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!"

way his eyes narrowed and from the sound of his tone,

and so he didn't

left to lose, after

strong… is your

do exactly what I can do and so

this response only made Claudius all

you not simply transform into

"…"

is that one of

a moment, there was silence among the two

Then—

can indeed take on his form. My limitation prevents me from turning into anyone with a higher Class than me,

this, there was no tone of triumph in

the opposite,

Skills in my target's Arsenal—though if it is higher than my Class,

is one exception:

lost, once

humans, the highest realm that existed was the Absolute one—meant for heroes and

that, then perhaps it would belong to wherever designed reality and existence

of Divine

this Primeval

within that Primeval Skill, and I can't access it. Isn't it amazing?!" Ater's

drowned in

I can never touch—a

earlier definition Ater had given

to Master… I

at Ater, he could now understand—at least to an extent—why he had played with everyone so

worth nothing, weren't

this man and his Master… the humans of

as his face fell.

wasn't something one had to sacrifice everything to

It was a mandate.

a Necromancer?" Claudius asked in

Chaos, so I can use the Chaos Art of Ancient MajiK. The Hollow Technique is simply

"I… I see…"

Skill to summon the Undead in my stockpile, but that's about it. I doubt I'll

"I… see…"

present, you were the most entertaining. At the very least, you

didn't know how to react towards being praised as

only respond

"You're welcome."

there was a lull in the

happen to me now?"

be spared. Ater didn't seem like the kind of

made sure you would die and come back to me as an Undead. The

as soon

"W-when…?"