Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 443: 86th Floor, The World of Armaments (5)

“First, take a look.”

Kosrun handed Cavert’s Relic back to Taesan.

Cavert’s Relic: The Final Masterpiece

A relic from a now-destroyed world. It claimed the lives of countless royals. You are now its final master. If ownership changes, all of the sword's attributes will disappear.

Currently in a highly incomplete state, it holds no value as a weapon. A vessel for housing a soul has been prepared.

“The attack power stats are completely gone.”

“That’s because I’ve reconfigured it. My goal isn’t to trap a soul in a sword—it’s to transform the soul into the sword itself. I’ve modified it to align with the soul’s characteristics. As a result, its value as a weapon is gone, but that’s irrelevant. Once this is complete, it’ll have power beyond comparison.”

Kosrun, grinning ear to ear, led Taesan deeper into the cave.

There, a prepared altar stood, seemingly assembled at some point without notice.

Four pillars surrounded the altar, swirling with immense willpower and strength. At the center of the altar was a slot perfectly sized for a sword.

“All you have to do is place Cavert’s Relic into the slot on the altar.”

“Me? I’m the one who has to do it?”

“No. Only the soul destined to become the sword can do it.”

[I hate to break it to you, but I can’t physically touch anything.]

The ghost, being dead, could not influence the physical world under normal circumstances. Kosrun waved his hand dismissively.

“That’s what the altar’s for. Don’t worry.”

He began manipulating several devices surrounding the altar.

Whirrrrr!

The mechanisms roared to life, sending out strange vibrations that spread throughout the cave.

[This is...]

At the same time, the ghost’s ethereal form began to take on color.

Previously like a misty apparition, it now regained some semblance of its former self.

“You should have enough physical presence to hold the sword now.”

[...]

The ghost stretched out a hand. Cavert’s Relic rested smoothly in his grasp.

[It’s been a long time since I held this sword again.]

“No need to get sentimental. You’re about to become one with it. We’re short on time. Let’s move.”

The ghost stepped into the altar, gripping Cavert’s Relic. Kosrun spoke slowly.

“From this point forward, focus deeply on your desires. While the sword will take shape by default, its abilities will reflect what you wish for most.”

[What I wish for...]

“Let’s begin!” Kosrun exclaimed, his voice full of excitement as he activated the mechanism. The ghost plunged Cavert’s Relic into the slot at the altar’s center.

Whirrrrrr!

The altar emitted a thunderous noise as its systems synchronized and amplified the surrounding power.

The energy focused on the ghost and the sword.

[Ugh.]

The ghost let out a faint groan.

It was an intensely uncomfortable sensation. It felt as though every part of him was being distorted and corrupted. Steeling himself, the ghost dove deep into his thoughts.

‘What do I wish for?’

Boom!

With a deafening sound, the ghost’s form began to collapse.

At the same time, Cavert’s Relic floated into the air.

The sword, distorted and fragmented by the overwhelming energy, merged with the ghost.

It wasn’t just a soul being placed inside the sword—it was the creation of a perfect unity.

A living weapon, shaped like a sword, began to form.

“Ohhhhhh!” Kosrun cried out in ecstasy, his face radiant with joy.

The fusion seemed to be a success. The merging soul of Bardray showed no resistance, as though the ghost and the sword had been one from the beginning.

“I did it! I really did it!” Kosrun shouted in triumph.

But just as the fusion was reaching completion, something descended upon them.

A pure force—indescribable, unmeasurable, closer to a law than a tangible power.

It touched the ghost.

[Ah.]

The ghost groaned softly.

“What? Wh-what’s happening?” Kosrun’s face twisted in panic as the perfectly merging ghost and sword suddenly destabilized.

“What’s going on?!”

He frantically manipulated the devices, but nothing changed.

The ghost’s soul was being pulled away, drawn toward where it naturally belonged.

“Why is this happening?!” Kosrun yelled, his voice filled with confusion.

But Taesan understood.

“It’s death.”

The laws of the world dictated that a soul without a body must pass into the afterlife. That natural order now attempted to drag the ghost, who was on the verge of becoming a sword, into its proper place.

“That’s not going to happen.”

Taesan unleashed a wave of black energy. In an instant, the cave was consumed by darkness. Kosrun’s eyes widened in shock.

“Wha—what’s this?”

Taesan infused the darkness with divine power.

The cave was blanketed in a grayish hue.

The pull of death, which had been dragging the ghost away, was blocked by the boundary. It could no longer reach him.

Regaining his freedom, the ghost completed his transformation into the sword. He focused deeply on his innermost desire.

Boom!

The gray energy engulfed the world.

“Ugh...” Kosrun staggered, barely managing to stay upright. The altar had been obliterated, leaving no trace behind.

At its center lay a single sword.

“Did it... succeed?” Kosrun muttered, his voice uncertain.

Taesan approached the sword.

Outwardly, it appeared the same as Cavert’s Relic.

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But the energy emanating from it was entirely different—and unmistakably familiar to Taesan.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

[Cold. I doubt I’ll feel warmth anymore.]

The ghost’s voice echoed from the sword.

Taesan gripped Cavert’s Relic.

[You have obtained the Prince of a Fallen World: Bardray.]

***

It was no longer Cavert’s Relic. The sword in Taesan’s hand was now, in every sense, Bardray himself.

“Cough, cough.” Kosrun approached, brushing off the dust.

When he saw Bardray in Taesan’s hand, he rushed over eagerly.

“How is it? Did it work?”

[Looks like it.]

Bardray floated out of Taesan’s grip, moving freely in the air. The way it drifted was so natural, it was as if a human were moving their body.

“Oh... ohhhh!” Kosrun’s face lit up with unrestrainable joy.

“Hahaha! I did it! I really did it! I succeeded!”

Kosrun, practically bouncing in excitement, grabbed Taesan’s hand.

“Thank you. Truly, thank you! It’s all thanks to you.”

“So, does this mean you’ve achieved your goal?” Taesan asked.

“No, not quite,” Kosrun replied, his exhilaration still evident.

“Creating a living weapon through the fusion of soul and blade—something no one else has done—is an achievement, no doubt. But my true desire is to witness one of my creations surpass mortality with my own eyes.”

Though Bardray had gained the potential for such a feat, he had not yet crossed that threshold. Kosrun’s ultimate dream remained unfulfilled.

Still, Kosrun was visibly content.

“But this is more than enough. It exceeds all my expectations. If Bardray ever does ascend to immortality, promise you’ll come find me. I need to see it with my own eyes!”

[Sure, I can do that.]

“Oh...” Kosrun shuddered, overcome with emotion.

“It’s all thanks to you,” he said, looking at Taesan. After all, it was Taesan who had brought the ghost to him, making the fulfillment of his ambitions possible.

“What’s your name again?”

“Taesan.”

“Right, Taesan. Is there anything else you want? Just name it, and I’ll make it for you.”

But Taesan glanced at Kosrun’s face and shook his head.

Kosrun looked utterly exhausted, his hollowed features resembling a walking corpse.

“Let’s talk after you’ve had some rest. I need to check everything anyway.”

“Ah...”

Finally realizing how tired he was, Kosrun’s legs wobbled.

“You’re right... Sorry, I need to rest a bit. I’ll come back later.”

Kosrun stumbled back to his private workspace, leaving Taesan to step outside.

“How does it feel?” Taesan asked.

[Hmm... it feels like I’ve become the sword itself. That’s the best way to describe it. The sensations are strange, but I don’t think I’ll have any trouble moving.]

Bardray floated midair and began to move. A sharp slicing sound followed as the sword executed several strikes.

However, the movements were clumsy, like a child struggling to handle the weight of the weapon.

[This is rough. It’ll take some time to get used to wielding myself as a sword. Still, it’s not bad. I’m satisfied.]

“That’s good to hear. Congratulations.”

Taesan sincerely congratulated him, and Bardray responded in kind.

[Thanks.]

“So, what’s next? What do you plan to do now?”

Bardray was now free in every sense.

He could leave Taesan’s side without any issues. Taesan wouldn’t stop him if that was his decision.

[The reason I chose to become a sword was to see the rest of your journey.]

Bardray spoke calmly.

[Considering everything I owe you, leaving now would be shameless, don’t you think?]

“That’s true,” Taesan joked. Bardray returned to his hand.

[I have no intention of leaving you. You’re the only one worthy of wielding me.]

[You have been acknowledged by Bardray. All abilities of the Stormscar Sword are now yours.]

Along with Bardray’s acknowledgment, all aspects of the Stormscar Sword were transferred to Taesan. Knowledge, experience, and skill—all of it flowed into him.

Taesan swung Bardray. The sharp sound of air being sliced followed as the blade swept through the air like a storm.

It was the Swordsmanship of the Stormscar. Though Taesan had learned it directly from Bardray before, the level of skill he now demonstrated was on a completely different scale.

[It seems my desire manifested in this way... how curious.]

“What did you wish for?”

[Nothing significant. I just thought it’d be nice if I could still teach the Stormscar Sword to others even as a blade. I guess this is the result. It’s a bit different from what I expected, but I’m not complaining.]

Taesan had gained near-perfect mastery of the Stormscar Sword.

Since the Ability Sword was based on the principles of the Stormscar Sword, this newfound mastery meant a substantial increase in his proficiency with the Ability Sword.

Taesan had reached the heights of swordsmanship that Bardray had spent a lifetime achieving.

[And here’s the other thing.]

[Bardray activated Form Manifestation.]

The sword floated in midair, its shape shifting. The blade twisted, and the hilt bent and distorted.

Before long, a humanoid figure forged of steel stood in its place.

[The sensations haven’t changed, but... I guess this will do.]

“Did you wish to take on a human form?” Taesan asked.

[Something like that. Being a sword all the time would be inconvenient, wouldn’t it? I thought it’d be nice to have the option of a humanoid form. This should suffice for now.]

Bardray reverted to sword form and returned to Taesan’s hand.

[Go ahead and check.]

“Are you sure?”

Although Bardray had been a companion, he was now a weapon. Taesan felt it was necessary to assess his abilities, but he had hesitated, worried it might make Bardray uncomfortable.

[It’s fine. I was prepared for this. I’m your weapon now. You cleared the 86th floor and Kosrun’s quest to obtain me. Use me as you see fit.]

“If you insist.”

Taesan didn’t hold back any longer. The system window for Bardray appeared before him.

Prince of a Fallen World: Bardray

The prince of Cavert’s empire from a destroyed world. Bardray was reborn with a sword as his body.

Stats:

Attack Power: +2500

All swordsmanship skills gain greatly enhanced proficiency.

Bardray can move independently and wield his swordsmanship on his own.

Bardray can grow stronger. His attack power increases as he defeats enemies.

Only those acknowledged by Bardray can wield him.

Those acknowledged by Bardray can perfectly master the Stormscar Sword.

For one hour per day, Bardray can activate Form Manifestation, allowing him to assume a humanoid form.