Ascension Through Skills

Someone murmured, perhaps to lighten the tense atmosphere.

“So this is how I finally set foot on North Korean soil.”

“I never thought I’d return here…”

“What? Have you been to North Korea before?”

“Yes, I’m a defector.”

“Oh.”

The person who spoke first awkwardly closed their mouth.

They slowly moved forward. Kim Junggeun spoke.

“It’s strangely quiet. The air feels different too.”

It was cold and heavy. The very sensation felt as if it was cutting through.

Boom!

Soon, a loud noise echoed.

As the ground collapsed, monsters buried in the earth revealed themselves.

[Monster 113454 has appeared.]

[Monster 100045 has appeared.]

[Monster 100148 has appeared.]

Early six-digit monsters.

Several C-class monsters appeared. Taesan took a step back.

“Minerva. Barkaza. Stay back.”

[Understood.]

“Okay.”

The two retreated according to Taesan’s command. Taesan spoke to the people who were flustered.

“I don’t intend to interfere. Try to coordinate while dealing with the monsters.”

“Oh. Yes!”

Kim Hwiyeon quickly nodded and shouted.

“Everyone, move to your designated positions!”

Players from Japan and Korea overlapped and moved together. They charged at the incoming monsters, kicking off the ground and swinging their weapons.

Clang!

At this point, C-class monsters could be taken down without much trouble if the Hard Mode players worked together. Rather than intervening, Taesan prioritized having the Korean and Japanese players face the monsters to gauge each other’s strength and movement.

Initially, their coordination was awkward, but as the battle continued, their movements became more refined.

As they began to coordinate, the Japanese players couldn’t help but be impressed.

“Their average strength is much higher than ours…”

The Korean Hard Mode players had now reached the late stages of the 40th floor. In contrast, the Japanese players had only just arrived at the early stages of the 40th floor. The difference in power between them was significant.

While marveling at the Korean players’ movements, the Japanese players couldn’t hide their curiosity.

“They’re so strong, so why did only so few of them survive?”

“Ah…”

At one player’s question, Kim Hwiyeon averted her gaze with a vague expression. Her gaze ended at Taesan.

Taesan shook his head. Kim Hwiyeon casually changed the subject.

“There was some… internal conflict.”

“Ah.”

The Japanese player nodded as if understanding.

No matter how strong the players were, if their opponents were other players, it wouldn’t matter. Japan, too, had lost many people due to conflicts between players, so they didn’t find Kim Hwiyeon’s words strange.

“Is this enough?”

“Yes.”

Taesan responded to Kim Hwiyeon’s quiet question.

He couldn’t tell everyone about the downfall of Earth and the story of the labyrinth. Even if he did, it would be much later.

They were able to defeat the appearing monsters without any casualties. They moved forward without any sacrifices.

However, their pace slowed considerably.

It was because too many monsters kept appearing.

“Why are there so many?”

Crack.

Lee Taeyeon, who had single-handedly defeated a C-class monster, clicked her tongue. After walking for a few minutes, monsters appeared, and after defeating them, more monsters appeared after a few minutes of walking. It seemed endless.

It was as if all humans had been killed by the monsters, and the situation had spiraled out of control.

“Are we sure there are still living people here?”

“According to the community, there are… but I don’t sense any presence at all. Are they hiding?”

Taesan gazed at the horizon.

[You have activated Reconnaissance.]

[You have activated Leraje’s Territory Detection.]

The detection linked to reconnaissance brought in information from the surroundings.

Taesan sensed the presence of players gathered in the distance.

“Minerva. Bring them here.”

“No matter how many times I see it, it’s amazing. How do you use the Word of Power?”

Minerva clicked her tongue and waved her hand. A gust of wind exploded, sending something flying beyond their line of sight.

“Waaahhh!”

Dozens of people were sent flying right in front of them.

The people who had been staring blankly at something were suddenly startled by the appearance of these airborne individuals.

“What the hell!”

“Wh-who are they!”

“Huh, huh…”

About thirty people suddenly flew into Minerva’s grasp.

They looked scruffy. While the players from Korea and Japan hadn’t exactly been keeping up appearances, at least they had managed to trim their hair and wash their faces to maintain some level of cleanliness.

However, the people who appeared looked filthy, with unkempt hair completely covering their faces.

Kim Hwiyeon asked cautiously.

“By any chance… are you North Korean players?”

“Ugh…”

Realizing the situation belatedly, those who noticed the numerous people surrounding them panicked and grabbed their weapons.

“Get up! We’re under attack!”

“We’re not enemies!”

Kim Hwiyeon shouted urgently. However, the people who appeared to be North Korean players did not lower their guard. Instead, their hostility only intensified.

“Get lost! Don’t come any closer! If you do, we’ll kill you!”

They shouted fiercely.

It was as if they were afraid of human contact itself.

As Kim Hwiyeon hesitated, unable to approach due to their strong resistance, Taesan moved.

“Let’s calm down and talk first.”

[Kang Taesan’s Non-Lethal Attack.]

“Ugh…”

All thirty players collapsed without being able to resist.

Taesan dusted off his hands.

“Wake them up one by one and try to calm them down. If they still don’t understand, call me.”

It was a threat to knock them out again. Kim Hwiyeon muttered.

“You’re quite decisive…”

“This is the quickest way.”

On the previous Earth, people who had cleared the labyrinth and returned, dreaming of a happy future, all went mad, denying reality. Initially, they tried to persuade them with words, but they didn’t listen.

It was quicker to knock them out first, cool their overheated heads, and then have them accept reality. Though it seemed violent, it was a method born from countless experiences.

The group hastily moved forward, taking the unconscious North Korean players with them.

When the players awoke, they slowly explained the situation. Some went berserk, while others accepted it.

Those who went berserk were knocked out by Taesan again and again until they finally listened.

And the story that came out of them was enough to shock everyone.

At first, the North Korean players had worked together to survive. The situation was too extreme to think about minor issues.

But as the situation settled down and they gained some leeway, they soon reached one conclusion.

Who would become the leader?

Who would lead the people?

They directly confronted the contradictions inherent in North Korea’s hereditary system.

The people split. Extremely. They began to kill each other, trying to create the outcome they desired.

The one with the most power tried to suppress the others with force. But unlike before, those who had been oppressed had also gained power.

No, now the oppressed were at an advantage.

There were more of them, and this also meant there were more talented individuals among them. Those who had been crushed under oppression and rules rose up.

As if they were ready to burn everything to the ground.

They didn’t stop. They saw each other as enemies, trying to kill one another like monsters.

And so, the oppressed became the new rulers of North Korea.

They killed all those who had oppressed them.

But the chaos didn’t end there.

Those who became the rulers began to oppress others, just as they had been oppressed.

Power drove people mad. Those who seized power amidst chaos and battle now wanted to wield that power.

They started killing each other again.

Even after they returned to the labyrinth, it was the same.

Their fight continued even in the labyrinth.

Far more people were killed by fellow players than by monsters as they descended the labyrinth.

By the time things had settled down, they had already split into dozens of groups, none of which saw the others as allies.

Once they returned to Earth, these splintered groups killed and fought each other, heading north first.

The only ones left were thirty Hard Mode players who didn’t belong to any group.

Their story left everyone speechless.

It was possible, they thought. Human greed knew no bounds. But hearing the story directly from those who experienced it sent a chill through their hearts.

China was a country with many similarities to North Korea.

What would China’s situation be like right now?

“…Let’s keep moving.”

They swallowed nervously and moved forward.

The thirty North Korean Hard Mode players demonstrated the power they had used to survive the chaotic situation.

Now united, they perfectly coordinated to defeat the monsters.

They continued to move forward.

A week later, they arrived at Baekdu Mountain.

“Wow…”

People couldn’t help but marvel at the breathtaking scenery before them.

Even though the monsters had taken over the earth, Baekdu Mountain had not changed much from before. Kim Hwiyeon murmured,

“This was on my bucket list, and I’ve finally fulfilled it this way.”

Baekdu Mountain was covered in snow. Kim Hwiyeon spoke calmly,

“There’s a high possibility that this quest will take a long time, so let’s set up a shelter first.”

Unlike in the city, where they had been so far, they now had to proceed with the quest in a place devoid of any human touch. At the very least, a simple resting place needed to be prepared.

People began working hard, cutting down trees and clearing the land.

Meanwhile, Lee Taeyeon, Kang Taesan, Kim Hwiyeon, and a few others headed towards Cheonji Lake. They intended to survey the surroundings from the highest point to ensure safety.

“Wow.”

Kim Hwiyeon let out a small exclamation upon seeing Cheonji Lake.

The emotions associated with pure beauty, which had been lost long ago, began to resurface. Ichika and Kim Jung-geun also had their eyes light up.

But Taesan remained expressionless. He had come too far to feel emotions such as beauty now. The countless years had taken away several emotions from him.

Lee Taeyeon also had a dull expression.

“You don’t seem very impressed.”

“I don’t really get it. Is this supposed to be that moving? I’ve never been particularly interested in art or beauty.”

At her response, Taesan chuckled.

In her previous life, Lee Taeyeon had collected artworks. Not because she was interested in them, but as a facade to pretend that she was normal.

But now, she no longer needed to wear such a mask.

Taesan didn’t think this change was bad.

After surveying Cheonji Lake, they descended Baekdu Mountain.

“Where did the North Koreans who left first go?”

Lee Taeyeon asked the North Korean players, and they answered.

“They must have gone to China.”

North Korea had split into dozens of groups. They were all in conflict, trying to eliminate the other groups.

But the risk was too great for them to handle directly.

So they borrowed the power of another country.

It seemed they were heading to China for that purpose. Lee Taeyeon asked with a perplexed face.

“Even in this situation, they’re doing that?”

“Don’t expect rationality. Even in life-threatening situations, many people will throw their lives away for a small profit.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Kim Hwiyeon responded with a troubled expression to Taesan’s words.

“Since the Chinese side hasn’t arrived yet, let’s prepare for now.”

They began to clear out the monsters around Baekdu Mountain.

With a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, they waited for the arrival of the Chinese players.

And a week later.

They appeared.

“They’re here.”

Taesan, looking out from the top of Baekdu Mountain, lowered his sword and muttered. Next to him, Lee Taeyeon, who was catching her breath, asked.

“Who is?”

“The Chinese. And there are a lot of them.”

“Oh, really?”

Lee Taeyeon stood up and turned her gaze in the direction Taesan was looking.

“I can’t see them.”

“They’re still a few hours away.”

“…You can see that far?”

After a brief silence, Lee Taeyeon asked incredulously. Taesan stood up.

“Let everyone know. They’ll be here soon.”

“Oh, okay.”

The news that the Chinese players would arrive soon spread to everyone. People gathered together, filled with complex emotions, waiting.

And soon, the Chinese players began to come into view.

“…What?”

Kim Hwiyeon’s face stiffened.

Although her vision couldn’t compare to Taesan’s, it was still quite good. She could read the expressions of people several kilometers away.

Her gaze swept from one end of the horizon to the other.

Everywhere she looked was filled with people, and even then, it didn’t end.

“Wait. How many are there?”

Others, realizing the number, also started murmuring.

Boom!

Every time they took a step, the ground shook.

When monsters arose and rushed at them, they were literally swallowed by the overwhelming numbers, unable to even slow their advance.

People stared blankly as they approached.

What caught their attention was an enormous, elaborate red palanquin at the front of the group.

The palanquin was exceedingly ornate.

As if they had gathered all the decorations in this broken world, it was excessively extravagant.

It had taken the Chinese players over two weeks to reach Baekdu Mountain. The monsters must have blocked the way, but not a speck of dust had settled on the palanquin.

Thud.

Dozens of people were carrying the palanquin.

It was a sight akin to the procession of an emperor.

A gaunt man standing beside the palanquin shouted loudly.

“Behold! The Dragon’s Incarnation!”

He shouted as if he were an attendant following an emperor.

“The one who possesses the qualities of a supreme ruler, recognized by Heaven and Earth, who has conquered vast lands and now rules us! The great and noble Emperor has descended upon this place! All people, bow your heads and worship the Emperor’s majesty!”