Leveling Up With Skills - Chapter 199: Earth Before the Apocalypse (Part 4)
[You have activated the Apostle Transformation: *Rakiratas*.]
The divine power bestowed by the gods enveloped Taesan’s body.
Simultaneously, the Apostle began to take form.
What appeared was a humanoid figure clad in a robe, wielding a massive scythe.
Despite the distance between them, the Apostle swung the scythe as if Taesan was standing right in front of it. At the same moment, Taesan swiftly moved his foot.
*Crack!*
The space where Taesan had been standing split apart. Had he stayed still, his head would have been severed.
The Apostle’s form was unstable, constantly shifting.
As it transformed into countless shapes, it utilized different abilities.
Though he couldn’t be sure, Taesan believed that the Apostle had taken on the forms of the beings it had devoured while trampling over countless worlds.
In his previous life, Taesan had been defeated by this ever-changing Apostle.
Taesan grinned, baring his teeth.
[You have activated Apostle Slayer.]
[You have activated Battle Lust.]
[You have activated Honorable Duel.]
[You have activated Proof of Limits.]
[You have activated Contempt for the Strong.]
[You have activated Anti-Divine Theory.]
[You have activated Giant Killer.]
*Boom!*
He charged forward. The Apostle slowly moved its scythe.
Simultaneously, dozens of spaces were torn apart in unison. Taesan clenched his fist as the ruptured space aimed to cut through everything in its path.
*Boom!*
He unleashed a punch imbued with spiritual force towards the front. The force contained within the punch shattered and crushed the ruptured spaces.
*Crack.*
Taesan stomped his foot. The ground cratered and collapsed beneath him.
As Taesan approached, the Apostle’s form shifted again, transforming into a knight clad in solid armor, wielding a colossal sword.
Taesan swung his sword.
*Clang!*
A heavy sensation traveled up the sword’s edge. Taesan twisted his wrist.
[You have activated Deflection.]
The sword that had been pressuring Taesan was momentarily twisted away.
*Crack!*
Twisting the blade, Taesan closed in on the Apostle. The Apostle did not change its form and swung the enormous sword like a storm.
The sword cleaved through the ground, slicing through the air, and crushed everything that approached with its sheer force.
It was a swordsmanship akin to a storm’s scar.
*Crack!*
Taesan moved his hands roughly, drawing arrows to block and deflect the sword’s wind as he slowly advanced.
*Boom!*
The Apostle brought the sword’s hilt down. Instead of blocking, Taesan twisted his body.
[You have activated White Rune Shield.]
The white rune that collided with the hilt shattered instantly. The hilt even destroyed the formless armor surrounding Taesan.
Narrowly evading the strike, Taesan thrust his sword into the Apostle’s neck.
*Crack!*
The Apostle jerked its head back. The blade shattered the armor surrounding the Apostle’s body.
The attack failed, but Taesan smiled slightly.
The Apostle had gone out of its way to avoid his strike.
This meant that his current attacks could harm the Apostle.
‘As I thought.’
The Apostle’s form was constantly shifting. However, as it transformed, it seemed to consume its energy, making its defenses relatively weaker.
In his past life, he couldn’t even pierce those defenses, but now, it was possible.
*Crack!*
Taesan, keeping close to the Apostle, continued to swing his sword. The Apostle responded by wielding its massive sword.
*Thud.*
The Apostle, pushing Taesan slightly with its shoulder, began to change form again.
It transformed into a muscular man, his fist encased in gauntlets, which he then thrust at Taesan. Taesan raised his sword.
[You have activated Deflection.]
The trajectory of the fist twisted momentarily but corrected itself immediately.
In the end, Taesan had no choice but to block it with his sword.
*Clang!*
[Your first attack nullification has been activated.]
The force from the punch struck Taesan, nullifying the effect.
Clicking his tongue at the pressure he felt through the hilt, Taesan widened the distance.
As Taesan increased the distance, the Apostle’s form changed once more.
This time, it took the form of a woman wielding a bow as large as her body. She nocked an ethereal arrow and pulled back the bowstring with force.
*Creaaak.*
The bowstring was drawn taut. The bow continuously tracked Taesan as if it would never lose sight of him, no matter where he moved.
The one with the scythe. The one with the greatsword. The muscular man and the woman with the bow.
All of them must have once opposed the Apostle.
And like Taesan in his previous life, they likely lost.
If Taesan hadn’t possessed the Ouroboros’ Meteorite in his previous life, he would have ended up like them.
‘It’s just as troublesome as I remember.’
An Apostle that could freely change its form and abilities. In his previous life, Taesan couldn’t counter it. His stats were too unbalanced to respond to the various situations, while the Apostle had the ability to draw upon dozens of different powers.
But now, things were different.
Taesan stopped moving.
As soon as he halted his movement, the arrow was released.
It was incredibly fast, traveling at a speed where evasion or defense seemed impossible.
[You have activated Random Blink.]
Taesan instantly teleported to the Apostle’s side. The arrow pierced through the horizon.
Before the Apostle could change form, Taesan thrust his sword into it.
[You have activated Blade of Resolve.]
[@#!%[name protected] Damage.]
The Apostle’s body twisted momentarily.
The Apostle quickly created distance. In an instant, it transformed into a barbarian wielding twin axes.
*Boom!*
The axes were swung violently, their trajectory a brutal arc that would destroy anything in its path.
However, the strength behind the attack wasn’t as overwhelming as it seemed. Taesan, having figured out how to counter it, swung his sword.
[You have activated Deflection.]
He used Deflection consecutively. The paths of the axes twisted and faltered as he closed in on the Apostle once more, driving his sword deep into its abdomen.
The Apostle’s form changed again. This time, it took the form of an elderly man with a long beard.
The Apostle raised a staff. As powerful magical energy began to gather around it, Taesan quickly pulled out a flute.
[You have activated the Silence-inducing Flute. For 10 minutes, all magic within a certain range is disabled.]
The gathering magical energy dissipated.
Taesan struck the staff away and knocked the Apostle down. As he moved to thrust his sword into its neck, the Apostle transformed once again.
This time, it became a small, seemingly immature young girl. While lying on the ground, she flicked her fingers.
Then, ethereal shapes rose into the air. Like flames, they began to rush towards Taesan.
Recognizing the form that utilized elemental spirits, Taesan immediately responded.
[You have activated Deer Walking the Wind.]
[You have activated Small Ember.]
The wind carried the flames, crushing and suppressing the ethereal shapes.
Elemental spirits.
Dark magic.
Conventional magic.
Swordsmanship.
Skills.
Currently, Taesan had nearly omnipotent abilities. He was capable of responding to any situation.
No matter how the Apostle changed its form to exploit Taesan’s weaknesses, he could counter them all.
Taesan drove his sword into the Apostle’s body.
*Crack.*
The Apostle suddenly transformed into a massive form, pushing Taesan away.
As the Apostle’s warped figure stood before him, Taesan couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.
“What are you, some kind of Asura?”
The Apostle, with its left and right sides each taking on different forms, charged at him.
On the left side was a domineering swordsmanship, and on the right, a sharp, rapier-like thrust.
Taesan focused his mind.
*Clang!*
He blocked the domineering swordsmanship on the left with one hand. With the other, he parried the sharp thrust from the right.
The form was ridiculous, but it couldn’t be taken lightly.
With completely different types of attacks coming from both sides, he had to perfectly defend against each using entirely different techniques.
*Crack!*
He couldn’t block them all. The nullification effect wore off quickly, and small wounds began to accumulate on his body.
Thinking this to be Taesan’s weakness, the Apostle pressed the attack even more aggressively.
Though the damage slowly accumulated, Taesan didn’t mind.
His stamina was incredibly high now. Unlike in his previous life, he could afford to make a few mistakes or conduct a few experiments.
He focused his mind to the utmost.
He expanded his awareness. He separated the movements of his body.
Taesan’s sword began to move differently in each hand, mirroring the Apostle’s attacks.
*Clang!*
He simultaneously deflected both attacks and then drove his twin swords into the Apostle’s body.
The Apostle’s body shook violently. The spiritual energy that formed its being began to crack.
*Squelch.*
The Apostle’s body twisted grotesquely.
Taesan instinctively realized that this transformation would be the last.
The Apostle transformed into the form of a young man.
He was clad in neat armor.
He wielded a magnificent dual-handed sword.
And he wore an ornate cape around his body.
He looked like a hero. The Apostle moved with speed unmatched by any of its previous forms. Taesan reacted instantly, but he couldn’t block it.
[You have taken 3,423 damage.]
“Tsk.”
Taesan clicked his tongue and clutched his wounded side.
This was clearly a far stronger and more formidable opponent than any of the Apostle’s previous forms.
An opponent he couldn’t be certain of defeating, even if he used everything at his disposal.
Taesan drew forth his spiritual energy.
*Clang!*
Swords clashed. The Apostle smoothly maneuvered its blade, aiming for Taesan’s armpit. Taesan countered by driving his elbow down to deflect the blade.
*Crack!*
He swung his sword.
Activating *Deflection*, he diverted the Apostle’s blade. But the Apostle quickly recovered its stance and blocked the attack.
[You have activated Strong Strike.]
The swords collided. Realizing that *Strong Strike* wouldn’t push his opponent back, Taesan clenched his fist.
[You have activated Eligos’s Thorny Rose.]
Thorns of hell descended from the sky.
The Apostle dodged them all while continuing the battle. There was no opening to exploit.
Thus, Taesan decided to create one.
[You have activated Marbas’s Pitch-black Wave.]
*Boom!*
A black wave surged forward. The Apostle grasped its sword with both hands and lowered its stance as if in prayer.
Then, ethereal shapes, like beams of light, extended out and suppressed the pitch-black wave.
Taesan didn’t stop.
[You have activated Frozen World.]
[You have activated Particle Diffusion.]
[You have activated Tracking.]
A cold wind swept through. Tiny ice particles formed and rushed towards the Apostle.
*Crack!*
The Apostle parried them all with its sword. However, its movements were slower than before, likely due to the cold.
*Clang!*
Taesan didn’t miss the opportunity. He swung his sword, disrupting the Apostle’s stance and pressing his body against it. Although the Apostle resisted, it slowly began to be pushed back.
*Buzz.*
In the Apostle’s hand, a small ethereal shape began to form.
A terrifyingly powerful force emanated from it.
Taesan didn’t dodge. Instead, as if waiting for this moment, he drove his sword into the Apostle’s chest.
The Apostle, too, responded by thrusting the ethereal shape into Taesan’s heart.
*Crack.*
[You have taken 50,432 damage.]
[Your Endurance has activated. The attack that would have resulted in death has been nullified. For 1 second, all damage taken is reduced to 0.]
He had only 1 second.
Taesan twisted his sword, applying immense force as he pulled it through.
*Slash!*
The Apostle was cleaved in half.
The ethereal forms that composed the Apostle’s human-like shape began to crumble.
[You have overcome your despair. The reward will be given by Aphrodia upon your return to the Labyrinth.]
[Your Swordsmanship proficiency has increased by 3%.]
[Your Battle Continuation proficiency has increased by 4%.]
[Your Irach Weaponry proficiency has increased by 1%.]
[Your Clear Mirror Reflection proficiency has increased by 1%.]
[Your Magic proficiency has increased by 1%.]
[You have displayed a movement as if your body and mind were separate, using completely different techniques simultaneously. You have acquired the passive skill *Mental Separation*. The skill is temporarily sealed due to being outside the Labyrinth.]
[Your Spiritual Force has increased. You have acquired the special activation skill *Spreading Cursed Branches*.]
[Your Spiritual Force has increased. The proficiency of Twisted Spiritual Force Coordination has increased by 12%.]
“Ha.”
Taesan couldn’t hold back his laughter.
He had defeated the monster that had killed Lee Taeyeon, the creature that had essentially brought about the end of the Earth.
Even though it wasn’t the real thing, just a mere imitation, and didn’t even possess a fraction of the real one’s power, it was still a victory.
It meant that if he continued to grow stronger and stronger, he could eventually defeat the real one.
That alone justified his return to the past.
Taesan turned and headed back to the city.
There, Lee Taeyeon was staring at him with a dazed expression.