Ascension Through Skills

Chapter 504: 93rd Floor, Demons (3)

[We are noble.]

Amon declared this as if reciting an unshakable truth, a statement imbued with unquestionable value.

[We are the only eternal beings in this world, unchanging and whole. Even those who call themselves transcendents pale in comparison and are destined to fade.]

His eyes gleamed with pride and arrogance.

[We have existed far longer than any of you. It is only natural for you to show us the respect we deserve.]

“Shut up.”

Taesan cut him off, his tone indifferent. He had no patience for meaningless, self-important declarations.

He understood the mindset of the demons.

They had existed since before the creation of this world. In a sense, they were indeed unique and immutable now that the high gods had been exiled.

But they had let this fact intoxicate them, using it as the sole measure of their greatness and nobility.

To Taesan, it was laughable. If their value was rooted only in how they were born, they had no true worth.@@@@

Demons were a race that had survived since before the dawn of the universe. If they had lived for so long, they should have attained the wisdom, insight, and enlightenment to match.

Yet, their mentality and values were disappointingly shallow—no different from an average human's.

“You were born strong, weren’t you?”

[Of course. That is the difference between us and weaklings like you. You must painstakingly build your power, but we were perfect from birth.]

Amon spoke proudly. Taesan shook his head.

‘So that’s why.’

Power without qualification. That explained why their minds remained as undeveloped as those of children.

‘If the high gods are like this too, it will be disappointing.’

Taesan glanced at Baal.

As before, Baal made no move to intervene, watching their exchange with quiet amusement.

‘What are you after?’

If Baal had no intention of stepping in, Taesan would act as he wished.

When Taesan didn’t respond, Amon’s expression twisted in irritation, and he pressed him further.

[What are you doing? Show respect—]

“Be quiet.”

[What?]

“You’re noisy. Keep it down.”

Taesan’s tone was utterly disinterested.

Amon’s face trembled with anger.

[You insolent...!]

“Let’s drop the excuses. This isn’t really about me not showing respect, is it? Just get to the point. There’s another reason you’re upset, isn’t there?”

The atmosphere among the demons shifted. The mockery and disdain in the air began to transform into hostility.

Amon’s expression contorted.

[...How dare you? To insult our purity, to speak to us in such a manner?]

“So that’s it.”

Taesan knew why they were so bothered. He had seized Belial’s domain and made it his own.

To beings who prided themselves on their immutable nature as demons, this act was tantamount to desecration.

[I was willing to let it go depending on your attitude, but not anymore. Kneel. Utter our names one by one and offer sincere apologies.]

“And if I refuse?”

[Then we won’t let it slide. You’ll have to face punishment befitting your kind.]

The demons began to stir, their movements slow and deliberate. Their malicious auras crept toward Taesan, suffusing the air with a palpable tension.

“I don’t understand.”

Taesan muttered softly, his power beginning to seep out of him.

Even the faint trace of his energy crushed the approaching demon auras, scattering them like dust.

Taesan was undeniably stronger than the demons—by a wide margin. They knew it as well.

Yet, they didn’t retreat. Instead, they continued to approach, their faces twisted with mockery and ridicule.

[You may be stronger than us, but you cannot destroy us. We are eternal, unchanging. You cannot kill us.]

It wasn’t entirely wrong. High gods and demons couldn’t be killed by mortal beings. Even the transcendents had only been able to exile the high gods.

But Taesan was different.

He could kill them.

The demons connected to him through Lemegeton surely knew this, but they acted as if they didn’t. There was only one explanation:

Baal or the Demon Lord had hidden this truth from them.

Taesan glanced at Baal again.

“You despise them,” Taesan observed.

Baal was an archdemon, the lord of demons. Yet his voice and gaze betrayed an overwhelming hatred for them.

“What is it you seek?”

Baal had likely known that the demons would oppose the gathering, yet he had arranged it regardless. This meant he had orchestrated this clash between Taesan and the demons deliberately.

[When we first met, you asked me what we were. Do you remember my answer?]

“Yes,” Taesan replied.

He had asked Baal what their purpose was, and Baal had answered that they were the original sin—a defiance of the flow of time itself. That was why he had not stopped Belial’s destruction.

[Until now, it was manageable. Contracts prevented us from interfering too much with the world, so it was tolerable. But... that’s no longer the case.]

“Why is that?”

[Because what we’ve held back has begun to stir.]

Taesan fell silent.

There was only one thing the demons had held back.

The high gods.

[I don’t know why they’re stirring already, but before that, we need to clean up these defective products.]

Baal’s voice was low as his gaze shifted to the demons.

The demons’ auras began to settle as they finished preparing. They looked at Taesan with confident expressions, ready for the duel.

[Well, it’s your choice. Do as you see fit.]

Baal clapped his hands, the sound echoing across the domain.

[In the name of Baal, I declare: the duel begins. The fight will not end until one side concedes defeat. The defeated will obey one command from the victor, no exceptions. Do you accept?]

The demons shouted their agreement in unison.

Taesan nodded as well.

[Good.]

With their declarations, Baal’s power solidified the agreement into a binding contract. He smiled as if he had been waiting for this.

[Then let it begin. Kill and be killed.]

Boom!

The first to move was Amon.

Wearing a twisted grin, he charged at Taesan.

[Wretched human! Let me show you my true power!]

Crack!

The space split open, and from the black rift emerged a colossal, pitch-black spike.

Its size was enormous—like a mountain range given form.

‘Amon’s Black Spike.’

It was a form of dark magic that Taesan himself possessed, but its scale was far beyond what he could manifest. This spike carried enough destructive power to annihilate an entire continent.

[This is the power of demons! Kneel, you lowly creature!]

Amon’s voice rang out proudly.

Despite the sheer magnitude of the attack, his energy remained untouched. Demons were immutable, their power inexhaustible.

Amon hurled the spike directly at Taesan and created another one as he charged forward.

Boom!

The massive spike tore through the air, the force ripping the space around it. The other demons began to coordinate their attacks, positioning themselves to cut off Taesan’s escape.

But Taesan didn’t evade.

As the spike neared him, he slowly raised a hand. A faint, ash-gray hue covered his fingertips.

The contrast was absurd. Compared to the colossal spike, his gesture seemed insignificant—like a toothpick against a mountain.

The ash-gray energy touched the spike.

Boom!

The spike shattered.

Like a collapsing cliff face during an earthquake, the spike crumbled into pieces, disintegrating completely. Shards of its remains scattered harmlessly past Taesan.

The demons hesitated, their movements faltering.

Taesan stood motionless, unscathed, not even flinching.

[Wha...?]

Amon began to realize something was wrong.

But by then, Taesan had already moved.

In an instant, he vanished, reappearing with his ash-gray energy piercing through Amon’s chest.

“Give it up.”

Taesan’s voice was calm as the power within him surged, devouring Amon whole.