Chapter 166: To Seoul (1)
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“Is everyone ready?”
Kim Hwiyeon asked calmly. Everyone nodded with determined expressions.
Kim Hwiyeon bit her lip.
“Then let’s go. Let’s protect each other and move forward. Don’t die.”
They began their journey to Seoul.
Lee Taeyeon had a distressed expression.
“Ugh… I haven’t mastered it yet.”
She and Kang Junhyuk had been learning the Ability Sword from Taesan. Despite a week of intense training, they hadn’t yet increased their proficiency.
“You’ll have to learn on the go. You don’t have time to rest.”
Taesan spoke calmly as he walked.
They had just left Yongin City Hall when monsters appeared.
[Monster 599894 has appeared.]
A large number of E-rank monsters, along with two D-rank monsters. These were the creatures they had risked their lives against during the previous return.
Especially the D-rank monsters, which even Hard Mode players had to fight in a wheel formation to barely defeat.
But things were different now.
“Everyone, move!”
The Hard Mode players coordinated quickly. They dodged the monsters’ attacks and avoided fatal injuries even when hit.
Their movements were faster and more precise than before. Together, they took down the D-rank monsters.
“Yah!”
“Haaaa!”
The Normal and Easy Mode players also fought bravely, taking down the E-rank monsters one by one.
When all the monsters were defeated, their faces were bright.
“We won!”
“Wow!”
As they celebrated, Kim Hwiyeon quickly asked,
“Any casualties?”
“No one is hurt!”
Only then did Kim Hwiyeon’s expression brighten.
The six-digit monsters that had previously caused significant casualties during the last return were now defeated without anyone dying. This meant they had indeed become stronger.
Taesan’s eyes also gleamed.
‘Everyone has definitely gotten stronger.’
Thanks to the talents for struggle and death, people’s movements had become faster and more precise. Even comparing it to his memories of the previous life, the level was different.
At this rate, they could change the course of future events.
They moved forward with hopeful expressions. Monsters continued to appear, and they fought for their lives.
Taesan only dealt with the monsters that attacked him directly and did nothing else.
The reason was simple: people needed to get stronger.
Although Taesan could have dealt with all the monsters alone, there would come a time when he couldn’t.
Thus, they needed to gain experience while they could face monsters without significant risk.
Of course, he stepped in during real danger.
Grrrk.
[Monster 122124 has appeared.]
Monsters with five-digit numbers at the end and six-digit numbers at the beginning were C-rank monsters.
The power of C-rank monsters was incomparable to that of D-rank monsters. Several reckless individuals who thought they were like the other six-digit monsters charged in and were immediately knocked to the ground. Only then did Kim Hwiyeon’s face change, realizing it was a different level of monster.
“Everyone, fall back!”
Fortunately, no one died from the monster’s strike, but many were left in a critical state, unable to regain consciousness.
The monster raised its arm to finish them off. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk rushed in, but Taesan was already in front of the monster.
Crash.
Taesan’s fist came down on the monster’s head. With a loud noise, the monster was slammed into the ground.
“Argh!”
The ground shook as if an earthquake had occurred. Those fighting the monsters wobbled.
[You dealt 1621 damage to Monster 122124.]
Kang Junhyuk’s eyes widened.
The monster tried to resist by moving its arm. Taesan easily blocked it and drove his sword into the monster.
[You dealt 2012 damage to Monster 121224.]
The monster struggled a few more times, but Taesan subdued it and continued to strike with his sword.
Soon, the monster was defeated.
Kang Junhyuk, who had been watching in a daze, asked,
“What’s that?”
“What do you mean?”
“No, the damage…”
Kang Junhyuk groaned.
2000 damage.
It was unheard of.
Considering he couldn’t even deal 40 damage despite his efforts, it meant there was a more than fifty-fold difference.
“If you keep descending, you’ll get there too.”
“That seems difficult…”
It was indeed not easy. Without the AI-assisted weapon techniques, Kang Junhyuk had to rely solely on the weapon’s attack power, which meant it would take a long time to deal 2000 damage.
“But it’s not impossible.”
Kang Junhyuk was also a Solo Mode player. If he continued to descend without dying, he would eventually reach it.
And Taesan had no intention of letting him die.
The battles gradually ended. As the monsters grew stronger, some sustained significant injuries. Taesan addressed them.
“Those with less than half their health, come here.”
People hesitated but gathered around Taesan. He activated a spell.
[You have activated the Domain of Regeneration.]
A green sphere enveloped them.
Within the sphere, their health rapidly recovered. They exclaimed in astonishment.
“Ohhh!”
“My health is going up!”
Watching their reactions, Taesan muttered,
“The recovery speed isn’t bad.”
The spell that increased the health and mana of those within a certain area, the Domain of Regeneration.
He had been curious about its efficiency, and it seemed to work quite well. He anticipated using it often in the future.
“Oh…”
“Taesan…”
The people within the domain looked at Taesan with admiration.
Taesan accepted their reverence calmly.
They continued their journey to Seoul.
They moved at a pace five times faster than when they headed to Anyang City Hall before. People seemed more optimistic, knowing they were in a better situation than before.
Night fell.
People found places to rest.
“Come and get your rations!”
Thanks to makeshift cultivation, there was no shortage of food. Everyone took as much corn and vegetables as they wanted.
In the previous life, they had run out of food and had to scavenge roots. This was a significant improvement.
Even though not everyone had experienced such hardship, they understood the importance of having enough food.
All of this was thanks to Taesan.
The worship of Taesan grew stronger day by day.
And Taesan was training Kang Junhyuk and Lee Taeyeon on the outskirts of the encampment.
“Still can’t do it, huh.”
Taesan clicked his tongue. Kang Junhyuk and Lee Taeyeon’s proficiency in the Ability Sword hadn’t increased at all.
“Let’s call it a day.”
While he didn’t expect quick results, at this rate, they might reach Seoul without any progress.
Lee Taeyeon stood up, trembling.
“Can I go rest then?”
“No.”
Taesan shook his head. Lee Taeyeon’s face turned pale.
“What’s next…”
“It’s not another task. I just realized I hadn’t asked.”
Taesan sat on a nearby rock and asked,
“Have you met the Guides of Sin?”
Both Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk had descended beyond the 10th floor, where the Guides of Sin appeared.
Taesan had encountered the Guides of Sin on the 12th floor.
If they existed in Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk’s labyrinths as well, they might have already met them.
Lee Taeyeon nodded.
“Yes.”
“I met them too. Those damn bastards. Who do they think they are, giving orders?”
Kang Junhyuk grumbled. Taesan stroked his chin at their responses.
The Guides of Sin existed in Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk’s labyrinths.
This meant they likely existed in the labyrinths of other Solo Mode players as well.
Taesan organized his thoughts and asked,
“Did you do as I said?”
Taesan had advised them simply: if they encountered the Guides of Sin, they should join the group rather than fight.
Lee Taeyeon and Kang Junhyuk had reluctantly agreed.
Lee Taeyeon nodded.
“Yes, we said we would join the Guides of Sin as you advised.”
“It sucks, but we had no choice. We couldn’t fight them; our attacks didn’t even land.”
“Good job. If you had tried to oppose them poorly, you would have surely died.”
Unlike Taesan, they didn’t have the power to defeat the Guides, nor did they have the protection of gods. Therefore, they had to join the Guides for now.
Moreover, joining the Guides had almost no penalties, unlike other groups.
“How far were you allowed to go?”
“To the deep levels, they said.”
“They told us to come to where they are.”
Taesan nodded.
“That’s good enough.”
Kang Junhyuk and Lee Taeyeon were strong.
Of course, they were still weak and lacked sufficient power. But that was their current state, not their future.
For example, Lee Taeyeon had cleared the labyrinth through a loophole.
Even the higher-ups couldn’t achieve that.
The higher-ups would have recognized their talents and potential. Therefore, they would allow them to advance to the deep levels for their own goals. This was Taesan’s prediction, and it was accurate.
“Just descend the labyrinth under their protection.”
Reaching the deep levels was a long-term goal. By then, they would be strong enough that even the higher-ups wouldn’t dare touch them.
For now, this was the best solution.
Curious, Kang Junhyuk asked,
“What about you? Did you join them like us?”
“I killed them.”
“Really? How?”
The Guides of Sin Kang Junhyuk had seen were literal monsters.
Even those they called the second-in-command couldn’t resist their power, and the higher-ups he later met were absolute monsters.
When he met the higher-ups, Kang Junhyuk instinctively felt his death. They had an overwhelming power that made him think he could never win, no matter how strong he became.
But to have survived against such monsters?
Kang Junhyuk was bewildered. Taesan shook his head.
“I have different backing than you.”
“Backing? Like gods?”
“No matter how strong they are, they can’t defy the gods’ will.”
“Wow…”
Kang Junhyuk was once again amazed. He too had undergone several trials from gods. He thought he had performed excellently, but the gods had shown no particular interest in him.
“You’re truly incredible…”
“It’s not that important. Go rest. You’ll need it for training tomorrow.”
Lee Taeyeon groaned as she staggered away. Kang Junhyuk followed.
After they left, Taesan murmured to himself.
“Just as I thought.”
[This is interesting. So, I’m also in the other labyrinth?]
“Probably.”
It was confirmed. The Guides of Sin existed in all labyrinths.
It meant they were copied along with the labyrinth during the duplication process.
“Why is that?”
Was it because of the Solo Mode players, or did the Solo Mode players enter an already copied labyrinth? If so, what was the reason for the labyrinth’s duplication?
He still didn’t know.
Taesan recalled the words of the Demon God.
She had said it would be his turn next.
“I’ll have to ask directly when I meet her.”
Taesan muttered.
The next day, they resumed their journey to City Hall.
Simultaneously, Taesan could sense it. The power within the crack in the sky was writhing strangely.
The ancient gods were trying to send something again.
Taesan calmly quickened his pace.