In A Fantasy World I Can Absorbs Abilities

Michael soared upward, splitting the air as he flew higher into the sky. The heavens resonated, trembling at the immense power radiating from his body. Without relying on magic or external force, Michael ascended purely by his own strength.

His toes gently brushed through empty air as the winds themselves acknowledged his presence. The previously calm atmosphere suddenly began to swirl upward, spiraling around him. Sand, dust, and particles of mana danced, forming intricately perfect spirals.

His long black hair fluttered wildly as a brilliant blue glow emanated from him. The aura surrounding Michael at this moment was truly overwhelming, a clear demonstration of a being who defied the laws of physics. He rose higher, guided only by sheer strength.

Behind him, the power he had absorbed until now billowed like a blue mist, gently dispersing. The distorted order of the world was slowly realigning, purifying the corrupted energies.

He was ascending against the path that external gods used to invade this world, intending to seal it off forever. The closer Michael came to the upper reaches of the sky, the more distorted the air became, altering gravity and atmospheric pressure.

Every powerful being on the continent simultaneously turned their gaze to the sky. An invisible pulse—neither sound nor light—spread out, pressing down upon the earth itself.

Within a windless forest—

The leaders of various Divine Beasts, who had been deep in meditation within the shadows, suddenly lifted their heads. Expressions of awe and joy spread across their faces. Among them, the leaders of the Dragons and Sphinxes straightened their shoulders proudly.

The Sphinx leader quietly spoke.

[Finally… it begins.]

Elsewhere, Alfred and Arabella also gazed upward. Beneath the darkened sky, as if eclipsed, they saw the familiar silhouette clearly outlined between light and darkness.

A human figure, rising at the boundary between worlds.

Hand in hand, they silently cheered for their grandson.

In the underground lake beneath the palace of the Pamir Empire—

A massive elephant spirit sprayed water high toward the ceiling, murmuring thoughtfully.

[He's sealing off the path of the outer gods... A wise decision. Though unfortunate for us…]

The beings who once drew power from that pathway would now gradually weaken.

The elephant spirit slowly closed his eyes.

[But it cannot be helped. We must follow the choice of the world's new master.]

His massive form gradually began sinking into the lake.

[Alfred… you've raised a splendid grandson. Truly splendid.]

Thoughts of his descendants bickering and scheming on the surface briefly crossed his mind. But it couldn't be helped. Even if they ended up destroying each other, that too was the natural order of things.

[Such is the way of the world.]

With those final words, the elephant's form completely vanished beneath the water.

Michael continued ascending steadily. The air around him screamed, space itself twisting from his passage. The density and structure of reality seemed to change just from his existence. Mana particles from the air trailed behind him, naturally following the will of their new master.

Long ago, he'd surpassed the limits of humanity through accumulated power alone. Now, mana gathered around him, tuning and harmonizing the world itself. The forces he had absorbed and the mana now responding to his presence recognized each other, spontaneously evolving, rearranging themselves around Michael's will.

Michael silently clenched his fist, intuitively sensing he could shatter the earth itself or topple mountains with a single blow.

'No wonder Gwanghwi became intoxicated with this power…,' he thought briefly.

Behind him, a vast nebula-like trail of energy stretched across the sky. As he climbed higher, the continent's entire shape gradually became visible beneath the clouds.

Michael paused for a moment, looking down, and took a breath.

The continent revealed beyond the clouds was astonishingly beautiful.

'So this entire landmass floats in the sky…'

Suspended in a dark void without gravity, the continent's perfectly cut edges resembled a thin, finely carved stone slab. Mountain ranges, lakes, forests, and cities glittered gently below. At the continent's edge, seawater spilled off in breathtaking waterfalls, cascading into endless darkness filled with stars.

It resembled the flat earth imagined by ancient civilizations.

Though Michael had already known this from texts and paintings, witnessing it firsthand was truly awe-inspiring.

'Given this structure, it's understandable that every hero had to unite whenever there was a volcanic eruption or earthquake.'

Because the continent spread outward evenly from its center, a single catastrophe could ripple outward and threaten the whole world. Such events weren't mere natural disasters—they could fracture the very continent itself.

'Had a volcanic eruption occurred, the imbalance alone might have split the continent apart.'

Indeed, ancient temples and sealed ruins were heavily concentrated within the Argo mountain range at the center, not merely due to mythology but strategic geological wisdom.

Michael silently expressed gratitude again to the heroes who sacrificed themselves in the past. He finally understood clearly why those warriors had willingly abandoned family and homeland to protect this interconnected world.

'Everything in this world truly is connected.'

Michael inwardly nodded.

Considering this, Gwanghwi—who selfishly stole all the mana stones—now appeared supremely foolish.

Looking down at the beautiful continent, Michael resumed his ascent. The atmosphere gradually thinned as he rose higher, clear air steadily becoming tinged with red. Initially, it resembled a sunset. Yet, the higher he rose, the more vivid and intense the red became—as if another sky existed above the first.

Finally, he reached it.

A crimson-colored cosmos appeared above him, filled with roiling red mist—a realm of chaos.

'So this was it…'

Shapeless entities, their outlines impossible to comprehend, drifted silently within. He felt a chilling sensation of being watched by something gazing at this world.

Michael frowned slightly, lowering his gaze.

Below, he saw a translucent, ancient-glass-like barrier completely covering the entire continent.

'…It's heavily damaged. That must be why.'

Michael's gaze moved toward the surface of the barrier, observing countless honeycomb-like holes scattered across its surface.

'Is this the original barrier created by the ancient gods?'

In the distant past, gods had arrived at this continent from beyond the world.

'Perhaps they weren't gods at all, but outsiders—like me and Gwanghwi.'

The protective barrier was cracked, torn, and collapsing in many places. Through these holes, the crimson energy of the universe beyond slowly seeped inward like venom flowing through veins.

Michael inwardly sighed.

'This was inevitable since they misused power that was meant to uphold the world's laws.'

During the absence of the ancient gods, humans with great power had ascended to godhood. Later, some relinquished their divine status to become ordinary humans, while others became the very laws that protected the world.

Then, Gwanghwi had stolen their powers, completely shattering the already fragile barrier.

'He must have desired the power of these external gods pouring in.'

The crimson energy wasn't merely staining the atmosphere; it carried will, intention, and raw consciousness.

'Did these collectively form the Outer Gods?'

Michael slowly stretched out his hand. As the energy emanating from his fingertips touched the edges of the fractured barrier, the invading energy flickered violently, resisting.

Beyond that rift, something with countless eyes and mouths stared back at him.

Michael's eyes turned icy cold.

"It's over now."

He would never again allow intruders into this world.

Michael slowly drew forth the immense power boiling deep inside his body. At the core of his heart, all the strength he'd absorbed and refined through countless battles aligned into a singular force.

Vibrations resonated from his lungs, muscles, and bones, echoing deep within his being. The small spark that had rested in the depths of his soul now transformed into a blazing sun capable of engulfing the entire world.

The cold atmosphere boiled under Michael's heat. Pure white light stretched out from his fingertips, pulsating like a heartbeat.

The boundaries of time and space trembled; all flow around him momentarily ceased.

Only the barrier gradually restored itself.

Within this barrier, Michael—the man once known as Fede—faced his past.

Fede stood before an orphanage beneath pouring rain.

He saw a thin woman, perhaps in her late twenties, holding a newborn baby. In her eyes was a mixture of pain, despair, and love.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry, my child. Mom has no choice but to let you go. Please live happily."

Images flashed of the woman diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer, facing death alone, with no family or friends. Only debt remained—from caring for her sick husband and her own medical bills.

As she lay dying alone in a tiny room, Fede quietly lowered his head.

'I wasn't abandoned by my parents. It was a choice they couldn't avoid.'

The scene shifted again.

He saw his younger self, always rising earlier and studying later than everyone else. Though he'd never learned how to be loved, he'd quickly learned how not to trouble others, proving his worth through effort.

He'd gained admission to the Air Force Academy with exceptional grades, becoming a fighter pilot. Yet, he still remained alone, uncertain whether someone who'd never been loved could ever truly love or be loved.

Then, that day arrived—

His aircraft burned midair. Instruments unresponsive. Crowds too close below.

Ejection was possible, but it would've meant many casualties.

Without hesitation, he stayed.

And then—

After his death, a grand funeral was held, honoring him as a hero. Endless lines of mourners carried flowers. News broadcasts were filled with stories of his life, volunteer activities he'd quietly performed, and heartfelt interviews from colleagues.

"He was quiet, intimidating at first. But later I realized he cared deeply for others. I regret we weren't closer."

"I struggled badly at first. One day, he took me out to eat. I suddenly burst into tears over dinner, and he sat silently with me. It comforted me immensely."

Even the orphanage director spoke fondly.

"Fede was quiet, always the first awake and always helping other children. I never once saw him cry—not even once."

Michael clenched his fist tightly.

'There were people who genuinely mourned my passing.'

Warmth filled his heart.

Scenes continued unfolding:

Dominic and Margaret's joyful marriage, Margaret's pale face after giving birth to Michael, and her final moments.

"My child, I'm sorry I couldn't love you more. Receive all the world's love. I love you."

Michael's eyes filled with tears as he finally felt a mother's touch for the first time. Strangely, his past-life mother, Sohee, and his present-life mother, Margaret, shared similar warmth.

Next appeared scenes from his own childhood:

His maternal family raising a somewhat troubled Michael lovingly. Dominic, his father, secretly visiting to watch him from afar, frequently caught by Alfred yet always returning, undeterred.

Michael's lips curled into a smile.

The bitterness he'd carried vanished completely.

'I was loved—in both my previous and current lives.'

Indeed, the world was worth living in.

Now, Michael resolved, he would make it an even better world.

Strength surged within him again, greater than before.

With newfound resolve, Michael poured even more power into strengthening the barrier.

'From now on, an age without gods—an age purely of humans—will begin.'