Chapter 384
A golden domain was established around the ruins, spreading out into the world.
“Ooooh…”
People instinctively understood—this was a domain created by Taesan. That golden light would protect them.
They cried out Taesan’s name, offering fervent worship. Their faith became the foundation that sustained the [Sanctuary].
“O—”
At the same time, Taesan realized something.
His [Rank], which had been touching the boundary, was now beginning to peer beyond it.
‘Looks like I’ll reach it faster than I thought.’
Taesan went to find Kim Hwiyeon again. She was still stunned by the [Sanctuary] Taesan had deployed.
“Taesan! What… what is that?”
“A sanctuary.”
“Sanctuary?”
“Most monsters can’t enter it. And inside, wounds heal quickly. It also blocks mental interference.”
“What’s the duration?”
“There isn’t one. As long as you all keep worshipping me without wavering, it’ll stay there forever.”
“…You’re basically a real god now.”
Kim Hwiyeon muttered blankly. She knew Taesan had inhuman power, but she never imagined he’d go so far as to create a [Sanctuary]. It was beyond anything she could have imagined.
“Anyway, let’s organize things. Which countries are supposed to be gathering here from all over Asia?”
“Ah, right.”
Kim Hwiyeon calmed herself and began explaining.
“From what I saw in the community, the main countries gathering here are India and Russia.”
In the previous return, Korea, China, and Japan had gathered in one location.
The same had happened with other countries. Russia and Mongolia had grouped under Russia, while the rest gathered in India.
“Makes it easier—fewer small details to worry about.”
“What are you planning to do, Taesan?”
She was probably asking whether he planned to help them get here, like before. Taesan shook his head.
“I won’t go help them. They’ll arrive without issues.”
The rift in the sky was eerily quiet. Taesan recognized it for what it was—the calm before the storm.
The Old Gods were gathering power to kill Taesan.
In such a situation, they wouldn’t waste their strength targeting players from other nations. From the perspective of the Old Gods, anyone other than Taesan was less than dust.
Taesan judged they’d arrive without interference.
“More importantly, don’t we have something else to handle? Aren’t we expecting hundreds of millions of people?”
“Yeah… probably?”
“Then where are you going to put them all?”
“That’s… a problem.”
Even now, many were sleeping in the streets. With an incoming population in the hundreds of millions, preparing space for them was a major issue.
“Is it difficult to expand the sanctuary?”
“Impossible. That’s as big as it gets.”
As the [Sanctuary] grew, the divine power consumed increased exponentially. With current levels of faith, the limit was about twice the size of Cheonji.
Taesan stood up.
“No need to overthink it. Let’s just cultivate some land.”
“…Doesn’t seem like it’ll be ‘just’ anything,” Kim Hwiyeon replied skeptically.
Taesan entered the sanctuary he had created.
It had formed around Cheonji.
Mount Baekdu had collapsed during the battle with the monster. Its debris was still occupying the space.
He would clean it all up and restore it.
Not difficult. A [Sanctuary] was his domain. What he wished for would become reality.
With willpower, he spoke.
“Return.”
[You have activated Declaration of Regeneration.]
Rumbleee!
“W-What?”
People resting inside the sanctuary sprang to their feet in shock. The earth began to shake.
“Waaah!”
People scrambled to flee beyond Mount Baekdu. They stared blankly at it.
Ruuuumble…
Cliffs rose, waters scattered through the air, and trees sprouted in a colorful burst. Mount Baekdu, once destroyed, was rebuilding itself.
The trembling subsided, and people were left speechless.
Completely shattered and lost of form, Mount Baekdu had regained its original shape.
When people climbed to the summit, even Cheonji had returned to how it once was.
“…Oh god…”
Someone whispered in awe.
Taesan then moved on to restore areas beyond the [Sanctuary].
It wasn’t difficult. As the [Spirit King’s Contractor], Taesan could exert absolute authority over nature. With [Word of Command], he could till the entire land without trouble.
All obstructions vanished in an instant.
Space was secured for hundreds of millions of people to settle.
No one cheered or gasped.
They simply dropped to their knees and prayed to Taesan.
Pure, untainted faith enveloped his entire being.
Time passed, and they arrived.
“They’re here.”
“Hi-Hi…”
Taesan stopped his sword. Lee Taeyeon and Kang Jun-hyuk collapsed to the ground.
Taesan was looking off in the distance. The two of them, having caught their breath, followed his gaze.
“…There’s nothing there?”
“They’re outside your visual range. Tell Kim Hwiyeon they’ll arrive soon. Be ready.”
“Okay…”
Staggering, Lee Taeyeon went to inform Kim Hwiyeon.
Soon after, she and the other key players looked in the same direction, their faces tense.
Before long, they too could see the approaching figures.
“There’s so many…”
“Wait. How many are there?”
People were shocked. They couldn’t even begin to count. The end of the crowd was nowhere in sight.
Even when they first met China, the numbers were overwhelming—but this was beyond that.
People waited nervously.
Those approaching finally stopped once they reached a certain distance.
“…Huh?”
Kim Hwiyeon’s eyes trembled.
Their counterparts were setting up camp at a distance.
“Why are they acting like that?”
It was an odd sight. These were survivors of a destroyed world. Even if survivors had conflicts and turned on each other for personal gain, they had never fully isolated themselves like this.
But this time, they weren’t even attempting contact—they were deliberately establishing themselves far away.
Kim Hwiyeon grew uneasy. She couldn’t figure out what they were thinking.
Just as she was hesitating and unsure how to respond, one person from their side approached.
He was a man who looked somewhat timid. Alone, he quietly spoke.
“I am Kamal Hassan, a Solo Mode player from India and the leader of what we call the Asia Coalition.”
“Asia Coalition?”
“Yes. It’s a group built primarily around India. We didn’t have a proper name, so we’ve been calling it that.”
With that, Hassan fell silent. Kim Hwiyeon composed herself and replied.
“I’m Kim Hwiyeon, the leader of Korea’s group.”
“A pleasure to meet you. Are you the leader of this collective?”
“For now, I suppose.”
Hassan glanced past her.
There stood the golden [Sanctuary].
His eyes trembled.
“That… did you create it?”
“No? That was made by Kang Taesan.”
“Kang Taesan…”
Hassan looked toward Taesan.
After quietly contemplating something, he spoke.
“I’ve come to speak with you. Is that alright?”
“Of course.”
Kim Hwiyeon nodded firmly. With the opposing group distancing themselves, she hadn’t known what to do. Since their leader had approached, she planned to extract as much information as she could.
“May I ask why you’ve kept your distance? If monsters appear, we should work together…”
“I agree.”
Hassan gave a bitter smile.
“But there are people who refuse. I can’t do anything about it.”
“…Excuse me?”
Kim Hwiyeon was taken aback.
“You said you’re the leader, right? But you can’t overrule people who object? What does that mean?”
It would make sense if everyone disagreed—but to bend to a few voices? Kim Hwiyeon couldn’t understand.
“…Because I have no power.”
Hassan answered with a gloomy face. Kim Hwiyeon tried to ask more, but he wouldn’t respond further.
She brought him to the edge of the [Sanctuary]. The people inside bowed and offered prayers upon seeing Taesan.
Watching them, Hassan spoke.
“So the community posts were true… Everyone here worships Taesan.”
“Of course. He saved us. Without him, none of us would have survived.”
She wasn’t exaggerating. The monsters that had appeared were beyond their ability to handle. Had Taesan not fought them, no life would’ve remained on this land.
But Hassan looked visibly disturbed by that.
He turned to Kim Hwiyeon.
“You’re a Hard Mode player, correct? How far have you reached?”
“I just reached the 70s.”
His eyes widened.
“The 70th floor?”
“Why?”
Kim Hwiyeon tilted her head. She didn’t think it was a floor worth such shock. Quite a few Hard Mode players had reached the same point.
But Hassan looked utterly stunned, as though he’d heard something impossible.
Trying to collect himself, he asked again.
“And Taesan—he’s Solo Mode, right? Which floor is he on?”
“Last I heard, he was at the 77th floor?”
“78th.”
“Wow, that’s fast.”
Kim Hwiyeon admired him. But Hassan’s reaction was far more intense. His eyes widened even more.
“Seventy-eight…”
“What’s wrong?”
Kim Hwiyeon tilted her head. Hassan stood speechless.
‘How…’
He himself had just reached the early 40s in Solo Mode.
Meanwhile, India’s other Hard Mode players had only just entered the 60s. The gap was overwhelming.
‘…And they’re saying that without Kang Taesan, they would’ve all died?’
“Are you alright?”
A trace of fear flickered across Hassan’s face. Kim Hwiyeon cautiously asked. Hassan quickly composed himself.
“No, I’m fine.”
Kim Hwiyeon was confused by his reaction. She had no idea what he was thinking.
“This is the place.”
She brought him right to the edge of the [Sanctuary].
Staring blankly at the golden domain, Hassan asked:
“May I step inside?”
“Do as you like.”
Taesan answered. Hassan stepped into the [Sanctuary].
“Ah.”
A soft exhale escaped him.
Golden energy enveloped him. A fullness he’d never known washed over him, and his mental exhaustion vanished completely.
‘This is…’
Power beyond what humans should wield.
Hassan stared at Taesan in a daze.
—
“What’s his deal?”
Kim Hwiyeon muttered.
Hassan had stood stunned for a long time before quietly walking away.
Kim Hwiyeon tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t respond.
She had no idea what he was thinking—or what he wanted.
“Does he even want to cooperate with us or not?”
“We’ll find out soon enough.”
Taesan replied calmly.
Soon, players from Russia and Mongolia arrived.
Unlike the Indians, they didn’t isolate themselves completely.
But their gazes weren’t particularly welcoming either.
Though no words had been exchanged yet, a subtle feeling of disdain and scorn was palpable.
In the midst of all the confusion, all the players finally gathered.
A system window quietly appeared.
[Special Quest Started]
[The first wave begins.]
[Waiting period: 1 week.]
[Defend against all incoming monsters.]
[Rewards will be distributed based on performance when returning to the labyrinth.]
