Ascension Through Skills
Chapter 393: The Sixth Return, Earth (10)

[Manifestation of Divine Power] [A blessing descends.] [You have obtained the divine blessing [Unwavering Choice].]

The blessing of the gods descended upon the people of the world. Taesan opened the skill window.

[Divine Blessing: Unwavering Choice] [If you hold unwavering confidence in your decision, all action speeds will increase when you act on that choice. Additionally, attack power and defense will slightly increase. You will also gain broader vision and heightened senses.]

It was a buff requiring specific conditions, but fulfilling those conditions wasn’t too difficult. Players who had ventured through the labyrinth so far would naturally act without doubting their decisions.

This blessing not only enhanced stats but also vision, senses, attack power, and defense. It would be a great help in conquering the labyrinth.

People cheered in delight and amazement.

Taesan also acquired another ability.

[Special Activation Skill: Choice Exclusion.] [You can select one enemy attack to nullify. This skill can only be activated once per battle and has a one-day cooldown. Attacks of a level higher than yours cannot be nullified.]

Reading the description, Taesan let out a small exclamation.

A skill that erased an attack. It seemed to negate an attack by excluding the opponent’s choice, effectively nullifying the result. It looked highly useful, akin to the Greed of Destruction.

‘It’s similar.’

The skill closely resembled Taesan’s own attack nullification ability. However, while his nullification ability did not allow him to select which attack to block, Choice Exclusion was a selectable activation skill, making it more valuable.

It was an unusual skill for a mere reward. Maria cleared up his doubts.

[It is part of the authority I possess—the Authority of Choice. Are you satisfied?]

“More than enough. Is it acceptable to grant such power to someone who isn’t even your apostle?”

[You disposed of those troublesome beings’ apostles. This much is fine as compensation.]

Maria chuckled softly, and Taesan accepted it gratefully.

Maria’s rewards had come to an end.

Now, it was time to reassess his current strength.

Taesan quietly reflected on himself. What state had he reached as someone who had attained immortality?

He had undoubtedly achieved immortality, thanks to the faith of players from China, Russia, and India.

Even if people’s faith in him disappeared, the realm he had reached would not falter.

However, since his power wasn’t solely achieved through his own means, it could weaken depending on the people’s faith.

Beyond attaining immortality, he had acquired quite a lot this time. It was time to check everything.

[Special Passive Skill: Avenger] [Mastery: 1%] [When fighting an opponent who defeated you before, all action speeds will increase, and attack power will slightly rise. If the opponent is stronger than you, all stats will increase proportionally.]

This skill was acquired in battles with apostles. He hadn’t obtained it during the trials of the God of Despair, likely because the apostle was a construct of his memory.

“There probably won’t be another use for this.”

Among all his past and current lives, only one being had defeated Taesan: the apostle of a high god. Though he had lost sparring matches against Ainzhar, those were not life-and-death battles and likely wouldn’t trigger the skill.

[Special Passive Skill: Enemy of High Gods] [Mastery: 1%] [You are recognized as the enemy of the ancient gods invading the world. When fighting entities related to high gods, all stats and action speed will increase. Additionally, you are less susceptible to their corruption and can deal more direct damage to their essence.]

It was similar to Dualism but optimized for fighting high gods. The more passive skills one acquired, the greater the advantage.

[Title: Savior.] [You saved the world from entities trying to destroy it.] [When preventing the destruction of a world, the majority of living beings will show deep trust and faith in you.] [The faith and divinity you receive from them are amplified.]

The Savior title had very practical effects. He would likely encounter ancient gods in conflict while descending the labyrinth, often saving worlds from destruction in the process.

It was a highly valuable title for most of these scenarios.

Numerous skills had also seen their mastery levels rise. Notably, Seed of Life had increased by 13%, reaching nearly 40%.

The apostles of ancient gods devoured their opponents to make their power their own, which likely explained the rapid mastery increase.

His divinity mastery also reached 90%.

If he received faith from all players on Earth, it would likely hit 100%.

At that point, Earth could become his domain, and he might ascend to transcendence.

Although it was speculative, it seemed entirely possible.

Additionally, defeating the apostle of a high god—an immortal being called the Destroyer—granted Taesan a new soul skill.

［Soul Skill: Destroyer］ ［Mastery: 1%］ [Destroyer of all things. Whatever you crush and destroy becomes part of your power and authority. However, your current level and qualifications are insufficient to wield this power fully.]

The authority of an immortal being. It was similar to the King of Machinery.

However, there was a difference.

This time, it stated that while he lacked qualifications to fully wield it, partial usage was possible.

Having confirmed everything, Taesan moved on.

Now it was time to determine what he could do next.

His first task was naturally to examine his soul skills.

［Soul Skill: King of Machinery］ ［Mastery: 1%］ [The king of all machinery. The power of their ruler. Your current level and qualifications are insufficient to wield this power fully.]

“Clear.”

Previously, the description stated his qualifications were wholly inadequate. But now, having reached the realm of immortality, there was no reason he couldn’t wield it.

As he moved to confirm this, he saw Kim Hwiyeon and others struggling in front of a tractor.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh! Oh! It’s Sir Taesan!”

Landing before them, people scrambled to bow their heads in awe. Taesan asked them,

“What are you trying to do with the tractor?”

“We’re reaching the limit of what we can grow manually.”

Kim Hwiyeon spoke up.

The population had grown too large. Feeding over a hundred million people was no small task.

While simple farming methods could sustain them, the land area required for cultivation had become massive.

Using machines was far more efficient than having people harvest everything manually.

“But it seems impossible. Even if we somehow find fuel, the internal components are broken… and we have no spare parts.”

Kim Hwiyeon shook her head as she explained.

Taesan gazed at the tractor quietly.

He reached out his hand.

[The authority of Kang Taesan manifests. The King of Machinery has been activated.]

Kiing!

The authority materialized.

The tractor began making noise as its broken components started moving. People jumped back in surprise, keeping their distance.

[...Huh?]

The ghost let out a baffled sound.

Taesan didn’t understand the structure of the tractor. He had no idea how it worked or operated.

But it didn’t matter.

There was no need to know or understand.

The correct answer simply emerged in Taesan’s mind.

Kururung.

The noisy tractor, now silent, roared to life with the sound of its engine. People’s eyes widened in amazement.

“There’s fuel, but it won’t last long. Find some on your own.”

“Ah, yes…”

The people nodded blankly, still dazed. Kim Hwiyeon clicked her tongue in astonishment.

“This kind of thing is possible?”

“I can do it now.”

Taesan gave a casual response as he leaped away from the city.

He arrived at a massive power plant.

It had once provided electricity to an entire city but was now completely destroyed and desolate.

[The authority of Kang Taesan manifests. The King of Machinery has been activated.]

The authority materialized.

Taesan didn’t know how the power plant worked, but it didn’t matter. He knew the solution.

Components moved through the air, shifting between machines. Spaces were filled, and unusable parts were removed and transformed into components for other machines.

Taesan snapped his fingers.

The power plant roared to life, humming with noise as it began operating.

“So, this is authority.”

[This is utterly ridiculous.]

The ghost muttered. Though it knew Taesan had obtained the authority of an immortal, seeing him wield it firsthand was hard to accept.

Authority was something built over a lifetime by a being’s very existence.

Taesan not only stole the results of such efforts but wielded them as if they were his own.

[What… what are you?]

“I don’t know either.”

The Soul Ascension skill was an enigma, even to him.

After testing various things, Taesan understood how to use the King of Machinery.

“I can’t create entirely new machines or invent non-existent components.”

For now, all he could do was repair machines.

The skill description stated he lacked the level and qualifications to fully utilize it. While he had only just become immortal, wielding the authority of another immortal freely was still beyond him. There were clear limitations.

“Still, it’s quite useful.”

When rebuilding Earth’s civilization, machines posed the greatest challenge. In a developed modern society, even skilled technicians couldn’t start from scratch. Re-establishing electricity and creating all machinery from the ground up required immense time and effort.

With the King of Machinery, he could solve this problem perfectly.

“I wonder if the Law of Order can also be used. It’s worth testing.”

[I don’t get it.]

The ghost chuckled dryly. Thinking too much about it was exhausting, so it decided not to bother.

Having finished inspecting his soul skills, Taesan fiddled with the materials in his possession.

［Crystallized Divine Blood］ ［Essence of the World］

These were materials he had obtained earlier but had been unable to use due to lacking the necessary strength and qualifications.

Now, he could handle them to some extent.

[How do you plan to use them?]

“I’m still deciding.”

Taesan wasn’t a blacksmith. He couldn’t refine or forge anything.

He considered absorbing them to turn them into his power, but that required extensive preparation.

For now, he had no immediate use for them.

[Do as you wish. They belong to you now.]

“That’s the plan… but aren’t you leaving?”

Taesan turned his gaze.

Maria was standing there, smiling quietly.

[You’re so cold. Trying to chase me away like this.]

“Others left immediately after concluding their business. I was just curious.”

Lakiratas, the Demon God, and Beatrice had all left Earth after bestowing their blessings. Maria, however, still remained.

[I still have things to observe.]

“Observe?”

[You’ll find out soon enough.]

With those words, Maria’s figure disappeared.

Taesan couldn’t discern Maria’s true purpose.

Time passed.

Only two days remained until their return to the labyrinth.

People waited calmly, ready to go back.

Taesan, having completed his preparations, rested quietly in Cheonji.

“Whew.”

Lee Taeyeon climbed up to Cheonji, drenched in sweat.

“Oh, Taesan, you’re here?”

“There’s nothing else to do. Were you sparring with Junhyeok?”

“Yes. I don’t know when we’ll return again, so I thought I’d enjoy the last scenery.”

Lee Taeyeon nodded.

Her proactive demeanor was something he hadn’t seen in his past life.

She had truly grown strong.

“By the way, Maria is still here…”

“Why? Does it bother you?”

“Not really. I can’t quite explain it, but it feels… strange.”

Taesan observed her for a moment and then checked the link connected to her.

What was this?

Even in his immortal state, he couldn’t fully understand.

At that moment, Taesan suddenly thought of the floral decoration Maria had given him.

He picked it up. Now that he had reached immortality, he could sense its power more clearly than before.

“What’s that? It’s pretty.”

Lee Taeyeon looked at the floral decoration curiously.

Taesan inspected it carefully.

[You have activated Essence Recognition.] [You have activated Reconnaissance.]

The floral decoration’s information was revealed.

It wasn’t meant for Taesan—it was meant for someone else.

And who was that someone?

As Taesan pondered, he suddenly froze.

“What?”

He frowned.

Startled by his reaction, Lee Taeyeon flinched.

“What’s wrong?”

Without answering, Taesan handed her the floral decoration.

“You’re giving this to me?”

Hesitantly, Lee Taeyeon accepted the floral decoration.

At that moment, it began to glow.

[Maria’s Gift has been activated.]

“Huh?”

Lee Taeyeon’s eyes widened. The floral decoration merged into her body.

Taesan could see it clearly.

The link within her began to amplify.

“Huh? Huhhhh?”

Lee Taeyeon was visibly flustered, but the light embraced her gently, as if it didn’t care.