Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 482: 91st Floor. Ouroboros (3)
Ouroboros. It wasn’t a name unfamiliar to Kang Taesan.
It was engraved in his memory, impossible to forget.
The Wizard chuckled softly.
“Well, you already know about it, don’t you?”
“There’s no way I wouldn’t.”
Taesan opened his inventory.
In his hand appeared a dark, dull stone.
[Regurgitated Gastric Stone of Ouroboros]
[A gastric stone from the god governing the cycle of all things.]
[Usable once. Allows a single person’s time to be rewound.]
[Used.]
This item, the very beginning of everything, had allowed him to turn back time and make the right choices.
The Wizard tilted his head, intrigued, as he observed the stone in Taesan’s hand.
“Lee Taeyeon... I still don’t get it. How on earth did she manage to obtain that?”
The gods remember time that has been rewound.
Lee Taeyeon, an adventurer who had cleared the labyrinth, was no mystery to the Wizard. Thus, his astonishment toward her was genuine.
“No adventurer or god has ever achieved anything meaningful within Ouroboros’s domain.”
“You don’t know what she did either?”
“I can’t see what happens inside there. It’s a distorted and twisted place, swallowed by the serpent. Even she couldn’t speak of it.”
The Wizard’s gaze held a flicker of admiration.
“She’s truly remarkable. While she’s not exactly suited for the labyrinth’s ultimate purpose, her abilities are exceptional. Maria made a good choice.”
Taesan didn’t disagree. Lee Taeyeon deserved every bit of praise.
“So, what exactly is this place?”
What was Ouroboros? What did it mean to be a devoured world?
The Wizard began to explain.
“Ouroboros. The serpent governing the cycle of all things. A being that influences the entire universe.”
“A god, then?”
“You could call it a god... but it’s a bit more ambiguous than that.”
The Wizard trailed off briefly.
“Unlike other transcendents who ascend through strength from their mortal days, Ouroboros was born as an entity governing the cycle of existence.”
“Like Dersha?”
The God of Death, Dersha, was also a primordial entity, presiding over death itself since the dawn of the world. Ouroboros’s description seemed to align with that.
But the Wizard shook his head.
“It’s a bit different from that concept. If Dersha is a transcendent being, then Ouroboros cannot be called one. Strictly speaking, it’s more like... a mechanism.”
“A mechanism?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. After eons—immeasurable spans of time—when all things come to an end, the slumbering Ouroboros awakens.”
The Wizard’s tone resembled that of a bard reciting mythic lore, filled with an almost reverent weight.
“It devours everything that has stagnated and initiates a new cycle. That’s the role assigned to Ouroboros since the universe’s inception.”
“From the sound of it, it shouldn’t be active now.”
“That’s correct. Normally, it would remain dormant no matter what happened in the universe. But...”
The Wizard’s expression turned complex.
“For some reason, it woke up far earlier than it should have.”
Ouroboros was moving ahead of schedule. A mechanism gone awry.
“It consumed parts of the world. Not just mortals but even immortals and some transcendents were swallowed whole by Ouroboros. None of them have ever returned.”
“Even transcendents can’t escape it?”
“Ouroboros is a mechanism born with the universe itself. No matter how powerful a transcendent is, they can’t contend with it.”
Transcendents draw their power from the laws and concepts of the world. Ouroboros, however, is those laws and concepts, the very source of their power.
It was beyond even a transcendent’s ability to interfere with.
“We don’t know what happens inside it. That’s why this quest exists.”
The Wizard looked at Taesan.
“Enter the world devoured by Ouroboros. Find out why it awoke, and uncover the fate of those within.”
Such was the quest of the 91st floor.
Taesan, after a brief moment of contemplation, asked a question.
“You gave Lee Taeyeon a similar quest, didn’t you?”
“That’s right. Her quest was a simple reconnaissance mission. How she acquired the gastric stone, even I don’t know.”
“You sent her into a place even you can’t access?”
Even transcendents couldn’t interfere with Ouroboros. It was a place fraught with danger, incomprehensible and overwhelming. Sending someone in alone seemed unthinkable.
“It’s a bit complicated to explain, but it’s different from what you’re imagining. Simply put, we’re too large. And she... was small enough. That’s why she could enter Ouroboros.”
“...I see.”
Taesan understood the concept. Transcendents, with their immense power and stature, would be heavily bound by the mechanism of Ouroboros.
But Lee Taeyeon was mortal. From the perspective of transcendent entities, she was fragile and minuscule. That smallness likely allowed her to navigate Ouroboros with less resistance.
“I was directly connected to her and ready to pull her out if necessary, so there was no real risk to her. You, on the other hand, won’t even need such a connection.”
Taesan had the Boundary Line. The ability to defy, twist, and transform the world’s laws would likely allow him to remain unaffected by Ouroboros.
“Still, even with all that, it’s undeniably dangerous. We have no idea what’s happening in there.”
Lee Taeyeon herself hadn’t been able to describe what she experienced.
It wasn’t that she was hiding it—she truly couldn’t put it into words.
Understanding this, the Wizard hadn’t pressed her for details.
“If you wish, you can refuse. It’ll take some time, but we can find another way.”
“No.”
Taesan shook his head.
“I’m not going to refuse.”
Why would he decline? This was an invaluable opportunity. As he toyed with the gastric stone, his resolve solidified.
“I accept.”
[Quest Accepted.]
The Wizard smiled.
***
"Let me know when you're ready. I'll send you near the entrance."
Taesan nodded and opened the community window.
It was bustling with activity.
People from all over the world were talking, sharing information, and even exchanging casual banter. Some were whispering sweet nothings, their laughter blending into the vibrant atmosphere.
It was a brightness he hadn’t seen in his previous life. Every post, every line carried hope.
And it was Kang Taesan who had created this place—this sanctuary of connection.
After scrolling through a few posts, he opened the chat window.
[Kang Taesan [Alone]]:
How’s it going?
The responses flooded in instantly, as if they had been waiting for him to speak.
[Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]:
Oh, what’s this?
[Amelia Aerin [Alone]]:
Look who finally decided to say something. What’s the matter?
[Kang Junho [Alone]]:
Huh? Brother? Long time no see!
The speed of their replies brought a faint smile to Taesan’s face. The rate at which messages appeared suggested they had been watching the community window constantly.
[Kang Taesan [Alone]]:
You’ve been watching the community all this time, haven’t you?
[Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]:
More or less.
[Kang Junho [Alone]]:
Of course! You know how lonely this place gets. The community’s the only way to blow off steam here.
It wasn’t wrong. The “Alone” mode meant there was no one else in their worlds. It was nearly impossible to find true allies, so the community became a source of solace for many.
Taesan, understanding this, didn’t dwell on it further and moved straight to the point.
[Kang Taesan [Alone]]:
What floor are you all on now?
One by one, they reported their progress.
Kang Junho was in the mid-60s, while Amelia had cleared the 72nd floor.
[Amelia Aerin [Alone]]:
It’s definitely gotten harder in the deeper floors. But thanks to our pact, it’s been smoother than I expected.
Amelia had formed a pact with Taesan, granting her the ability to use apostle powers. More importantly, she had come to understand her strengths.
At her current level, she was no less capable than Lee Taeyeon. It wasn’t surprising that she was progressing without significant difficulties.
[Kang Junho [Alone]]:
Wow... That’s amazing. I’m struggling just to get through where I am.
[Kang Taesan [Alone]]:
You’re in the mid-60s. It’s natural for it to be tough at that level. Take it slow and don’t make any mistakes. I’ve got something for you when we meet again.
Now, Taesan could extend the power of apostle pacts to others. Kang Junho was next in line for such a gift.
[Kang Junho [Alone]]:
I’ll do my best. Thanks, brother.
[Kang Taesan [Alone]]:
What about Lee Taeyeon?
[Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]:
Me? I’m on the 78th floor.
[Amelia Aerin [Alone]]:
Seriously? That’s insane. Your speed is monstrous.
Amelia grumbled. Despite her best efforts, Lee Taeyeon was far ahead.
‘The 78th floor... That’s the Library of All Things.’
For Lee Taeyeon, this floor wouldn’t pose any challenge. She would already know the locations of the books the guardian, Jorge, hadn’t read.
Even with comparable talent, the fact that she had already cleared the labyrinth once meant her experience gave her an inevitable edge.
After confirming their positions, Taesan got to the main topic.
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He asked them what they were doing on their respective floors, what challenges awaited them, and the conditions for acquiring skills.
They listened intently to his advice.
The conversation carried on for two hours before things wrapped up.
[Kang Taesan [Alone]]:
That’s all for now. Keep it in mind.
[Amelia Aerin [Alone]]:
Got it. Thanks.
[Kang Junho [Alone]]:
Thank you, as always, brother.
Amelia and Junho exited the chat to continue their descent into the labyrinth.
Before Lee Taeyeon could leave, Taesan stopped her.
[Kang Taesan [Alone]]:
Wait a moment. I need to talk to you.
[Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]:
Oh? What’s up?
[Kang Taesan [Alone]]:
I’ve reached the 91st floor.
[Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]:
...Oh.
Lee Taeyeon immediately understood.
[Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]:
Ouroboros?
[Kang Taesan [Alone]]:
Yeah.
[Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]:
Didn’t your quest change? No, I guess it doesn’t matter for you.
[Kang Taesan [Alone]]:
What’s in there?
[Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]:
I can’t tell you.
Her reply was firm and unwavering.
[Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]:
It’s just... a concept. It might be different for you since you wield independent power. But for me, it’s not.
It meant she couldn’t discuss what had happened there.
Taesan thought for a moment, then nodded.
[Kang Taesan [Alone]]:
Got it. That’s enough.
[Lee Taeyeon [Alone]]:
Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful. Do you think I’ll get the Ouroboros quest again? I really don’t want that...
[Kang Taesan [Alone]]:
The Wizard will sort it out for you.
After a bit more conversation, Taesan closed the chat window.
The Wizard had been watching with a faint smile.
“Things seem to be going well.”
“Did you read all of it?”
“No, I’m not that rude. But I can guess what you talked about.”
“Well, fine.”
Taesan closed his eyes, focusing inward.
He restored his drained energy, both divine and corrupted, until it reached equilibrium.
When his preparation was complete, he opened his eyes.
The Wizard’s replica had been waiting in silence.
Taesan spoke.
“I’m ready. Send me to Ouroboros.”
