Ascension Through Skills

Clank.

The knight moved, carrying a greatsword. A chilling murderous intent filled the air.

[Are we going to fight right away? Let's talk first.]

“I have nothing to say to you, hero.”

His attitude was blunt. He outright refused to engage in conversation, but the ghost seemed amused.

[Is this bastard angry?]

Shaman halted at the ghost’s words.

[I get it. You're honestly pissed off, aren't you? Why, out of all the people, do you have to face this guy? You think you're so weak that you have to deal with him yourself?]

“Shut up.”

Thinking about it, it made sense. Shaman was a deep-level adventurer. He had pride in himself for reaching the deep levels.

But now, he had to come up from the depths to face an adventurer on the 64th floor.

Leaving behind the other members of the leadership to come himself.

Shaman, who had pride in his power, was angry.

But standing before Taesan, Shaman’s emotions slowly calmed. He pointed his sword at Taesan and spoke indifferently.

“I’m annoyed, but… that’s not the point.”

To be honest, he was angry at first when the demon god sent only him up.

The opponent was the demon god. She wanted to see a life-risking battle, not a one-sided slaughter.

In other words, it meant that Taesan was chosen because he could somehow win, and the demon god thought Shaman was the weakest of the leadership.

“I am an adventurer who has treaded the deep levels.”

A burst of power.

Countless skill windows appeared and disappeared around Shaman.

With calm eyes, Shaman looked at Taesan.

“I know you defeated the spear and shield, but those two did not reach the deep levels on their own. Let me show you the power of the deep levels here.”

Thus, by killing Taesan, he would prove his strength once again.

Shaman’s determination spread intensely.

[The opponent is an impossible enemy.]

“We’ll see.”

Taesan responded in kind.

He activated numerous buff skills, then pointed at his opponent with his finger.

[You activated Forced Descent.]

“Huh.”

Shaman let out a low groan. After briefly observing himself, he took his stance.

“You have quite the variety of skills.”

[You activated Apostle Transformation [Darkness and Chaos].]

[You activated King's Vessel.]

Taesan’s aura expanded and intensified.

“Come. Our enemy.”

Shaman raised his sword.

“Let’s see which of us is stronger.”

With those calm words, Taesan stomped his foot.

As Taesan charged, Shaman swung his wrist.

The greatsword spun.

Though it was a light attack, barely a flick of the wrist, the power contained in the greatsword was immense. A blow meant to crush Taesan enveloped him.

Clang!

Swords clashed. The massive impact hit the walls.

Feeling the weight through the sword, Taesan chuckled.

‘Strong.’

At this moment, his stats were not much different from Lee Taeyeon’s. It meant he was equal to an adventurer who cleared the labyrinth, even if it was through various tricks.

However, Shaman seemed to have no problem handling Taesan.

It wasn’t just a matter of stats.

It was the deep-level equipment and the power of auxiliary skills that clashed with the sword.

Shaman’s eyes darkened as he felt the power.

The stat difference between an adventurer who reached the deep levels and one who hadn’t was immense. When swords clashed, one would be driven into the ground and unable to keep up with the speed.

But Taesan was overwhelming him with both strength and speed.

He had a skill that increased his stats by a certain percentage when his opponent’s stats were superior to his own.

Yet, he was still being pushed back by Taesan.

“Indeed, I cannot be careless.”

In a quiet voice, Shaman flicked his wrist. The greatsword shredded everything in its path, pressing on Taesan.

Ka-ga-ga-gak!

Taesan roughly swung both hands. He deflected, parried, and dodged the attacks.

“A monster.”

[Fighting is what I desire, but this level of opponent is unexpected.]

Minerva clicked her tongue. Barkaza grumbled and unleashed his power. Light rose with a clap, and Minerva’s gesture summoned a storm.

Shaman, who was pressuring Taesan, glanced over.

“The King of Wind Spirits.”

Minerva was the Spirit King. Even an adventurer from the deep levels couldn’t ignore her power.

But Shaman responded lightly. By slightly adjusting the trajectory of his sword, he split Minerva and Barkaza’s powers.

“What?”

Minerva’s eyes shook as she saw her power split so effortlessly.

Ka-ga-gak!

Without paying attention to Minerva, Shaman continued to press Taesan.

“Hah, hahaha.”

Anger filled Minerva’s face, having been completely ignored.

“Then try to block this! Barkaza!”

[As the king commands.]

Barkaza was a support-type spirit. He clapped his hands. Minerva drew upon her power. Wind intensified with light, creating a storm that tore through the labyrinth.

Shaman retreated slightly to avoid the storm. The wild winds rushed towards him.

Taesan couldn’t underestimate this force either. If that power hit him, he would struggle to defend.

But Shaman raised his sword.

He charged at the raging storm and struck down with his sword. With a roar, the storm disappeared.

“Huh?”

“A newly born Spirit King, huh.”

Shaman shook off the shock from his sword and spoke.

“I have fought countless battles with Spirit Kings like you.”

The leadership was stuck in the deep levels for an unimaginably long time.

They had made every effort to break through the deep levels.

One of those efforts included sparring with each other.

They fought each other, analyzing their strengths and honing their abilities.

To Shaman, Minerva seemed extremely clumsy. With power at that level, he could crush anything no matter how strong it was.

Boom!

Shaman stomped his foot.

In an instant, he reached Taesan and swung his sword down. Taesan clicked his tongue and responded.

Clang!

Sparks flew. The fierce pressure made Taesan frown.

‘Strong.’

Despite having superior stats, the fight was even.

This was purely because Shaman had the upper hand in experience.

Taesan had also been through many battles, but Shaman, as he said, had trained with the leadership for an immeasurable amount of time. In terms of pure experience, Taesan couldn’t catch up.

Minerva and Barkaza tried their best to support him, but it was of no help.

After realizing he was of no help, Barkaza made a decision.

After all, he was a spirit. There was no death for him, and even if he fell here, he would only be resummoned.

Barkaza charged at Shaman.

Shaman’s face wavered slightly, perhaps not expecting Barkaza to attack physically.

Though weak, he was still a high-level spirit. He couldn’t be completely ignored.

Barkaza approached Shaman and clapped his hands.

Light violently shook.

It crushed everything around it, targeting Shaman.

And Shaman responded to all those attacks.

He spun his greatsword, blocking the light and piercing Barkaza’s body.

[Argh]

Barkaza endured the shock and exploded with light. As his body was banished, the world flickered for a moment. The overwhelming light made Shaman close his eyes.

It was a small gap, but a definite gap.

[You activated Acceleration.]

Taesan rushed quickly. He aimed his sword at Shaman’s waist.

Clang!

[Shaman's Guardian activated.]

[Shaman's Fortitude activated.]

[Shaman's Immortal Shield activated.]

[Shaman's Unyielding Armor activated.]

[Shaman took 0 damage.]

Whoosh!

Shaman brought his sword down as if he had been waiting.

[You activated Random Blink.]

Taesan’s body moved backward. Shaman clicked his tongue.

“Too bad.”

Shaman had intended to allow the attack, confirm that he took no damage, and then exploit the gap when his opponent was shocked.

But due to Barkaza’s sacrifice and Taesan’s quick response, he had only gained information without any real result.

Shaman calmly adjusted his stance.

“Do you use magic too? I heard you can use black magic as well; you use various powers.”

Taesan stared blankly at Shaman.

His current attack power was around 4000. Even without skills like Addition or other attack-boosting skills, attacking the gap would have yielded 5000 to 6000 damage.

Yet, the damage was 0.

In other words, the opponent’s defense was higher than Lee Taeyeon’s.

Even with several defense-piercing skills, if no damage was dealt, it meant the opponent also had skills that reduced damage to absolute zero.

“You’re quite something.”

“I am a Guide of Sin. Among them, the adventurer with absolute defense. Die, our enemy.”

Boom.

Shaman charged.

It was a charge without any consideration for defense, unlike before. Knowing he wouldn’t take any damage, he moved without any restraint.

Boom!

Taesan focused on defense. Minerva tried to help by summoning a storm, but even that was blocked.

[Shaman's Spirit Negation activated.]

[Shaman took 0 damage.]

“What is this?”

Minerva laughed dryly. The damage was not landing at all. While blocking Shaman’s attack, Taesan observed him.

Shaman’s eyes were calm.

Even though he was overwhelmingly dominating Taesan, his face showed no excitement.

‘It can’t be helped.’

Taesan made a decision. He began to attack fiercely.

As Taesan’s momentum suddenly changed, Shaman immediately responded. They swung their swords at each other at a distance where their arms could reach.

Ka-ga-ga-gak!

Dozens of collisions occurred in a second. In the midst of the fierce clashes, Taesan suddenly twisted his body and lunged at Shaman’s sword.

[Your First Attack Nullification activated.]

Shaman’s body was pushed back.

Taesan stomped his foot. The air burst. Taesan drew his swords with both hands.

Shaman immediately responded. He swung his sword down to push Taesan away.

[You activated Flow.]

“Ugh.”

Shaman’s sword trajectory twisted.

His stance crumbled.

For the first time, his eyes wavered.

Taesan didn’t miss that gap.

[You activated Conversion.]

[You activated Addition.]

[You activated Blade of Will.]

He put all his strength into one sword.

Shaman could tell. With the power contained in Taesan’s sword, it could break through his defense.

Shaman smirked and activated a skill.

[Shaman activated the Blessed One.]

Keeng.

A golden curtain surrounded Shaman.

A very solid, absolute curtain that even someone at the brink of mortality couldn’t easily penetrate.

[Shaman activated Reconstitution.]

And Shaman’s stance changed.

As if time had reversed, the twisted trajectory turned into a perfect counter-stance.

“Attack nullification. It’s unique and hard to deal with, but if you know about it, it’s not a problem.”

Shaman muttered.

Taesan had fought Ambracia before. The presence of attack nullification had been revealed to them.

A trump card that nullifies attacks and rewinds time. It was natural for Taesan to use it in battle.

Therefore, they decided to target it instead.

To counter the attack nullification, he prepared a deadly strike. And the plan worked. Shaman stepped forward and swung his sword. A strike that could shatter mountains and cleave the sky flew towards Taesan.

[Shaman activated Conversion.]

[Shaman activated Blade of Will.]

The skill to increase attack power was activated.

The sword reached Taesan.

Shaman was certain of his victory.

[Your Second Attack Nullification activated.]

Shaman’s body reverted to its pre-attack state.

Seeing the system window before him, he was shocked.

‘Second!’

He couldn’t believe that Taesan had two of those high-level skills! Taesan’s dual swords charged at him. Shaman quickly calmed his panic.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

The Blessed One he had activated was his absolute defense. Even if all the leadership of the guides attacked, they couldn’t easily break through it. This amount of power couldn’t break it.

[You activated Absolute Judgement.]

And that belief was shattered.

The golden protection that touched Taesan’s sword was destroyed. Before Shaman could do anything, the sword pierced his armor.

“Ugh!”

With a scream of pain, he was violently thrown back.

Boom!

[Shaman took 52,154 damage.]

The damage was astonishing, but Taesan did not look satisfied.

‘As expected, this is tough.’

Even while taking no damage, the opponent hadn’t let his guard down.

Knowing that he was chosen to face Taesan meant there was a slight chance of Taesan winning, so he never showed any gaps.

Absolute Judgement was a trump card. The first time it was used, it had to reduce the opponent’s health as much as possible.

Now that the existence of Absolute Judgement was known, the opponent would not allow any attacks.

Originally, he should have raised his attack power further before using it, but he couldn’t. The opponent’s response was too fast.

Moreover, he had used up two attack nullifications. It was a gain, but not a satisfying one.

Taesan immediately sprinted towards the fallen Shaman. But Shaman pulled out a gem from his pocket.

Crash!

The gem shattered, expanding the space around them.

system-start

[Shaman activated Amoles’s Forced Spatial Expansion. This item lasts for 10 seconds.]

system_end

The space expanded instantly.

Visually, the distance remained the same, but no matter how much he moved, he couldn’t get closer to Shaman.

“This is absurd.”

Shaman staggered to his feet. Even after taking over fifty thousand damage, he hadn’t fallen.

[Shaman took a hit exceeding his total health. The Unyielding One activated. Survives with 1 HP. The cooldown of this skill is one year.]

He let out a dry laugh.

The Unyielding One, a skill that only activates when he takes damage exceeding his total health.

It was a skill he had never activated since obtaining it, and it activated now.

“So that’s how it is… I need to change my strategy.”

[Shaman activated Once-Only Recovery. Health restored by half.]

Shaman coolly assessed the situation and raised his sword. Seeing him quickly regain his composure, Taesan clicked his tongue. He had often gained an advantage when opponents were flustered by skills they had never seen before, but this time it seemed impossible.

“Right. You’re also an adventurer.”

This opponent was different from any Guide he had met before.

One who did not give up. One who strived to move forward.

One who had traversed the deep levels purely by their own skill.

He never let his guard down or got complacent. He anticipated and responded to everything.

“Let’s do this.”

They had shown most of their cards.

Now, the real fight began.

Taesan gripped his sword tightly.

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