Ascension Through Skills

The two cities worshipped Taesan perfectly.

Then, the rulers of other cities grew impatient. It wasn’t as if they hadn’t done anything. They had already sent scouts to monitor Malbre’s movements.

As a result, they witnessed the one-sided battle between Taesan and Malbre.

Taesan single-handedly defeated the Crimson Avatar.

This meant he was a powerful foe they could never hope to defeat individually.

They were terrified. Someone with such power would not remain idle. They believed he would surely crush them and flatten their cities.

However, they had no desire to submit to Taesan. They weren’t willing to abandon their positions as rulers of their cities.

They made their decision.

To form an alliance and bring down the tiger named Taesan.

The rulers of Azure Mist, the Martial God, and Kaleyart joined forces.

United, they moved toward the city that had been under the control of the Crimson Avatar.

“…I’ve heard the rumors, but they were true.”

Upon arriving in Taesan’s city, the rulers frowned. The city was brimming with vitality. The people’s faces were flushed with life, and the structures appeared remarkably sturdy.

“Let’s go.”

They entered the city. The residents, noticing their arrival, flinched in fear.

“Huh?”

“W-what’s going on?”

As the rulers and their subordinates from the three groups entered en masse, the people trembled with unease.

The intruders reveled in the fearful gazes of the citizens as they sought out Taesan.

“Are you the one who defeated Malbre?”

The ruler of Azure Mist spoke arrogantly, addressing Taesan.

They surrounded Taesan as though to encircle him.

“I have a proposition for you. Join hands with us.”

The ruler of Azure Mist declared boldly.

They already knew Taesan was strong.

But they were not weak either. They believed that if the three groups united, they could inflict considerable damage. Thus, they proposed an alliance.

“We acknowledge the two cities you’ve conquered as yours. So, don’t interfere with our cities.”

They were convinced Taesan would not reject their offer. After all, they believed they had enough strength to back it up.

Taesan responded.

“What if I refuse?”

The man’s face contorted.

“In that case, regrettably, there’s no other option. Kill him!”

A thunderous roar erupted as leaders from each group ordered their attacks, charging at Taesan.

Taesan watched them with an expressionless face.

The citizens, who had been anxiously observing Taesan from the buildings, screamed and ducked as the noise erupted. Looking up, they saw Taesan engaged in battle with the other groups.

“Die!”

The ruler of Kaleyart roared, unleashing his power.

Simultaneously, an invisible force struck Taesan, pushing him back.

“Hahaha!”

The ruler laughed maniacally, waving his hands roughly. The unseen force continued to press on Taesan.

‘Is it a power similar to telekinesis?’

The invisible force wasn’t magic or black magic. There was no precursor to the power, and its source was hard to discern.

It was a highly unique ability. Not only the ruler of Kaleyart but also his subordinates exhibited similar powers.

“Crush him!”

Following their leader’s orders, the subordinates slammed their hands down.

Taesan’s body was forced to the ground. The earth beneath him cracked and collapsed under the pressure.

“This is fun.”

It was an intriguing power. Watching it was entertaining.

The ruler of Azure Mist also used his power.

Suddenly, a sphere of water enveloped Taesan’s face.

The water obstructed his vision and cut off his breathing. Taesan shook his head to dispel it, but another water sphere quickly formed.

That wasn’t all. Columns and walls of water surrounded Taesan, trying to restrict his movements.

The ruler of the Martial God also took action. He was exceptionally fast and powerful. His sword strikes were sharp, and his movements showed no waste.

However, it wasn’t his own strength. Observing him carefully, Taesan realized that something was attached to the man’s body, forcing him into efficient movements.

Even the subordinates possessed unique abilities. As Taesan observed them, he understood the reason.

The god who scattered divinity across this world wasn’t alone.

Multiple gods had bestowed divinity to protect this world. The abilities varied depending on which god’s divinity one obtained.

“I wonder what kind of power I would gain with my divinity?”

He became curious. Though it was impossible now, if he eventually obtained complete divinity, it might be possible to wield it in a similar manner.

“Ah, ahhh!”

The onlookers groaned in despair.

From their perspective, Taesan seemed unable to withstand the attacks, continually pushed back.

They closed their eyes and prayed desperately.

The ruler of Kaleyart grinned, baring his teeth.

‘We can win!’

Even though they had never fought together before, their coordination was perfect. The thrill of glimpsing a higher realm dominated him.

They pressed Taesan even harder and faster.

The invisible force fiercely gripped Taesan. The ruler of Kaleyart shouted.

“Kill him!”

Sensing an opportunity, they all charged at once. The ruler of Kaleyart rushed in with an invisible sword.

Taesan nodded.

“Impressive.”

They were quite strong.

To Taesan, their strength was like scraps, but they wielded it almost perfectly.

They must have fought desperately.

They likely endured bone-crushing hardships. They had survived battles that cost them dearly, sometimes gambling everything on a single stroke of luck.

Such strength couldn’t be obtained otherwise. Though they were merciless tyrants, their efforts and struggles were genuine.

But overwhelming power crushed all that effort.

As they closed in, Taesan flicked his hand.

[You activated Marbas’ Pitch-Black Wave.]

In an instant, darkness engulfed them.

---

“Huh?”

The ruler of Kaleyart opened his eyes.

“Ah, ah…?”

He blankly lifted his body and looked around.

Everything around him was destroyed.

“Everyone…?”

There was no one.

His trusted subordinates, who had followed him loyally, were nowhere to be found. All that remained was himself and the equally dazed rulers of Azure Mist and the Martial God.

“What… What happened…?”

“You’re alive?”

A voice resonated.

“Even without opening the passage, you survived? More impressive than I thought.”

Taesan stared at him with a calm expression.

Upon seeing Taesan’s face, the ruler of Kaleyart recalled the events.

He had used his power to restrain Taesan, and they had judged it as the perfect opportunity. Everyone charged in unison, and even he had aimed to pierce Taesan’s chest with his invisible sword.

Just as they reached him, Taesan lightly flicked his hand.

At that moment, darkness materialized.

The sight of the darkness sent chills down the ruler of Kaleyart’s spine. Terrified, he enveloped his entire body with his invisible power.

Then, he lost consciousness.

When he regained his senses, everything was buried in darkness.

“What…?”

He swung his hand violently.

The power he expelled in denial contained every last ounce of his remaining strength.

Taesan neither dodged nor blocked.

He simply flicked his fingers lightly.

That alone nullified the ruler’s power.

“You did well enough. Let me make this easy for you.”

Step.

Taesan advanced forward.

The ruler, overcome with fear, unleashed his power wildly.

But every attack that collided with Taesan’s body vanished without a trace.

Desperate to flee, the ruler tried to move, but his body wouldn’t respond.

“Move! I said move!”

“In that state, you can’t move.”

“W-what?”

As the ruler of Kaleyart thrashed, he belatedly realized his body wasn’t moving.

Half of his body had been engulfed by darkness, and the sensation in it was fading.

The same was true for the other surviving rulers. All of them were dying.

“Aaaaaah…”

Only then did he realize.

It wasn’t that Taesan couldn’t counter their attacks. It was that their attacks weren’t even worth responding to.

They had foolishly deluded themselves into thinking they could win.

The ruler ceased his resistance.

Taesan effortlessly finished them off.

“Ooh, oooooh!”

The people, finally understanding the situation, erupted in cheers. They cried out, praising Taesan.

“Savior!”

The beings they had once feared as monsters, those who had oppressed and tormented them, had fallen helplessly under Taesan’s hand.

The groups that had ruled through tyranny and terror were utterly annihilated.

The people wailed Taesan’s name.

“Ooooh!”

“God!”

No one referred to Taesan as the envoy of a god anymore. Nor did they call him a savior.

They called him a god.

They believed he was a deity who had descended to this land to save them.

With his work in the city finished, Taesan moved.

Many people followed him.

He traveled to the remaining cities. There, he planted crops in makeshift fields and built shelters.

At first, the people doubted Taesan. But as those who followed him showed unwavering faith, and as Taesan demanded nothing in return, the people quickly began to worship him.

More than half of the surviving population in this world now worshipped Taesan.

“Hm?”

At that moment, Taesan felt it.

Something within the faith directed toward him was changing.

“What is this?”

It was difficult to describe. Perhaps it could be called influence or presence. Something had shifted.

He couldn’t yet pinpoint exactly what it was.

He resolved to figure it out after addressing the issues in the remaining two cities.

Taesan resolved the problems of the last two cities as well, planting crops and providing shelters.

All the inhabitants of the five cities now worshipped Taesan.

Every surviving human revered Taesan as a god.

“Huh?”

At that moment, Taesan realized the faith directed toward him had qualitatively changed.

[You have fulfilled the proper qualifications. You have acquired the conceptual skill: [Master of Faith].]

[Your proficiency in Divine Power has increased by 3%.]

---

“Huh?”

Minerva, walking beside Taesan, widened her eyes. Even the ghost faltered.

“Master?”

[Uh... something about you has changed.]

Taesan was already aware of it.

A strange sensation enveloped his entire body. It was an unfamiliar yet incredible feeling he had never experienced before.

“You suddenly feel so distant,”

Minerva murmured with a blank expression.

She meant it literally. Though Taesan stood right beside her, it felt as if he was in an entirely different dimension.

Taesan opened his skill window.

[Conceptual Skill: Master of Faith]

[Proficiency: 1%]

[Worshipped by all beings of a world.]

The description was incredibly simple.

Taesan raised his hand and expressed his will.

In that instant, the flow of the air changed.

Even Minerva, the Spirit King, could only purify a single city due to the contamination caused by the ancient gods. That limitation spoke volumes about the extent of the planet’s corruption.

“Oh no…”

Minerva was astonished.

The air was being purified.

The contamination caused by the ancient gods dissipated, and countless plants turned green along with the air.

People realized that breathing had become much easier than before.

“What is this…?”

The purification itself wasn’t extraordinary.

Even Taesan could purify a small area using his influence over nature.

But this time, it wasn’t just the city that was purified.

The purified air spread beyond the city, reaching the entire world.

Taesan understood.

He had become the god of this planet.