sacred Place.”

“Correct.”

Bradley nodded.

“The God of Regret. The religion that worships Rigrit. Their Sacred Place holds a relic of the god. You need to retrieve it.”

Taesan fell silent at Bradley’s words.

Soon, he spoke.

“The God of Regret?”

“Yes. It’s a very old religion. I’ve already sent word. Naturally, they haven’t even responded.”

Bradley said this without a hint of surprise. The relic needed to fulfill the prophecy was a sacred object fiercely protected by the religion.

Though it was for the salvation of the world, they wouldn’t hand it over easily.

“I’ve heard it’s a religion with many fanatics. It could take quite some time.”

Bradley pointed at Taesan.

“This time, you must go alone. I wish I could see the Sacred Place myself, but I’m afraid I can’t.”

“I understand.”

Bradley was extremely busy. With the Demon King’s invasion imminent, he had to train the soldiers and knights to prepare.

With that, Bradley left.

Left alone again, Taesan spoke.

“Is this why you seemed uneasy about the God of Regret?”

[ Yes. I never saw the God of Regret in the labyrinth. The 72nd floor I cleared was different. But I did encounter him outside the labyrinth. ]

The target of the fifth trial: the God of Regret, the religion of Rigrit.

And the ghost had failed to pass the trial.

[ It’s such bad taste, really. ]

The ghost muttered bitterly.

The next day, Taesan set out for the Sacred Place of the God of Regret.

The Sacred Place was far away, located in the exact opposite direction of the Calvert Empire.

And the ghost made a request of Taesan.

[ On the way to the Sacred Place, can you stop by the place I mention? ]

“A place?”

[ Yes. There’s someone I’d like to see. ]

It was rare for the ghost to ask Taesan for something. Taesan agreed.

Taesan spread his wings and flew toward the Sacred Place.

At the end of his journey, he arrived at a towering mountain.

So tall that its peak was hidden in the clouds.

[ Here. ]

The ghost said. Taesan flew to the top of the mountain.

At the summit above the clouds, there was a small hut.

There was someone inside.

“Who’s there?”

A sharp voice rang out. An old man, gripping a sword, emerged from the hut.

The old man was incredibly strong.

In Taesan’s eyes, the old man’s power surpassed those who claimed to have reached the peak of the world.

[ Master. ]

The ghost murmured.

The old man squinted at Taesan.

“...A descendant of Kariat? I don’t know why you’re here, but get lost.”

The old man moved swiftly, throwing a punch at Taesan’s abdomen.

Taesan moved his hand and caught the punch. The old man then kicked at Taesan’s temple.

Twisting his head, Taesan dodged and swung his clenched fist. The old man’s body flew through the air.

The old man landed quickly, his face shocked. He lowered his stance and drew his sword.

As the sword swung, Taesan responded.

Kagakak!

The swords clashed. While blocking the old man’s attacks, Taesan noticed something.

The sword technique the old man used was similar to the ghost’s.

Kakak!

The swords rebounded.

The old man steadied his breath and glared at Taesan.

“...Who are you?”

“I am one who has received the qualification of a hero.”

The old man’s pupils widened. Taesan lowered his sword.

“Are you Bradley’s master?”

“Listen.”

The old man handed Taesan a cracked teacup. Inside, there was nothing but ordinary water.

“Did you think this decrepit hut would have tea?”

The old man drank the water in large gulps, then slammed the cup down and looked at Taesan with interest.

“What’s your relationship with that guy?”

Taesan pondered for a moment, wondering how to explain his relationship with the ghost.

“We’re friends.”

“The prince and a descendant of Kariat, friends? What a strange combination.”

The old man tilted his head and spoke.

“I could see my swordsmanship in your movements. I’ve only taught that technique to one person. So your words aren’t lies.”

Taesan’s swordsmanship was based on the Stormscar Swordsmanship that the ghost had possessed.

And from the old man whom the ghost called Master, there was a similar movement.

“Has that brat already reached the level where he can teach someone?”

The priests began singing hymns at the top of their lungs. The divine aura became slightly stronger.

But that was all.

It was the faith of mere mortals, numbering only in the hundreds. Taesan gathered divine power and manifested it in the world. His mighty divine power crushed the divine aura surrounding the Sacred Place and engulfed them.

Ka-chang!

“Ugh!”

“Kuh-huh!”

The priests vomited blood and collapsed. The pope was no exception. He was buried under the overwhelming divine power, his head pressed to the ground.

“Kuh, kuh-huh!”

As he barely managed to rise, his eyes widened.

“A... Ah...”

The divine power of Rigrit that had been felt from the Sacred Place was gone.

In its place was Taesan’s divine power.

“As expected, it’s possible.”

“W-What is this?”

Taesan ignored the stammering pope.

He moved toward the source of the powerful energy that he felt from within the Sacred Place.

Inside a small building, there was a small stone fragment.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary stone one might find on the roadside, but the power contained within it was undeniably that of a god.

Taesan grasped the stone fragment. The power within it began to seep into his sword.

[ You have retrieved the fragment of Rigrit. ]

[ The various powers contained within your sword are being solidified as the prophecy is fulfilled, and they are beginning to take form. ]

The Relic of Calvert began to change. Something akin to a law started to dwell within it.

‘This is...’

Taesan was amazed.

The power being imbued into the sword was far greater than anything he had imagined.

At the same time, the world began to distort.

From the far edge of the world, something was descending upon it.

Taesan glanced briefly in that direction and then left the small building.

He felt dozens of gazes upon him.

Shock, anger, but above all, fear.

They contained many emotions, but none dared approach Taesan.

“W-Who are you...”

The pope, his face pale, asked Taesan. The divine power that Taesan had manifested now covered the entire area.

He was no longer seen as human.

The pope mistook Taesan for a being closer to a deity.

He hesitated and began to bow his head.

Taesan left without answering.

When Taesan returned to the empire, Bradley, who had been commanding the knights, greeted him.

“Did you fulfill the prophecy?”

Taesan nodded. Bradley let out a cheer.

“It’s truly been fulfilled... The world can escape destruction.”

He clenched his fist and shouted to the knights.

“Listen! Knights of the empire! The Demon King will appear! A being who seeks to destroy the world! Rise and fight to protect our empire!”

A roar of cheers echoed.

What followed were incredibly busy days. With grim faces, people prepared for war, and Bradley was also busy negotiating with other kingdoms.

Taesan, on the other hand, had little to do.

The Demon King would take some time to appear, as if even he needed preparation. So Taesan watched the people’s movements.

[ It's different. ]

The ghost muttered as he observed them.

[ They're all passionate... and they have hope. It's so different from my time. ]

The ghost was witnessing a scene that he had failed to protect, a vision he had not been able to bring to fruition.

[ Is this what the God of Regret wanted to show me? ]

This was the scene he could not achieve.

This was the result he failed to accomplish because of your shortcomings.

It must have been why the ghost was chosen as the target of the quest. Taesan asked the ghost.

“Do you regret it?”

[ I do. ]

The ghost answered bitterly.

[ I wish I could turn back time. I haven’t accepted it yet. But... I’m already dead. ]

The ghost was a dead being. He could no longer influence the world.

[ I failed. Twice, even. ]

He could have been more cautious and bold, fulfilling the prophecy.

He could have cleared the labyrinth without letting his guard down and turned back time.

But the ghost had not done any of that.

For someone who had already missed their opportunity, to hope for another would only be disgraceful.

[ It's all over. Everything. ]

The ghost barely managed to conclude.

Time passed, and Levancia came to visit Taesan.

“The great hero has arrived.”

“Lady Levancia. What brings you here?”

“Well, he’s busy. He doesn’t spend time with me, so I’ve been a bit bored.”

Levancia smiled faintly.

The ghost, though slightly shaken at the sight of her, did not waver as much as before, likely because he had come to terms with his feelings.

Levancia looked at Taesan in awe.

“You truly are incredible. To fulfill the prophecy in such a short time... I suppose it’s because of your heroic lineage?”

“It wasn’t too difficult.”

“Such humility. He told me, you know. If it weren’t for you, the prophecy might not have been fulfilled.”

Levancia spoke of Bradley, her face filled with affection.

Taesan asked her.

“Do you love him?”

“Yes.”

Levancia answered immediately, her face unwavering.

“I love him. I want to spend my whole life with him.”

As she spoke, Levancia gently stroked her belly.

It was as if something precious was inside, her movements soft and warm.

[ Ah. ]

The ghost was so shocked that his ethereal form distorted for a moment. Even without facial expressions, his emotions were clear.

Levancia, with a bashful expression, said softly.

“This is a secret, okay?”