A realm made of golden light manifested around the crumbled heavens.
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“Whoa...”
People instinctively sensed it. This was a realm created by Taesan. That golden light would protect them.
As they shouted Taesan’s name, they sent forth strong reverence. Their faith became the foundation that upheld the holy land.
“Hmm.”
At the same time, Taesan realized.
His standing, which had been on the boundary, was now pushing its way beyond that threshold.
‘I might be able to reach it faster than I thought.’
Taesan sought out Kim Hwi-yeon again. She was visibly astonished by the holy land Taesan had created.
“Taesan! What is that?!”
“A holy land.”
“A holy land?”
“Ordinary monsters cannot invade the holy land. And injuries will heal at a rapid pace within it. It will also prevent interference with the mind.”
“What about the duration?”
“There isn’t one. As long as you all continue to worship me unwaveringly, it will remain there forever.”
“...Now you really are a god.”
Kim Hwi-yeon murmured in disbelief. She knew Taesan possessed otherworldly power, but to create a holy land was beyond her imagination.
“Enough of that. Let’s sort things out. Which countries will be coming if they’re gathering from all over Asia?”
“Ah, right.”
With a composed expression, Kim Hwi-yeon began to speak.
“Based on what I confirmed in the community, the countries gathering here will mainly be India and Russia.”
During the last return, Korea, China, and Japan had clustered together at one location.
Other countries were no different. Russia and Mongolia had grouped towards Russia, while the remaining countries had gathered in India.
“It’s convenient that I don’t have to worry about the details.”
“What will you do, Taesan?”
Was she asking if he would assist them in finding their way like before? Taesan shook his head.
“I won’t go help them. They’ll arrive without any issues.”
The rift in the sky was very quiet. Taesan recognized it as the calm before the storm.
Goshin was gathering power to kill Taesan.
In such a situation, it wouldn’t waste its power targeting players from other countries. From Goshin’s perspective, everyone except Taesan was no more than dust.
Taesan concluded that they would reach their destination without interference.
“Isn’t there something to do? We’re talking about at least hundreds of thousands coming, right?”
“Probably...?”
“Then where will we accommodate all those people?”
“That’s a problem as well.”
Even now, there were quite a few people sleeping on the ground. If a population the size of hundreds of thousands arrived, finding space for them would be a significant task.
“Isn’t expanding the holy land difficult?”
“Impossible. The size of the holy land has its limits.”
As the size of the holy land increased, the consumption of divinity grew exponentially. Considering the faith of the people, the limit was about twice the size of the heavens.
Taesan rose from his seat.
“Don’t overthink it. Let’s just clear some land.”
“...That doesn’t sound very reasonable.”
Kim Hwi-yeon replied with hesitation.
Taesan stepped into the holy land he had created.
The holy land had formed around the heavens.
During the battle with the monsters, Baekdu Mountain had crumbled. The debris was still occupying space.
He would clean that up and return it to its original state.
It wasn’t difficult. The holy land was his domain. What he desired would be realized.
He infused his will into his words.
“Return.”
[You have activated the Declaration of Regeneration.]
Kugugugung!
“Uh, uh?!”
People resting in the holy land jolted awake in shock. The ground began to tremble.
“Whoa!”
In the sudden chaos, people hurried outside of Baekdu Mountain. They gazed blankly at the mountain.
Kugugugung...
Cliffs began to rise, and the waters that had scattered in all directions started to rise into the air. Trees grew, and colors began to spring forth into the space.
The crumbled Baekdu Mountain was rising once more.
As the shaking subsided, people were left speechless.
Baekdu Mountain, which had completely collapsed and lost its form, regained its original shape.
When the people reached the peak of Baekdu Mountain, the heavens were also as they once were.
“...O God.”
Someone murmured in a voice that resembled a groan.
Taesan then cleaned up other locations, not just the holy land.
It was not difficult. Taesan, who had contracted with the Spirit King, could exert absolute influence over nature. With the power of command, he could easily turn the entire land upside down.
In an instant, all obstacles that blocked his view disappeared.
Space was created for hundreds of thousands of people to settle.
The people did not cheer or exclaim in awe.
They simply knelt quietly and offered prayers to Taesan. A pure faith, free from any impurities, enveloped Taesan’s entire being.
Time passed, and they arrived.
---
* * *
“They’ve come.”
“Heh, heh.”
Taesan halted his sword. Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyuk collapsed in exhaustion.
Taesan was gazing toward the distance. The two, finally calming their breaths, turned their eyes in the direction Taesan was looking.
“...There’s nothing there?”
“You’re not seeing it because it’s outside your view. Tell Kim Hwi-yeon to get ready; they’ll be arriving soon.”
“Yes...”
Lee Tae-yeon staggered to her feet and headed toward Kim Hwi-yeon.
Not long after, Kim Hwi-yeon and the other leading players stared at the direction Taesan had indicated with tense faces.
Soon, the approaching figures drew near enough for them to discern.
“What’s with all these people?”
“Wait a minute. How many are there?”
People were aghast. They couldn’t count the numbers. It was literally endless.
Even when they first met the Chinese, they had been overwhelmed by the numbers, but this time it was even greater.
The people waited nervously for them to approach.
As those figures drew closer, they stopped at a certain distance.
“...Huh?”
Kim Hwi-yeon’s eyes widened.
The others were establishing their own camp while keeping their distance.
“What are they doing?”
It was quite strange. They were survivors from a perished world. Even if survivors excluded each other for their own gain, they had never kept their distance like this.
Yet this time, they seemed to be intentionally avoiding contact, setting up camp at a distance.
This bewildered Kim Hwi-yeon. She couldn’t fathom what the other party was thinking.
As she hesitated, unable to make a decision, someone approached from their side.
He was a man who looked somewhat frail. Approaching alone, he quietly spoke.
“I am Kamal Hassan, an Alron mode player and the leader of the Asian Alliance from India.”
“The Asian Alliance?”
“A group formed primarily around my country, India. We’re calling it that since we don’t have a proper name.”
Hassan said this and fell silent. Kim Hwi-yeon steadied her surprise and spoke.
“I’m the leader from Korea. Kim Hwi-yeon.”
“Nice to meet you. Are you the leader of this group?”
“For now, that is the situation.”
Hassan glanced behind Kim Hwi-yeon.
There was the golden holy land.
Hassan’s eyes flickered.
“Did you create that...?”
“Eh? No, that was made by Kang Taesan over there.”
“Kang Taesan...”
Hassan looked at Taesan.
After pondering something alone, he spoke.
“I have come to talk with you. Would that be alright?”
“Of course.”
Kim Hwi-yeon nodded vigorously. In a situation where the other party was keeping their distance and unsure of what to do, a leader had approached them. Kim Hwi-yeon intended to extract information no matter what.
“May I ask why you are keeping your distance from us? It would be better to join forces if monsters appear...”
“I think so as well.”
Hassan smiled wryly.
“However, there are those who refuse that. I am in a position where I can do nothing.”
“Pardon?”
Kim Hwi-yeon was taken aback by Hassan’s words.
“Didn’t you say you were a leader? But you can’t force others when some refuse? What do you mean by that?”
If it was something everyone opposed, that would be one thing, but for the leader to have to bow to the wishes of a minority was incomprehensible to Kim Hwi-yeon.
“...I lack power.”
Hassan closed his mouth with a depressed expression. Kim Hwi-yeon wanted to ask more, but Hassan wouldn’t respond any further.
She led Hassan toward the holy land. Those who saw Taesan knelt and offered their prayers.
As Hassan observed their demeanor, he spoke.
“All of them worship you, just like the community said, Taesan.”
“That’s right. Taesan saved us. If it weren’t for Taesan, none of us would have survived.”
It was no empty talk. The monsters that appeared were beings they couldn’t contend with. Without Taesan, no living creature could exist in this land.
However, Hassan appeared troubled by that statement.
He looked at Kim Hwi-yeon.
“You’re a hard mode player, right? How far have you advanced?”
“I just reached the 70th floor.”
Hassan’s pupils widened.
“Se
ventieth floor?”
“Why do you ask?”
Kim Hwi-yeon tilted her head. It wasn’t such a surprising level, in her opinion. A considerable number of hard mode players had reached the same level as her.
But Hassan looked as if he had heard of an impossible feat.
After struggling to regain his composure, Hassan asked again.
“It seems you’re an Alron mode player, but could you tell me how far you are?”
“What level are you at? I heard last time you were at the 77th floor.”
“78th floor.”
“Wow. You’re fast indeed.”
Kim Hwi-yeon couldn’t help but express admiration. However, Hassan’s reaction was even greater. His eyes grew wide in astonishment.
“Seventy-eighth floor...?”
“Why do you ask?”
Kim Hwi-yeon tilted her head. Hassan couldn’t close his mouth.
“Just how... did you reach that point...?”
“It’s not just Taesan. Players Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyuk are also clearing Alron mode at a rapid pace.”
“Are they...?”
“About the late 40s? I think so.”
Hassan was left speechless.
‘What is this...?’
He had just entered the early 40s of Alron mode.
And the other hard mode players from India had only just reached the 60th floor. It was an overwhelming difference.
‘...And yet, you’re saying that without Kang Taesan, you would have been annihilated?’
“Uh, why do you look like that?”
A momentary look of fear flashed across Hassan’s face. Kim Hwi-yeon cautiously inquired. Hassan hurriedly composed himself.
“It’s nothing.”
Her confusion about his inexplicable reaction deepened. She couldn’t fathom Hassan’s thoughts at all.
“This is it.”
Kim Hwi-yeon brought Hassan right in front of the holy land.
As Hassan stared blankly at the golden realm, he asked.
“May I enter it once?”
“Do as you please.”
Taesan replied. Hassan stepped into the holy land.
“Ah.”
Hassan involuntarily let out a groan.
The golden aura enveloped his entire being. A sense of fullness he had never felt before surged within him, and the fatigue of his mind vanished completely.
‘This is...’
Power that felt unhuman.
Hassan stared blankly at Taesan.
---
* * *
“What on earth is going on?”
Kim Hwi-yeon grumbled.
Hassan stood there, still in shock for a long time before quietly leaving. Kim Hwi-yeon tried to grab him, but it was futile.
She had no idea what the other party was thinking or what they desired.
“Are you thinking about cooperating with us or not?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Taesan replied calmly.
Before long, the players from Russia and Mongolia also arrived. Unlike the Indian players, they did not keep their distance at all.
However, their gazes were not particularly friendly either.
While it wasn’t clear exactly because they hadn’t had a detailed conversation yet, Kim Hwi-yeon sensed an air of contempt and disdain directed at them.
In the midst of the confusion, all players gathered. Quietly, a system window appeared.
---
**[Special Quest Initiated]**
[The first wave is beginning.]
[Preparation time: one week.]
[Defeat all attacking monsters.]
[Rewards upon return to the labyrinth will be distributed based on performance.]