Chapter 487
One’s [Essence]—it was something that could only be realized by oneself.
Still, if help from another could make that realization easier, there was no harm in accepting it.
Essential was the god who governed essence itself.
If anyone could perceive Taesan’s true essence, it would be him. That was the reasoning behind Taesan’s question, and Essential stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“Understanding your essence… you mean realizing it with your own awareness, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Well, it’s not impossible. Countless mortals have come to me seeking to discover themselves.”
It was possible. Taesan’s eyes brightened.
“But essence is what constitutes a being. If you try to peer into it carelessly, your sense of self might collapse. To truly awaken it, you must undergo a designated ritual inside my sanctuary.”
“In that case, if I manage to leave this place—”
“Then I’ll do it for you, as much as you wish.”
Essential replied readily.
“Normally, one must offer themselves to me to make it possible, but for you, I’ll do it freely. I do owe you, after all.”
“Thank you.”
That was all the confirmation he needed. Once Ouroboros was dealt with and he escaped, the God of Essence would help him uncover his true nature.
“Well then, enough talk. Time to get to the main point.”
Essential grinned.
“Let’s move to kill that damn thing.”
—
“If we eliminate the [Worthless One], will Ouroboros return to its original state?”
“Most likely. That thing is more like foreign matter wedged between mechanisms. Remove the impurity, and the system will revert to its proper form.”
“That’s easy to understand.”
If they dealt with the Worthless One, the quest would be complete.
Essential’s expression tightened.
“The only concern is… I don’t know how Ouroboros will react afterward. We have no data on whether it possesses intact intelligence or can make rational decisions.”
If things went wrong, Ouroboros might view them as impurities and attempt to erase them once restored.
To that concern, Taesan replied calmly,
“It’ll be fine. I think.”
Ouroboros had looked at him before.
And it had turned its gaze away—as if inviting him inside.
At least, it didn’t seem hostile toward them.
“I hope you’re right… but we should be prepared anyway.”
Either way, the priority was eliminating the Worthless One.
To do that, they needed rest.
Taesan had consumed a considerable amount of [Boundary] countering Essential’s earlier attack, and [Call of Chaos] was still on cooldown. He needed time to recover.
While Taesan quietly restored his strength within Essential’s domain, Essential observed him from afar.
‘What on earth is that being?’
Interest flickered in Essential’s eyes. Outwardly, he kept his composure, but inwardly, he was deeply curious about Taesan’s nature.
‘I can’t read him at all.’
He was the God of Essence.
If he wished, he could perceive the essence of any being, even one equal to himself, to some degree.
But from Taesan, he could see only the surface—never what lay beneath.
‘Only the ancient gods have ever been like that.’
But Taesan was no ancient god. He possessed strange power, yes, but he was undeniably of this world.
“…I don’t get it.”
Even a great transcendent like him couldn’t discern Taesan’s true nature.
His face betrayed a spark of unhidden curiosity.
Essential could never suppress his need to uncover mysteries.
He focused his mind, extending his sight—trying to peer into the deepest core of Taesan’s being.
It was his divine authority, the power of a god who governed essence: to observe the deepest layer of existence.
His vision sought to read Taesan’s essence.
Deeper than the surface psyche, he descended into that abyss—gazing into the very core.
And at the end of that descent, Essential saw it.
A distorted landscape.
A mind drenched in darkness, shapeless and void of form.
It was the same thing Haphran and Amelia had once seen.
‘What is this?’
Essential’s pupils trembled.
It was far more alien than he expected.
Just as he tried to probe deeper to understand—
He saw something.
Something formless—its nature, its power, completely unreadable.
The moment he tried to grasp it, an overwhelming force struck back.
[Stop.]
“—!”
Essential instinctively staggered backward. Shock filled his eyes.
‘What was that?’
Something inside Taesan had forcibly expelled him.
Normally, if the owner of a mind resisted, even Essential would need to use special methods—but Taesan hadn’t even realized Essential was peering into him.
Even conceptual transcendents couldn’t sense Essential’s observation if he willed it.
And yet, something within Taesan had noticed—and cast him out.
“…How peculiar.”
There was fascination in Essential’s eyes.
‘So there are things like that in existence, huh.’
An unknown entity.
It stirred his boundless curiosity.
He quietly observed Taesan, until eventually, Taesan opened his eyes.
Seeing Essential staring at him, Taesan asked,
“Is something wrong?”
“No.”
Essential shook his head and rose.
“Recovered?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Then let’s go.”
Essential smiled cheerfully and started moving.
—
They approached the [Worthless One] again.
Its influence had spread further, the shapeless energies thickening all around.
“You said you can kill it, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good. The Worthless One has no true form, but it must have a core that holds its structure. That core lies at its deepest center. Pierce it and destroy it—that’ll end it. But the problem is… even then, it’s stronger than you.”
“I can handle it.”
Taesan replied calmly. His composure made Essential grin.
“So it’s not arrogance… but still—”
Essential looked at him silently, deliberating.
After a moment, he reached a decision and placed his hand atop Taesan’s head.
His divine power enveloped Taesan.
Essential’s authority fused into him, and Taesan accepted it without resistance.
[You have acquired the special activation skill: [One’s Essence].]
“This is…”
“I figured it’s better to be sure. You’ll instinctively understand how to use it. Got the hang of it?”
“Yes.”
Taesan quietly grasped the new power within him. He could feel how to wield it, and how potent it was—just as naturally as his own limbs.
That was why he asked, puzzled,
“You’re granting me such a powerful authority?”
The gift Essential had bestowed was not something one would normally give to a stranger.
Other gods had only given him their powers after long observation and trials.
“I hadn’t planned to give you this at first—only something modest. But… you’re going to need it. Both you and we will.”
Essential laughed heartily.
“Well, I did attack you earlier, among other things. Consider it an apology of sorts.”
“Thank you.”
“Forget it. If I can finally leave this place, I’d do anything. To erase that wretched thing from the universe—that would be bliss. I’ll open the path.”
Essential stepped forward.
The Worthless One stirred—rising, surging toward him with unmistakable hostility.
“It seems it knows its end is near.”
Essential bared his teeth.
His essence—his very being—expanded.
It materialized, manifesting in the world.
He raised his fist and struck.
His essence took shape and slammed into the Worthless One—an attack infused with his very self, bypassing all defense and offense to strike at the opponent’s essence directly.
It was the overwhelming superior version of Taesan’s own [Essence Strike].
To block such a blow, the enemy would need equal power.
The Worthless One’s entire being reacted, clashing against Essential’s fist.
Kuuuuung!
The force that rendered all things worthless collided with the might of a transcendent.
The shockwave tore through Ouroboros’s interior, shattering the distorted time and space.
Taesan moved instantly.
[You have activated [Call of Chaos].]
The shapeless waves were ignored, pierced through by his gray aura.
The Worthless One tried to block him—but Essential roared with laughter, blocking its path.
“Don’t you dare ignore me!”
Kuuuuung!
The massive shockwave shook even Taesan’s [Boundary].
This was a true clash between a transcendent and an ancient god.
Even weakened as they were, they still stood above Taesan.
‘But…’
It wasn’t unreachable.
Kagagagak!
The Worthless One formed a massive dome to block Essential’s assault.
Essential clenched his fist and struck—the outer layer cracked open, a gap forming.
Taesan dashed toward it, focusing his mind and drawing his sword.
He infused it fully with [Boundary] and kicked off.
Kwa-jik!
He plunged the blade into the gap, expanding the [Boundary].
The opening widened—a path was made.
Taesan slipped inside the dome.
Gathering his power, he lifted his gaze.
Before him, he felt the presence of condensed, invisible energy.
It was thicker, heavier—clearly distinct from the shapeless aura outside.
That was the [Core] of the Worthless One.
It pulsed.
The shapeless aura condensed around it, taking on human form.
[A Fragment of the Worthless One has appeared.]
The main body was the size of a sun.
What was here was only a mountain-sized fragment—tiny in comparison.
And much of its strength was already spent fending off Essential’s attacks.
In truth, Taesan was facing only a small part of that small fragment.
Yet it was still the god itself.
He could feel the divine will—an intense hostility directed at him.
It lacked full intelligence, more like an enraged beast protecting its territory.
Its mere gaze erased value from the world.
The Worthless One’s arm moved.
Kwoooong!
Condensed shapeless force surged forth like a wave. Taesan leapt away.
[You have activated [Great Collapse – Chaos].]
A gray [Great Collapse] materialized and collided with the formless tide.
And it was the Collapse that yielded—its value dissolving within the shapeless current.
Taesan enveloped himself fully in the [Domain of Chaos] and charged.
Kwahhhhhh!
Gray blades clashed against the unseen force, scattering energy in all directions.
Kagagagak!
The shapeless aura tried to cling to his body—he swung his [Boundary], shaking it off.
Another tide surged to engulf him—Taesan rolled aside, dodging narrowly.
The formless power filled the surroundings, closing off every escape route.
Even the [Boundary] struggled to push it back.
Taesan clenched his fist.
[You have activated [Magic Stacking].]
[You have activated [Great Collapse – Chaos].]
[You have activated [Baal’s Surge of the Sevenfold Black Space].]
Kwagagang!
Gray light tore through space.
He poured out everything—magic, black magic, every force he commanded—to open a path.
But it didn’t reach.
The shapeless energy flowed endlessly, like a bottomless vessel.
Even after countless clashes with Essential, it hadn’t weakened in the slightest.
That was the Worthless One.
Even this small fragment could erase an entire galaxy given enough time—consuming all planets, suns, black holes, and celestial bodies, stripping them of meaning.
‘As expected… it’s strong.’
Most of its power was focused on blocking Essential, yet even so, it exceeded a mere fragment.
Still, Taesan was certain.
‘I can win.’
The Worthless One’s authority nullified the world’s value.
That power was supreme over all concepts built upon “worth.”
It was like Taesan’s magic of negation—but on a cosmic scale.
It was power closer to that of a god’s concept itself.
The shapeless energy surged once more.
Taesan raised his sword and swung.
The [Boundary] exploded, sweeping the front.
Kuuuuuuung!
If it was a power tied to concepts or laws, it could never overpower the [Boundary].
The only issue was that its raw might and rank clearly surpassed Taesan’s.
But that didn’t matter—he had a skill that could bridge that gap.
At his current level, he could fight even a part of a god’s being—and win.
With conviction, Taesan activated his skills.
[You have activated [Absolute Resistance].]
[You have activated [One’s Essence].]