Ascension Through Skills

“The, how could…”

The wizards stammered. The magic circle created by ancient wizards, which they couldn’t even approach, had been completely shattered.

Bradley asked with a bitter laugh.

“You can also use magic?”

“I have some experience.”

“That doesn’t seem like something that can be explained so simply… Astonishing. To break a barrier that the Empire’s wizards couldn’t dispel, in one strike…”

His face, as he looked at Taesan, was filled with admiration.

“With your power, you might actually be able to save this world.”

“May I go in?”

Bradley said with a smile. Taesan stepped beyond the magic circle.

What lay within was a massive will. It brushed past him as if testing and observing him.

The ghost, who had been silent, finally spoke.

[The will of the world is judging whether you have the will to defeat the Demon King and whether you have the rightful qualifications. It will try to reject you, but don’t worry.]

As soon as the ghost finished speaking, the will that had been examining Taesan took on an aggressive stance.

The force gathered and began to press down on Taesan, attempting to push him back.

“Hmph.”

Taesan looked at the hostility and rejection contained within the massive will.

There was only one thing within it.

-You are not qualified.

It was a force filled with that intent.

‘Qualification, huh.’

Taesan understood its meaning easily.

The Demon King was a device that existed to destroy the world. The prophecy was a condition and trial to defeat such a being.

And the hero destined to defeat the Demon King had to be a resident of this world.

Only beings from this land could receive the recognition of the world.

Taesan, born on Earth, was disqualified.

But Taesan wasn’t being pushed back.

He was letting the will of the world flow over him, feeling no burden whatsoever.

“When compared to the world of Hafran, this is pathetically weak.”

[That’s because the will of that world had converged, making it akin to the Demon King. It’s not really comparable.]

At this level…

Taesan focused his mind.

He gathered his own will and pressed it against the world’s will.

Boom!

With a wave of power, the will of the world was crushed. Taesan slowly moved forward. The world’s will unleashed its force, but all of it was blocked by Taesan’s will.

“I’ll take care of saving the world. You just need to grant me the qualifications.”

As he advanced, a small sphere came into view.

It was similar to the world itself that he had seen in Hafran, but the power contained within it was pitiful.

Taesan roughly pressed down on the sphere. The sphere trembled, slowly releasing its power.

[How aggressive. I almost feel sorry for it.]

The ghost murmured quietly. From the sphere, a single force began to slowly fly toward Taesan.

That was one of the powers to oppose the Demon King.

[The relic of Calvert. You can draw it out.]

Taesan drew his sword. The approaching force was slowly absorbed into Calvert’s relic.

[You have received the recognition of the world and earned the right to save it.]

The trial consisted of five stages. Once he passed all the trials, he would gain new power. The ghost spoke softly.

[I couldn't fulfill the prophecy... but you’ll be different. You’ll obtain the power to defeat the Demon King.]

Taesan emerged outside. Bradley, who had been waiting, widened his eyes.

“You came out quickly. I thought it would take more time.”

“It wasn’t difficult.”

“Normally, there’s a lot of explosive power and trembling, like during a battle. It was quite strange.”

Taesan said nothing. Bradley grinned.

“Alright. Let’s talk about the next prophecy then.”

Bradley began to explain as he led Taesan.

“The second trial! Do you remember its contents?”

“Yes, it was about passing the trial of those who reached the pinnacle of power, who dwell at the center of the world.”

“At the center of this world, there are those who have reached the pinnacle of either swordsmanship or magic. Upon reaching that pinnacle, they are drawn to a small island at the world’s center. They sever their ties with the mortal world and live their own secluded lives.”

Bradley sipped his tea.

“The trial is to pass their challenge. It won’t be easy. Since they’ve blocked external access, it’s hard to gather proper information, but the kingdom that once tried to invade the island was completely destroyed. That should give you an idea of their power.”

“I understand.”

Taesan replied calmly. Bradley muttered somewhat regretfully.

“When I aimed to become a hero, this was the trial I anticipated the most.”

Those who had severed ties with the mortal world after reaching the pinnacle.

As a swordsman, Bradley had always wanted to meet them at least once.

“I wonder how strong they truly are. I’d love to follow you.”

“No, Prince.”

A laugh echoed from behind Bradley. A woman with golden hair chuckled softly.

“The hero’s trial must be completed by him alone. Besides, Prince, you have the duty to protect the Empire, don’t you?”

“That’s true, Levancia.”

Bradley smiled as he turned to look at Levancia.

Bradley’s gaze toward her was full of affection.

Even without reading his thoughts, it was clear what feelings Bradley held for Levancia.

“But I can’t help being interested. Is there really no way?”

“No, Your Highness. You must also protect me, right?”

Levancia smiled softly.

[It’s best to stay close. Before what seems natural becomes unnatural.]

The ghost, watching them, spoke gloomily. Although his voice couldn’t reach them, he seemed compelled to say it nonetheless.

As the conversation ended, Taesan asked as he headed toward the center of the world.

“Did you love her?”

[Love? Yes. I loved her.]

The ghost’s voice was low and somber.

[At first, it was a political marriage. I thought of her as nothing more than an ornament. But the more we met, the more we talked, the more I began to see things I hadn’t before. In the end, I came to love her.]

It was a sentiment far removed from anything Taesan had experienced. At least, since descending into the labyrinth, he hadn’t felt anything close to that.

[I thought I’d spend my life with her, that we’d grow old together, but…]

“The Demon King appeared, didn’t he?”

[Yes.]

The ghost replied quietly.

He fell silent again.

Taesan glanced at the ghost for a moment but said nothing and continued walking.

Before long, Taesan arrived at the center of the world.

There was a small island in the middle of a lake.

Taesan crossed the river and reached the island. As if waiting for him, several old men dressed in black looked at Taesan.

“…Are you the hero recognized by the world?”

Taesan nodded.

The elder standing in front frowned for a moment.

“Weak.”

He continued in a disappointed tone.

“I feel no power from you. Did the world truly recognize such a person?”

The elder clicked his tongue and turned away.

“Since you’ve passed the first trial, we must follow the prophecy as well. Come with us.”

The elders spoke as they walked deeper into the forest.

Following behind, Taesan asked,

“Have you all reached the pinnacle of your respective fields?”

“We’ve reached the end.”

An elder spoke in a sharp voice.

He held a sword in his hand.

“There is nowhere left for us to reach. The mortal world is nothing but a hindrance. That’s why we settled here.”

He glanced at Taesan.

“Even if you fail to defeat the Demon King, it doesn’t matter. If we step forward, such an enemy is nothing.”

His confidence stemmed from the fact that he had no thought of ever being defeated.

Taesan followed them silently.

They stopped in front of a magic circle. Surrounding it, they pushed Taesan inside.

“Enter.”

They began to unleash their power.

Their combined and amplified force started to weigh down on Taesan.

Rumble!

The overwhelming force crushed his mind and tried to subdue his body. The elder spoke indifferently.

“Give up. I don’t know how you passed the first prophecy, but without any power, you won’t survive this trial. It would’ve been better if the Prince of the Empire had come.”

The elder clicked his tongue. To them, Taesan was too weak.

Even the slightest bit of pressure could have crushed him.

They believed he couldn’t withstand their trial.

But at that moment, they sensed something unusual.

Taesan was enduring their pressure without any change in expression.

No, the word “endure” didn’t seem right.

Their power wasn’t even reaching Taesan in the first place.

The overwhelming gap in power erased their force entirely.

“…What?”

“So, is this what you call reaching the pinnacle?”

Taesan muttered. He had hoped to learn something from them, but the power gap was so vast that he couldn’t even feel it. It was deeply disappointing.

[You have activated the Three Proofs.]

What Taesan had built began to materialize and affect the world. The elders’ power shattered, and their faces turned pale.

“A-Ah…”

Even though Taesan had significantly restrained his power, the elders couldn’t withstand it. Slowly, Taesan withdrew his power.

[You have gained the recognition of those who reached the pinnacle at the center of the world.]

The qualification was fulfilled.

Taesan ignored the elders, who were now sitting dazed, and walked out.

“If you have time, I suggest you seek out a place called the labyrinth.”

This world was created from the ghost’s memories. It was ultimately meaningless, but Taesan left them with a final word.

He immediately moved to fulfill the third prophecy.

“It wasn’t much.”

[If even an adventurer from the labyrinth could feel pressured, fulfilling the prophecy would be impossible.]

The ghost’s words were accurate. The prophecy wasn’t that difficult. Someone like Bradley could easily manage it.

However, the ghost had failed. He couldn’t save the world.

Taesan moved swiftly and arrived at a deep valley.

As he entered, he felt the presence of a powerful being.

[It seems we have a visitor.]

With a soft voice, the presence within the valley revealed itself. Massive scales and enormous wings appeared in the world.

[You have encountered the Blue Dragon, Kareista.]

It was a being similar to the golden dragon Taesan had seen back in Vekveta.

Back then, Taesan had felt an overwhelming sense of power from the dragon, a sensation that he could never defeat it.

But this time was different.

‘This might be doable.’

Taesan quietly stared at the dragon. The dragon, meeting Taesan’s gaze, quietly let out a breath of admiration.

[You... You are strong. I couldn’t possibly not know a being like you.]

The dragon, murmuring to itself, glanced at the ghost. Then, as if understanding, the dragon nodded.

[Ah, I see. This is a world manifested by the gods. Which means this world was destroyed by the Demon King.]

Having grasped the situation, the dragon let out a sigh of regret.

[Prince of the Empire. You failed to save this world. So, you descended into the labyrinth and met your death.]

[...Yes.]

[What a pity. With the power I sense from you now... No, even with just half of that power, you could have saved this world.]

[You're wrong.]

The ghost denied the dragon’s words.

[Even without such power, this country, this place could have done it. They could have won.]

[But you failed.]

[That’s because of those!]

The ghost’s voice rose in anger.

[Those ugly, foolish ones! They ruined everything!]

The dragon smiled quietly.

[I know. It’s unfair and foolish. But that too is part of the trial. Only those who overcome such absurdities deserve to be called heroes.]

[I can’t accept it.]

The ghost growled. The dragon acknowledged the ghost’s anger.

[I understand. But this is how things are now. There’s nothing that can be done. Time cannot be turned back.]

[No.]

The ghost murmured softly.

[That’s not entirely true.]