Ascension Through Skills

Chapter 336

The Demon King moved.

To destroy the world, he trampled the kingdoms and killed anyone who stood in his way.

However, those who fell before the Demon King’s power did not just die. They risked their lives to buy time, somehow allowing people to unite.

Thanks to that, the front line between humans and the Demon King was formed.

“Kill them!”

“For humanity!”

“For the world!”

The knights roared as they charged towards the monsters. Spears pierced through the heads of the monsters. A giant monster swung its arm, sweeping away soldiers like dominos.

Humans and monsters were dying. Bradley also stood at the front line, cutting down monsters.

An old man next to Bradley spoke gruffly as he swung his sword. Dozens of charging monsters split apart at once.

Bradley glanced at the old man with a grin.

“You’re here, master.”

“Shut up. Thanks to my foolish disciple, I’m suffering like this in my old age.”

The old man grumbled, but his expression wasn’t too bad.

Taesan moved toward the battlefield. The attacking monsters screamed and charged at Taesan, as if they knew that killing Taesan would end everything.

“Protect the hero!”

Countless soldiers rushed to protect Taesan.

But Taesan did not need their protection.

Taesan’s sword drew a diagonal line.

Dozens of charging monsters were cut in half simultaneously.

“Huh?”

People hesitated. Taesan gathered mana.

[You have activated Starlight Arrow.]

[You have activated Magic Concentration.]

Arrows of light formed, heading toward the front.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

They pierced through all the monsters in their path, exploding in their midst.

“Ahhhh!”

With a deafening roar, light engulfed the world. When people barely opened their eyes, every monster in sight had vanished.

“My God!”

“That, that magic!”

The mages gasped at the power Taesan displayed. Being mages themselves, they recognized that what Taesan had cast was indeed magic, and they also realized that the power contained within it was something they could never reach, even if they sacrificed their lives.

“…A monster. Is that also the hero’s power?”

“This is my power.”

“Is that so? I feel pathetic for trying to become a hero.”

Grumbling, Bradley looked beyond the battlefield.

The monsters were charging once again.

“We’ll handle the minions. You go deal with your opponent.”

A massive force was felt beyond the monsters.

Taesan pressed his foot to the ground.

[You have activated Acceleration.]

[You have activated Skill Acceleration.]

His body leaped into the air. A gust of wind swept over, and some people collapsed on the spot.

The monsters tried to block him, but before they could respond, Taesan had already arrived at his destination.

There stood a figure clad in black, holding a black sword.

Taesan raised his sword. The man gripped his sword with both hands and swung it down.

Clang!

The swords collided.

Taesan exerted force in his arms, attempting to push back his opponent’s sword.

Then, darkness wrapped around the opponent’s body. It tried to engulf Taesan’s entire body, attempting to stain him.

Taesan gathered his power and swung. He forcibly shook off the darkness.

“You’re strong.”

The opponent muttered quietly, twisting his sword.

With the sound of blades grinding, they both stepped back.

As the darkness scattered, the figure became visible.

A man with completely pale skin, clad in black, wielding a greatsword stood before him.

[The one who brings destruction, the Demon King, has appeared.]

The Demon King stared indifferently at Taesan. His gaze shifted next to Taesan.

“Come forth, hidden one.”

[...]

The hidden ghost revealed itself. The Demon King looked at the ghost for a moment before nodding.

“You are the hero of the previous world that failed.”

“You’re quick to notice.”

The Demon King was aware that this world was a fake.

The ghost spoke quietly.

[And you are the Demon King.]

“Indeed. I exist to bring about the destruction of this world.”

[...]

After staring at the Demon King for a moment, the ghost hid itself again.

“You’re quiet. You seem to be deep in thought… but there’s no need to concern yourself with someone who’s already been defeated.”

The Demon King raised his greatsword, pointing it at Taesan.

“You must be the warrior summoned to defeat me.”

Darkness began to spread across the world. Taesan sensed the power contained within it.

“A monster.”

The Demon King had transcended mortality. Taesan had seen a power similar to his somewhere before.

In the world of Hafran.

The will of the world that existed inside it.

The being Taesan had to risk his life to block one of its strikes. That same level of power was emanating from the Demon King.

“First of all… I should thank you.”

The Demon King spoke words of gratitude.

“Thanks to you, I can once again bring destruction to the world. And this time, it’s not against fools, but a world that risks everything to try and defeat me.”

“If you’re grateful, it would be nice if you just died quietly.”

“That’s impossible. I am the Demon King. I exist as a device to bring destruction to the world. I will act for that purpose.”

The Demon King stomped his foot. Darkness began to focus on Taesan.

“So, hero who dares oppose me, show me your power.”

[Your opponent is an enemy that victory is impossible against.]

Amidst the swirling darkness, Taesan gathered his power.

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

[You have activated Vessel of the King.]

[You have activated Avatar of Nature.]

[Your action contrary to the giant's will has been activated.]

[Your Giant Killer has been activated.]

[You have activated Contempt for the Strong.]

[Your Honorable Duel has been activated.]

[Your Desire for Battle has been activated.]

[You have activated Forced Fall.]

An unimaginable number of skills are activated. Force and power simultaneously envelop Taesan.

Taesan gathers dark energy, facing the swirling darkness.

[You have activated Marbas' Pitch-Black Wave.]

The ravenous darkness surges toward the Demon King’s darkness.

The darkness clashes with the darkness, each trying to devour the other.

[You have activated Forced Amplification.]

Using Forced Amplification, Taesan attempts to push back the Demon King’s darkness.

But it was not enough.

The black magic Taesan wielded was trampled by the Demon King’s darkness, vanishing without a trace.

It wasn’t just a matter of strength.

The Demon King was an existence that brought about the world’s destruction, swallowing and crushing everything in the world.

A being on par with the will of the world of Hafran.

A being that transcended mortality.

There was a gap of immeasurable strength and power between Taesan and the Demon King.

But Taesan possessed the power to overcome that difference.

The will within Taesan’s sword awakened. In accordance with the prophecy, Taesan’s force and power, meant to face the Demon King, swelled rapidly.

Taesan swung his sword violently.

As the power within the sword exploded, the darkness split and dissipated. Taesan planted his foot firmly. The Demon King’s greatsword clashed with Taesan’s sword, and the impact spread in all directions.

“Hmph.”

The Demon King let out a small groan. Now, Taesan’s sword contained a force and strength that even the Demon King could not easily repel.

Clang!

Taesan deflected the sword and adjusted his stance.

‘So, this is it.’

The will within the sword rose violently, forcibly raising Taesan’s strength and power.

A strength Taesan had never felt before began to dwell within him.

This was the power of the weapon, gained by fulfilling the prophecy, meant to defeat the Demon King.

In this state… Taesan clenched his fist.

[You have activated Frozen World.]

[You have activated Magic Concentration.]

A blast of cold air surged forward. The Demon King gathered his darkness and unleashed a wave.

The darkness wielded by the Demon King was the power of destruction, swallowing everything and returning it to nothingness.

The waves of ice and darkness collided.

Rumble!

Shards of power scattered in all directions.

Neither side was giving ground; it was a nearly equal situation.

A smile deepened on the Demon King’s lips.

“Good.”

The Demon King charged at Taesan with the darkness.

Clang!

The Demon King pushed Taesan back, swinging his arm. Darkness surged, trying to engulf Taesan completely.

[You have activated Gale Slash.]

Taesan grasped his dual swords and charged like a storm. Cutting through the raging darkness, he pressed the Demon King.

Clang!

The swords clashed. The Demon King spun his body and swung the greatsword fiercely. Taesan ducked, dodging the attack, and charged again. The Demon King waved his hand, causing the darkness to explode.

Rumble!

The darkness surged, attempting to swallow Taesan.

[You have activated Limited Blink.]

Taesan moved behind the Demon King. He turned his body, aiming to slash the Demon King’s back.

But the Demon King responded. In an instant, he twisted his body, avoiding the sword strike, and brought down the greatsword.

Clang!

The swords collided.

The Demon King exerted force, trying to push Taesan back. The blades twisted, and they found themselves in a contest of strength.

[You have activated Strong Blow.]

Crack!

In that moment, a stronger force imbued Taesan’s sword. The Demon King slowly began to be pushed back.

And the will contained within the sword flared even more fiercely.

The will to defeat destruction and save the world enveloped Taesan.

In an instant, Taesan’s strength and power grew to the point of overwhelming the Demon King.

Clang!

The Demon King groaned and was flung back, unable to withstand the power contained within the sword.

But Taesan frowned.

The power and force contained within the sword surged toward Taesan.

It seemed as if facing the Demon King was displeasing, and his power was being forcibly raised to a level capable of victory.

If such force were granted, no matter how strong one was, they would not withstand it and would be destroyed.

Taesan now understood why it was possible to defeat an overwhelming being like the Demon King.

It was quite simple.

If you couldn’t win, the force and power would be granted until you could.

There was no consideration for the hero. It was only about turning him into a machine to defeat the Demon King.

“Not very fun.”

The Demon King, perhaps realizing this, had lost his enthusiasm.

He did not wish to fall by human hands or be defeated by another device created solely to beat him.

But now, the force was being granted to the point that nothing could be done.

Humans could not resist such forced empowerment. Before long, Taesan’s will would be crushed, transforming him into something meant only to defeat the Demon King.

“At the very least, it’s my duty to kill you before that happens.”

The Demon King gathered the power to destroy the world into his sword. Just as he was about to push off the ground and charge,

“Get lost.”

[You have activated Word of Denial.]

Taesan uttered the word.

The force and power that had tried to engulf him began to retreat.

The will within the sword flickered, resisting, as if to say that if it did not overwhelm him, the Demon King could not be defeated.

“Shut up.”

He spoke with determination.

He had no intention of relying on the sword or its power to win.

It had always been his will that acted.

“Just give me your strength.”

He crushed the will and force with his own. The will that had erupted from the sword let out a scream and sank.

The sword’s will quieted, transforming into a tool that moved according to Taesan’s will.

[Your mastery of Word of Command has increased by 1%.]

[Your mastery of ??? has increased by 1%.]

The Demon King, having observed the entire process, raised the corner of his mouth.

“Impressive.”

It was a very satisfying sight, seeing a human defy him with his own will.

“But what now? You’ve overcome it, but that means your power has diminished as well.”

Rough darkness erupted from the Demon King.

Taesan had forcibly crushed the force and power granted by the sword. Though the effect itself hadn’t disappeared, it was no longer sufficient to defeat the Demon King.

“I’m not just relying on that.”

Taesan responded. His entire focus was on the sword. If he allowed his mind to waver even slightly, it would try to engulf him again.

He had little room to use any other power.

“So, you and I will fight with just our swords.”

[You have activated Forced Duel.]