Chapter 308: The Fifth Return, Earth (4)
“Emperor?”
Kim Hwiyeon repeated, her tone laced with skepticism.
The term “Emperor” felt absurdly archaic.
Yet, every Chinese player bowed deeply in response to the man’s proclamation.
An uncountable number of people knelt and lowered their heads, leaving the Korean and Japanese players stunned as they watched.
When they didn’t follow suit, the gaunt man sneered.
“As expected, lowly creatures fail to recognize His Majesty’s greatness.”
The man scanned his surroundings, his gaze sweeping over the barren and dirtied land that had been cleared by their efforts. His face twisted in disdain.
“This is no place suitable for the Great Emperor to reside! Wait here, you wretches! First, we shall prepare His Majesty’s quarters, and then we will continue this discussion.”
At his signal, those carrying the palanquin began to move, climbing Mount Baekdu with heavy, deliberate steps.
“What the hell is that?”
The so-called Emperor.
The unexpected situation left everyone bewildered.
But regardless of their confusion, the quest continued to progress.
—
[Special Quest Initiated]
[Players from all nations have gathered at Mount Baekdu. Any remaining players who fail to arrive within a week will face severe penalties.]
[Over the next week, prepare your dwellings and defend against monster attacks. The main quest will begin afterward.]
[Select a representative for each nation.]
[During this quest, players from different nations cannot harm one another.]
—
“Representative?”
While leaders existed in each nation, this was the first time a quest explicitly required the selection of official representatives.
“What should we do?”
“Kim Hwiyeon, you do it,” Taesan said indifferently.
“There’s no one else to do it, is there? I have no intention of taking the role.”
Kim Hwiyeon had already emerged as the leader, overcoming countless disputes to reach that position. It was unlikely anyone else would take her place.
The only other possibility was Taesan, but he had no interest.
“Ah, okay.”
Thus, Kim Hwiyeon was chosen as the representative by unanimous decision.
Japan’s case was much the same. Without any major disputes, Ichijo Eika was selected as their representative.
“What about North Korea…?”
“They’ll figure it out themselves.”
It was unlikely that the fractured factions of North Korean players would be able to unite and choose a representative.
But that wasn’t the critical issue.
The real concern was China.
The sheer number of their players.
In comparison, the players from Korea and Japan were like a tiny handful of people. The Chinese numbers were so overwhelming that it was impossible to estimate their total.
And yet, the quest required them to collaborate.
The Korean and Japanese players attempted to approach the Chinese players, hoping to share information and foster teamwork for the battles ahead.
But problems arose immediately.
“Excuse me?”
“Could you respond, please?”
The Chinese players completely ignored the Korean and Japanese players.
Even when spoken to directly or approached face-to-face, they acted as if the others were invisible.
This left everyone baffled. Cooperation was essential to clear the quest, yet the Chinese players showed no intention of working together.
“What the hell is this?”
Kim Hwiyeon grumbled.
“What are they trying to do? Are they planning to survive on their own? This is so strange.”
“Hmm.”
Taesan found it curious as well. This behavior didn’t align with his memories from his previous life.
While many Chinese players had survived back then, their numbers weren’t this large, and there had been no figure referred to as the Emperor.
If anything, they had been fractured like North Korea, lacking a clear leader and constantly battling among themselves. As the quest progressed and casualties mounted, the factions had gradually stabilized.
But this was entirely different.
‘The one in the palanquin… they called him the Emperor.’
And the power emanating from that figure.
Taesan quietly chuckled, sensing that he was beginning to understand.
—
A single day passed, and quarters for the Emperor were completed.
The gaunt man summoned them.
“His Majesty calls for you.”
“Tch.”
Lee Taeyeon clicked her tongue.
The Emperor’s quarters were the pinnacle of luxury, utterly extravagant amidst the devastated world.
A colossal silk tent, the size of a sports field, had been erected. Surrounding it were decorations so lavish that their value seemed incalculable.
“This looks like something straight out of a textbook.”
“You’re right. That’s one of the most famous statues in China. And it’s here now…”
Eika muttered blankly, touching a statue in disbelief.
“What is this? Seriously.”
In a life-and-death situation where humanity’s survival was at stake, they had somehow managed to transport such an excessive amount of silk and even priceless statues.
“Well… should we go in?”
They knew nothing about the Chinese players. Not how they had survived, nor what kind of power they wielded.
The ones summoned by the Emperor were Kim Hwiyeon, Ichijo Eika, Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyuk, and Taesan—just five in total.
The gaunt man rattled off a list of etiquette rules for meeting the Emperor, but no one paid attention.
“So, they know how to check the community, huh? They’ve never replied to anything, though,” Kang Jun-hyuk grumbled.
The fact that Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyuk, and Taesan were summoned indicated the Chinese were aware of their strength as the top players in Solo Mode.
They entered the silk tent.
At the far end of the tent stood a towering throne.
Seated upon it was a man, and Kim Hwiyeon frowned slightly as she saw him.
“Is that a dragon robe?”
The man was dressed in a dragon robe, reminiscent of those worn by ancient Chinese emperors.
Looking down at them, the man spoke lazily yet with an air of absolute confidence.
“I am Jinryong, the ruler of Earth.”
“What nonsense is this?”
Kang Jun-hyuk clicked his tongue, but Jinryong continued speaking without reacting.
“I understand. Worms crawling on the ground cannot comprehend the thoughts of birds soaring in the sky. But I am just.”
His voice was filled with nothing but arrogance.
“You are weak and fragile.”
Jinryong declared.
“You are beings who can only survive under the protection of someone else—a great being like me.”
Jinryong fixed his gaze on Kim Hwiyeon.
“You, who were chosen as Korea’s representative. How many players does your nation have?”
“…Forty thousand.”
“And you, representative of Japan. How many survivors does your nation have?”
“Four hundred thousand.”
At these numbers, Jinryong spoke with confidence.
“The players I lead in China number one hundred million.”
One hundred million.
The overwhelming number left them speechless. Even considering China’s large population, the survival rate was exceptionally high.
Even Taesan showed a slight reaction. In his past life, China hadn’t even managed to preserve a tenth of that number.
“Forty thousand and four hundred thousand. Those are utterly insignificant numbers without any value.”
Jinryong’s voice carried a faint trace of contempt.
“From what I know, both nations had tens of millions of people. And yet, you managed to save only that many? Do you have the right to call yourselves leaders?”
At his words, Kim Hwiyeon and Eika remained silent.
“You have no such right.”
Jinryong bared his teeth.
The silk tent began to flutter.
Everyone except Taesan stiffened in response.
“You lack the qualifications to rule over people. That is the limit of your foolishness.”
Jinryong stood from his throne.
“Become my subjects. Follow my commands, execute my will, and I will save you. I will protect you as my people.”
He spoke with absolute authority, as if he were truly an emperor.
At the same time, an enormous force erupted from Jinryong.
“Ah…”
“Urgh…”
Kim Hwiyeon and Eika’s faces turned pale. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyuk were visibly shaken.
‘Wait.’
Kang Jun-hyuk had encountered Amelia before. Her power was monstrous, unmatched except for Taesan and Lee Taeyeon. Kang Jun-hyuk, who had thought Amelia’s strength insurmountable, now felt that Jinryong’s power exceeded even hers.
It was overwhelming.
It was the power of an absolute ruler.
‘Rumble!’
The force grew even stronger. While Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyuk gritted their teeth and barely held their ground, Kim Hwiyeon and Eika’s bodies began to bend under the pressure.
Jinryong spoke calmly.
“Accept it, fools. This is the best choice you can make.”
Kim Hwiyeon’s lips trembled. The oppressive presence made her feel as though she was being crushed.
But she bit her lip and refused to respond.
As her defiance persisted, Jinryong frowned and prepared to increase the intensity of his power.
“What is this? This is all you’ve got?”
A quiet mutter broke the tension.
For the first time, Jinryong’s eyes wavered.
Taesan was watching him with a calm, almost amused expression, as if on a leisurely stroll.
‘What?’
Jinryong was taken aback. He hadn’t even noticed Taesan’s presence despite his proximity.
Taesan looked at Jinryong and spoke.
“Interesting.”
“So, you are Taesan—the one who claims to have delved deeper into Solo Mode than anyone else.”
Jinryong sneered.
“But you are still human. You cannot reach me.”
Jinryong’s power erupted again, directing its full force toward Taesan.
The sheer intensity of the power felt as though it could crush life itself.
Taesan smiled faintly.
A small trace of power leaked from him.
‘Whirr!’
“Hah!”
Kim Hwiyeon exhaled deeply as the shockwaves collided, shattering Jinryong’s oppressive force.
“…You?”
Jinryong’s eyes flared with shock and confusion.
Kim Hwiyeon and Eika, unaware of what had just happened, gasped for air and stared blankly at the two men.
After a moment of silence, Jinryong spoke.
“…My mood is ruined. Leave. I’ll hear your answers later.”
He descended from the throne and walked out of the tent.
As Jinryong departed, Taesan called out with a grin.
“I heard the North Korean players went to meet you.”
The fractured groups from North Korea had headed north to join forces with China.
“Where are they now?”
Jinryong left without a reply.
Taesan helped the fallen Kim Hwiyeon and Eika to their feet.
“Are you okay?”
“Y-Yeah…”
Kim Hwiyeon struggled to stand and managed a weak smile.
“Thank you, Taesan.”
“Ah, thank you…”
“Hyung.”
Kang Jun-hyuk asked with a tense expression.
“What was that? That guy?”
“He’s… too strong. Isn’t his power at least on par with the 50th floor?”
Both Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyuk were visibly shaken. While Kim Hwiyeon and Eika had only felt the immense pressure, the two Solo Mode players had directly perceived the scope of Jinryong’s power.
“Are there others as strong as him who’ve gone as deep as you?”
Jinryong’s strength was overwhelming, leaving even Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyuk feeling hopeless.
Taesan dusted himself off and replied.
“You didn’t feel it?”
“Feel what?”
“Never mind.”
Taesan muttered to himself.
From the moment he met Jinryong, Taesan had sensed a massive concentration of unstable power within him.
It wasn’t something that could be attained by simply delving deeper into the labyrinth.
Nor was it a gift from a god like Amelia’s powers.
Jinryong’s power was chaotic, a volatile mixture of forces that seemed ready to explode at any moment. It was a type of power that couldn’t be gained under normal circumstances.
When Taesan used [Essence Identification] on Jinryong, his suspicions were confirmed.
[Slave of the Beast That Craves Life.]
