An Extra’s POV

"God is strong. Humans are weak. Angels are somewhere in-between."

As Claudius heard these words, he shuddered in ignorance.

"No matter how powerful a human tries to become, sacrificing all he can to attain strength, it will all fall under the allocated strength he is allowed to possess." Ater's words echoed coldly in the night.

"Ultimately, it will fall under weakness."

"S-so… all my attempts at strength… were in vain…?"

"Maybe it had some worth against fellow humans, but your luck ran out when you faced me. You see, I know I'm not weak… because I'm not human."

'N-not… human?' Claudius' eyes widened as he heard this deep revelation.

"I can take on whatever shape I want, while also possessing the abilities of those whose form I take. In essence…"

A flash of light sparked around Ater, and his form came into light as he crouched so he could somewhat be on the same level as Claudius.

The latter's eyes bulged as he looked at his reflection—the miserable old man he had become.

"… I can become you."

Ater had transformed into Claudius in every sense of the word, and upon seeing this, the old man felt his heart ache.

He truly… had sacrificed everything for nothing.

"I can also use all your abilities. There are a few limitations placed on my power, but that's how it works in simple terms."

Ater rose to his feet, transforming back into the handsome man he once was.

"You're… invincible…" Claudius croaked.

With such a power, Ater was at least in the realm of the Absolute.

There was no doubt about it in Claudius' mind.

"Am I really? Perhaps in some worlds, that would ring true. Even in this world, maybe…" Ater smirked, shaking his head as he circled around the despairing one.

"However, there exist beings who far transcend my current state."

"T-the Dragons…?"

"Yeah. I'll admit that there exist some that I can't beat right now. But all of it is only a matter of time."

"T-then—!"

"However, there is one that I couldn't possibly hope to beat no matter the passage of time."

Claudius could only make a guess at this point, but he muttered a response.

"Your… Master?"

"Precisely!"

eyes narrowed and from the sound

had more questions, and so he didn't hesitate to

was nothing left to lose,

strong… is

he can do exactly what I can do and so much more." Ater's amused chuckle echoed in

only made Claudius

you not simply transform into him and use his

"…"

that one of

was silence among the

Then—

from turning into anyone with a

saying this, there was no tone of triumph

the

use all the Skills in my target's Arsenal—though if it is higher than my

there is one

lost, once

was the Absolute one—meant for heroes and

be any realm above that, then perhaps it would belong to wherever designed reality and existence

of

what was this Primeval Tier that Ater

exists within that Primeval Skill, and I can't access it. Isn't it

cackled in delight and drowned in the

is something I can never touch—a realm I

the earlier definition Ater had given down, it only meant

Master…

he could now understand—at least to an

were really worth nothing, weren't

man and his Master… the humans of

was my mistake.' Claudius finally admitted as his face fell. 'I

power wasn't something one had to sacrifice everything

It was a mandate.

you even… a Necromancer?" Claudius asked

am a being of Chaos, so I can use the Chaos Art of Ancient MajiK. The Hollow

"I… I see…"

in my stockpile, but that's about it. I doubt I'll be permitted to use any advanced Ancient MajiK here… not that

"I… see…"

the most entertaining. At the very least, you managed to

didn't know how to react towards being

only respond as he normally

"You're welcome."

moment, there was a lull in

happen to me now?" He asked with a

wouldn't be spared. Ater didn't seem like the kind of man who would show the likes

I already made sure you would die and come back to me as an Undead. The effects should be taking place

widened as soon as

"W-when…?"