“Hoo.”


    People caught their breath as they crossed the devastated border.


    Someone murmured, perhaps to lighten the tense atmosphere.


    “So this is how I finally set foot on North Korean soil.”


    “I never thought I’d return here…”


    “What? Have you been to North Korea before?”


    “Yes, I’m a defector.”


    “Oh.”


    The person who spoke first awkwardly closed their mouth.They slowly moved forward. Kim Junggeun spoke.


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


    It was cold and heavy. The very sensation felt as if it was cutting through.


    Boom!


    Soon, a loud noise echoed.


    As the ground copsed, monsters buried in the earth revealed themselves.


    [Monster 113454 has appeared.]


    [Monster 100045 has appeared.]


    [Monster 100148 has appeared.]


    Early six-digit monsters.


    Several C-ss monsters appeared. Taesan took a step back.


    “Minerva. Barkaza. Stay back.”


    [Understood.]


    “Okay.”


    The two retreated ording to Taesan’smand. Taesan spoke to the people who were flustered.


    “I don’t intend to interfere. Try to coordinate while dealing with the monsters.”


    “Oh. Yes!”


    Kim Hwiyeon quickly nodded and shouted.


    “Everyone, move to your designated positions!”


    yers from Japan and Korea ovepped and moved together. They charged at the iing monsters, kicking off the ground and swinging their weapons.


    ng!


    At this point, C-ss monsters could be taken down without much trouble if the Hard Mode yers worked together. Rather than intervening, Taesan prioritized having the Korean and Japanese yers face the monsters to gauge each other’s strength and movement.


    Initially, their coordination was awkward, but as the battle continued, their movements became more refined.


    As they began to coordinate, the Japanese yers couldn’t help but be impressed.


    “Their average strength is much higher than ours…”


    The Korean Hard Mode yers had now reached thete stages of the 40th floor. In contrast, the Japanese yers had only just arrived at the early stages of the 40th floor. The difference in power between them was significant.


    While marveling at the Korean yers’ movements, the Japanese yers couldn’t hide their curiosity.


    “They’re so strong, so why did only so few of them survive?”


    “Ah…”


    At one yer’s question, Kim Hwiyeon averted her gaze with a vague expression. Her gaze ended at Taesan.


    Taesan shook his head. Kim Hwiyeon casually changed the subject.


    “There was some… internal conflict.”


    “Ah.”


    The Japanese yer nodded as if understanding.


    No matter how strong the yers were, if their opponents were other yers, it wouldn’t matter. Japan, too, had lost many people due to conflicts between yers, so they didn’t find Kim Hwiyeon’s words strange.


    “Is this enough?”


    “Yes.”


    Taesan responded to Kim Hwiyeon’s quiet question.


    He couldn’t tell everyone about the downfall of Earth and the story of thebyrinth. Even if he did, it would be muchter.


    They were able to defeat the appearing monsters without any casualties. They moved forward without any sacrifices.


    However, their pace slowed considerably.


    It was because too many monsters kept appearing.


    “Why are there so many?”


    Crack.


    Lee Taeyeon, who had single-handedly defeated a C-ss monster, clicked her tongue. After walking for a few minutes, monsters appeared, and after defeating them, more monsters appeared after a few minutes of walking. It seemed endless.


    It was as if all humans had been killed by the monsters, and the situation had spiraled out of control.


    “Are we sure there are still living people here?”


    “ording to themunity, there are… but I don’t sense any presence at all. Are they hiding?”


    Taesan gazed at the horizon.


    [You have activated Reconnaissance.]


    [You have activated Leraje’s Territory Detection.]


    The detection linked to reconnaissance brought in information from the surroundings.


    Taesan sensed the presence of yers gathered in the distance.


    “Minerva. Bring them here.”


    “No matter how many times I see it, it’s amazing. How do you use the Word of Power?”


    Minerva clicked her tongue and waved her hand. A gust of wind exploded, sending something flying beyond their line of sight.


    “Waaahhh!”


    Dozens of people were sent flying right in front of them.


    The people who had been staring nkly at something were suddenly startled by the appearance of these airborne individuals.


    “What the hell!”


    “Wh-who are they!”


    “Huh, huh…”


    About thirty people suddenly flew into Minerva’s grasp.


    They looked scruffy. While the yers from Korea and Japan hadn’t exactly been keeping up appearances, at least they had managed to trim their hair and wash their faces to maintain some level of cleanliness.


    However, the people who appeared looked filthy, with unkempt hairpletely covering their faces.


    Kim Hwiyeon asked cautiously.


    “By any chance… are you North Korean yers?”


    “Ugh…”


    Realizing the situation btedly, those who noticed the numerous people surrounding them panicked and grabbed their weapons.


    “Get up! We’re under attack!”


    “We’re not enemies!”


    Kim Hwiyeon shouted urgently. However, the people who appeared to be North Korean yers did not lower their guard. Instead, their hostility only intensified.


    “Get lost! Don’te any closer! If you do, we’ll kill you!”


    They shouted fiercely.


    It was as if they were afraid of human contact itself.


    As Kim Hwiyeon hesitated, unable to approach due to their strong resistance, Taesan moved.


    “Let’s calm down and talk first.”


    [Kang Taesan’s Non-Lethal Attack.]


    “Ugh…”


    All thirty yers copsed without being able to resist.


    Taesan dusted off his hands.


    “Wake them up one by one and try to calm them down. If they still don’t understand, call me.”


    It was a threat to knock them out again. Kim Hwiyeon muttered.


    “You’re quite decisive…”


    “This is the quickest way.”


    On the previous Earth, people who had cleared thebyrinth and returned, dreaming of a happy future, all went mad, denying reality. Initially, they tried to persuade them with words, but they didn’t listen.


    It was quicker to knock them out first, cool their overheated heads, and then have them ept reality. Though it seemed violent, it was a method born from countless experiences.


    The group hastily moved forward, taking the unconscious North Korean yers with them.


    When the yers awoke, they slowly exined the situation. Some went berserk, while others epted it.


    Those who went berserk were knocked out by Taesan again and again until they finally listened.


    And the story that came out of them was enough to shock everyone.


    At first, the North Korean yers had worked together to survive. The situation was too extreme to think about minor issues.


    But as the situation settled down and they gained some leeway, they soon reached one conclusion.


    Who would be the leader?


    Who would lead the people?


    They directly confronted the contradictions inherent in North Korea’s hereditary system.


    The people split. Extremely. They began to kill each other, trying to create the oue they desired.


    The one with the most power tried to suppress the others with force. But unlike before, those who had been oppressed had also gained power.


    No, now the oppressed were at an advantage.


    There were more of them, and this also meant there were more talented individuals among them. Those who had been crushed under oppression and rules rose up.


    As if they were ready to burn everything to the ground.


    They didn’t stop. They saw each other as enemies, trying to kill one another like monsters.


    And so, the oppressed became the new rulers of North Korea.


    They killed all those who had oppressed them.


    But the chaos didn’t end there.


    Those who became the rulers began to oppress others, just as they had been oppressed.


    Power drove people mad. Those who seized power amidst chaos and battle now wanted to wield that power.


    They started killing each other again.


    Even after they returned to thebyrinth, it was the same.


    Their fight continued even in thebyrinth.


    Far more people were killed by fellow yers than by monsters as they descended thebyrinth.


    By the time things had settled down, they had already split into dozens of groups, none of which saw the others as allies.


    Once they returned to Earth, these splintered groups killed and fought each other, heading north first.


    The only ones left were thirty Hard Mode yers who didn’t belong to any group.


    Their story left everyone speechless.


    It was possible, they thought. Human greed knew no bounds. But hearing the story directly from those who experienced it sent a chill through their hearts.


    China was a country with many simrities to North Korea.


    What would China’s situation be like right now?


    “…Let’s keep moving.”


    They swallowed nervously and moved forward.


    The thirty North Korean Hard Mode yers demonstrated the power they had used to survive the chaotic situation.


    Now united, they perfectly coordinated to defeat the monsters.


    They continued to move forward.


    A weekter, they arrived at Baekdu Mountain.


    “Wow…”


    People couldn’t help but marvel at the breathtaking scenery before them.


    Even though the monsters had taken over the earth, Baekdu Mountain had not changed much from before. Kim Hwiyeon murmured,


    “This was on my bucket list, and I’ve finally fulfilled it this way.”


    Baekdu Mountain was covered in snow. Kim Hwiyeon spoke calmly,


    “There’s a high possibility that this quest will take a long time, so let’s set up a shelter first.”


    Unlike in the city, where they had been so far, they now had to proceed with the quest in a ce devoid of any human touch. At the very least, a simple resting ce needed to be prepared.


    People began working hard, cutting down trees and clearing thend.


    Meanwhile, Lee Taeyeon, Kang Taesan, Kim Hwiyeon, and a few others headed towards Cheonji Lake. They intended to survey the surroundings from the highest point to ensure safety.


    “Wow.”


    Kim Hwiyeon let out a small exmation upon seeing Cheonji Lake.


    The emotions associated with pure beauty, which had been lost long ago, began to resurface. Ichika and Kim Jung-geun also had their eyes light up.


    But Taesan remained expressionless. He hade too far to feel emotions such as beauty now. The countless years had taken away several emotions from him.


    Lee Taeyeon also had a dull expression.


    “You don’t seem very impressed.”


    “I don’t really get it. Is this supposed to be that moving? I’ve never been particrly interested in art or beauty.”


    At her response, Taesan chuckled.


    In her previous life, Lee Taeyeon had collected artworks. Not because she was interested in them, but as a facade to pretend that she was normal.


    But now, she no longer needed to wear such a mask.


    Taesan didn’t think this change was bad.


    After surveying Cheonji Lake, they descended Baekdu Mountain.


    “Where did the North Koreans who left first go?”


    Lee Taeyeon asked the North Korean yers, and they answered.


    “They must have gone to China.”


    North Korea had split into dozens of groups. They were all in conflict, trying to eliminate the other groups.


    But the risk was too great for them to handle directly.


    So they borrowed the power of another country.


    It seemed they were heading to China for that purpose. Lee Taeyeon asked with a perplexed face.


    “Even in this situation, they’re doing that?”


    “Don’t expect rationality. Even in life-threatening situations, many people will throw their lives away for a small profit.”


    “Well, that’s true, but…”


    Kim Hwiyeon responded with a troubled expression to Taesan’s words.


    “Since the Chinese side hasn’t arrived yet, let’s prepare for now.”


    They began to clear out the monsters around Baekdu Mountain.


    With a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, they waited for the arrival of the Chinese yers.


    And a weekter.


    They appeared.


    “They’re here.”


    Taesan, looking out from the top of Baekdu Mountain, lowered his sword and muttered. Next to him, Lee Taeyeon, who was catching her breath, asked.


    “Who is?”


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


    “Oh, really?”


    Lee Taeyeon stood up and turned her gaze in the direction Taesan was looking.


    “I can’t see them.”


    “They’re still a few hours away.”


    “…You can see that far?”


    After a brief silence, Lee Taeyeon asked incredulously. Taesan stood up.


    “Let everyone know. They’ll be here soon.”


    “Oh, okay.”


    The news that the Chinese yers would arrive soon spread to everyone. People gathered together, filled withplex emotions, waiting.


    And soon, the Chinese yers began toe into view.


    “…What?”


    Kim Hwiyeon’s face stiffened.


    Although her vision couldn’tpare to Taesan’s, it was still quite good. She could read the expressions of people several kilometers away.


    Her gaze swept from one end of the horizon to the other.


    Everywhere she looked was filled with people, and even then, it didn’t end.


    “Wait. How many are there?”


    Others, realizing the number, also started murmuring.


    Boom!


    Every time they took a step, the ground shook.


    When monsters arose and rushed at them, they were literally swallowed by the overwhelming numbers, unable to even slow their advance.


    People stared nkly as they approached.


    What caught their attention was an enormous, borate red pnquin at the front of the group.


    The pnquin was exceedingly ornate.


    As if they had gathered all the decorations in this broken world, it was excessively extravagant.


    It had taken the Chinese yers over two weeks to reach Baekdu Mountain. The monsters must have blocked the way, but not a speck of dust had settled on the pnquin.


    Thud.


    Dozens of people were carrying the pnquin.


    It was a sight akin to the procession of an emperor.


    A gaunt man standing beside the pnquin shouted loudly.


    “Behold! The Dragon’s Incarnation!”


    He shouted as if he were an attendant following an emperor.


    “The one who possesses the qualities of a supreme ruler, recognized by Heaven and Earth, who has conquered vastnds and now rules us! The great and noble Emperor has descended upon this ce! All people, bow your heads and worship the Emperor’s majesty!”