Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 307: Fifth Return to Earth (3)

“Hoo...”

Everyone took a deep breath as they crossed the barren border.

One person, perhaps trying to lighten the tense atmosphere, murmured, “I never thought I'd set foot in North Korea like this.”

“Didn’t expect to return myself...” another replied, trailing off.

“Oh? Have you been here before?” a young player asked.

“Yeah, I’m a defector,” the man replied.

“Oh...” The first person fell silent, embarrassed by his initial question.

The group moved forward slowly. Geum Jung-geun looked around, frowning.

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

It was heavy and cold, and everyone could sense an ominous edge to it.

Boom!

The ground rumbled, and creatures emerged from beneath, shaking the earth.

[Monster 113454 has appeared.]

[Monster 100045 has appeared.]

[Monster 100148 has appeared.]

A series of mid-six-digit monsters appeared, bringing several C-grade threats. Taesan stepped back.

“Minerva, Barkhaza, stay back.”

[Understood.]

“Got it.”

Following Taesan’s command, the two retreated, leaving the group looking on in surprise. Taesan addressed them calmly.

“I won’t be getting involved. Use this to practice your coordination against the monsters.”

“Oh, right!” Kim Huiyeon nodded quickly, taking charge.

“Everyone, move to your designated positions!”

The Japanese and Korean players intermingled, stepping forward to face the incoming wave of monsters with weapons at the ready.

Clang!

At this point, C-grade monsters were manageable for Hard Mode players, as long as they coordinated. Taesan opted to observe, letting the Korean and Japanese players handle the creatures to gauge each other’s strengths and synchronize their movements.

Initially, the coordination was awkward, but with each battle, they became more synchronized.

The Japanese players, witnessing the Koreans’ skill up close, were in awe.

“The average strength of Korean players... it’s much higher than ours.”

Korean players had reached the late 40s floor, while Japan’s Hard Mode players were only reaching the early 40s. A noticeable gap existed between their abilities.

While impressed by the Koreans’ prowess, the Japanese players couldn’t help but wonder.

“If you’re this strong, how come so few of you survived?”

At this question, Kim Huiyeon’s expression grew uneasy as she glanced at Taesan. When he shook his head slightly, she replied carefully.

“We... had some conflicts.”

“Ah, I see.”

The Japanese player nodded in understanding. Even if players were strong, conflict between them could be devastating. Japan had lost many due to such confrontations, so the Japanese players accepted her answer without suspicion.

“Are we doing this right?”

“Yes,” Taesan replied to Kim Huiyeon’s quiet question.

He couldn’t reveal the full truth about Earth’s demise and the labyrinth’s secrets. That was information for later.

The monsters were dealt with swiftly and without casualties, yet their pace remained slow.

“There are just so many of them!”

Crack!

Lee Taeyeon sighed as she defeated another C-grade monster. Every few steps, more monsters appeared. It was as though all the humans had died, leaving these creatures to run rampant.

“Are there any survivors?”

“The community suggests there are, but there’s no sign of life... Maybe they’re hiding?”

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Taesan looked toward the distant horizon.

[You have activated Reconnaissance.]

[You have activated Leraje’s Domain Detection.]

Using Reconnaissance with Leraje’s Domain Detection, Taesan detected a faint signal of other players gathered far away.

“Minerva, bring them here.”

Minerva clicked her tongue in amazement. “Still can’t get used to this. How do you even use Command?”

She waved her hand, and a strong gust surged toward the distant figures.

“Aaah!”

Soon, about thirty people landed in front of the group.

Everyone stared at the disheveled newcomers with shock.

“Who are you?”

“Identify yourselves!” one of the Korean players shouted, weapon drawn.

“W-Wait!” Kim Huiyeon intervened, addressing the wary newcomers cautiously. “Are you... North Korean players?”

Realizing their surroundings, the newcomers grabbed their weapons in fear, shouting, “Stay back! Don’t come near, or we’ll kill you!”

They seemed terrified of human contact itself, looking more like cornered animals than players.

Unable to make progress with words, Taesan stepped forward. “Calm down. Let’s talk first.”

[Non-lethal attack by Kang Taesan.]

“Ugh!”

The thirty players collapsed instantly, unable to resist.

Taesan dusted off his hands. “When they wake up, try talking to them. If they still don’t listen, call me back.”

His tone suggested he was ready to knock them out again. Kim Huiyeon muttered, “Direct approach, huh?”

“It’s the fastest way.”

After the first wave of people returned to Earth, many had refused to accept the reality and acted out in desperation. While they initially tried negotiation, the quickest way to bring peace had been a show of force. Though harsh, Taesan’s approach was born from experience.

Once they had calmed down, the team resumed their journey with the unconscious North Korean players in tow. Gradually, as these players regained consciousness, explanations were given. Some accepted the situation, while others rebelled, only to be knocked out by Taesan until they complied.

The tales shared by the North Korean players shocked everyone.

At first, they had banded together in unity, focused on survival. However, as the situation stabilized, a new question arose: who would lead?

The structure of North Korean society, based on a rigid hierarchy, couldn’t support such leadership conflicts. Tensions grew, and people split into factions, each attempting to take control.

Eventually, those who had been oppressed rose against their former oppressors. Unlike before, these oppressed individuals now had power. They were numerous, with strength spread among them. Rising together, they turned on their previous leaders, slaughtering them without mercy.

However, the chaos didn’t end there.

The newly empowered victors soon began to oppress others, drunk on their newfound authority. They fought each other in a cycle of betrayal and power grabs, their battles spilling into the labyrinth as well.

By the time order was restored, the players had divided into dozens of factions, all distrusting one another.

When the fifth return arrived, many had gone north, killing and dividing further. The only ones left now were thirty unaffiliated Hard Mode players.

Hearing this tale, everyone fell silent.

It was understandable, perhaps. Human greed knew no bounds. But listening to these firsthand accounts left everyone with a bitter chill.

China shared similarities with North Korea.

What, then, might be happening there?

“...Let’s keep going.”

Swallowing their doubts, they pressed on. The thirty North Korean Hard Mode players, having survived in this chaotic environment, demonstrated impressive strength. Their addition bolstered the group, and together they continued forward.

After a week, they arrived at Mount Baekdu.

“Wow...”

People gasped at the stunning sight before them.

Mount Baekdu, even in this monster-overrun world, retained much of its original beauty. Kim Huiyeon muttered under her breath.

“This was on my bucket list... didn’t think I’d visit like this.”

The mountain was blanketed in snow, untouched by humanity’s fall. Kim Huiyeon composed herself.

“This quest might last a while. Let’s set up some kind of shelter.”

Unlike their city surroundings, they now had to face the wilderness. Building a basic shelter seemed necessary.

While some gathered wood and cleared land, a smaller group, including Lee Taeyeon, Kang Taesan, and Kim Huiyeon, climbed to the summit of the mountain for a view of their surroundings.

“Amazing,” Kim Huiyeon sighed, looking down at the vast Tianchi Lake below.

The sight stirred something within her, a long-forgotten sense of wonder. Ichika and Geum Jung-geun also gazed on, eyes shining.

Taesan, however, remained impassive. The beauty of the scene meant little to him now, as he had long moved beyond such emotions. The countless hardships he’d faced had eroded parts of his emotional spectrum.

Lee Taeyeon, too, seemed unaffected.

“Not impressed?” Taesan asked.

“It doesn’t really move me,” she replied indifferently. “Beauty and art were never my thing.”

Taesan chuckled. In his previous life, Lee Taeyeon had collected art, not out of appreciation but as a facade to appear “normal.” Now, she had no need for such pretense.

He considered this change a positive one.

After surveying the area, the group descended the mountain.

“So... where did the North Koreans who went ahead go?” Lee Taeyeon asked one of the players.

“They probably headed to China.”

The North Korean factions, now fractured into numerous groups, sought allies to continue their struggles for dominance.

Likely, they’d gone to seek support in China.

Lee Taeyeon looked taken aback. “Even in times like these, they’re doing that?”

“Don’t expect rationality,” Taesan replied. “People will throw away their lives for small gains, even in dire circumstances.”

“True, but...”

Kim Huiyeon spoke with a frown. “Seems like the Chinese haven’t arrived yet, so let’s make the most of the time to prepare.”

They cleared the surrounding area of monsters, then set up camp with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension, awaiting the arrival of the Chinese players.

A week passed.

Finally, they arrived.

***

“They’re here.”

At the summit of Mount Baekdu, Taesan lowered his sword, muttering to himself. Nearby, Lee Taeyeon, catching her breath, asked, “Who’s here?”

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

“Oh, really?” Lee Taeyeon got to her feet, looking in the direction Taesan was gazing.

“I can’t see them.”

“They’re still a few hours away.”

“...Wait, you can see that far?”

Lee Taeyeon stared at him, incredulous. Taesan stood up, unfazed.

“Go tell everyone. They’ll be here soon.”

“Oh, right.”

Once word spread that the Chinese players were close, everyone gathered at their encampment, bracing themselves with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Finally, the Chinese players came into view.

“...What?”

Kim Huiyeon’s face grew tense.

With her enhanced vision, she could see for kilometers. She could even make out the expressions on people’s faces from afar.

And stretching from one end of the horizon to the other, all she could see were people.

Endless waves of people.

“Wait, how many are there?”

Others began to notice too, and murmurs spread through the camp.

Boom!

The ground trembled with each step the crowd took.

Occasionally, monsters rose up to attack, but they were quickly overpowered and crushed by sheer numbers.

Everyone watched, transfixed by the approaching tide of people.

At the forefront of this massive force was a luxurious red palanquin, catching everyone’s attention.

The palanquin was grand, lavishly adorned as though every bit of decoration in this post-apocalyptic world had been collected just for it. Despite the harsh journey, not a speck of dust marred its splendor.

Each step was taken with utmost care by dozens of people carrying the palanquin.

It was like the procession of an emperor.

A gaunt man beside the palanquin raised his voice, shouting for all to hear:

“Behold! The dragon’s incarnation!”

With the fervor of a loyal servant, he continued, “The one blessed with the innate authority to rule, who has conquered the vast lands and brought us all under his dominion! His Imperial Majesty descends upon us! Bow your heads and revere the dignity of the Emperor!”