A realm made of golden light manifested around the crumbled heavens.


    “Whoa...”


    People instinctively sensed it. This was a realm created by Taesan. That golden light would protect them.


    As they shouted Taesan’s name, they sent forth strong reverence. Their faith became the foundation that upheld the holynd.


    “Hmm.”


    At the same time, Taesan realized.


    His standing, which had been on the boundary, was now pushing its way beyond that threshold.


    ‘I might be able to reach it faster than I thought.’


    Taesan sought out Kim Hwi-yeon again. She was visibly astonished by the holynd Taesan had created.


    “Taesan! What is that?!”


    “A holynd.”


    “A holynd?”


    “Ordinary monsters cannot invade the holynd. And injuries will heal at a rapid pace within it. It will also prevent interference with the mind.”


    “What about the duration?”


    “There isn’t one. As long as you all continue to worship me unwaveringly, it will remain there forever.”


    “...Now you really are a god.”


    Kim Hwi-yeon murmured in disbelief. She knew Taesan possessed otherworldly power, but to create a holynd was beyond her imagination.


    “Enough of that. Let’s sort things out. Which countries will being if they’re gathering from all over Asia?”


    “Ah, right.”


    With aposed expression, Kim Hwi-yeon began to speak.


    “Based on what I confirmed in themunity, the countries gathering here will mainly be India and Russia.”


    During thest return, Korea, China, and Japan had clustered together at one location.


    Other countries were no different. Russia and Mongolia had grouped towards Russia, while the remaining countries had gathered in India.


    “It’s convenient that I don’t have to worry about the details.”


    “What will you do, Taesan?”


    Was she asking if he would assist them in finding their way like before? Taesan shook his head.


    “I won’t go help them. They’ll arrive without any issues.”


    The rift in the sky was very quiet. Taesan recognized it as the calm before the storm.


    Goshin was gathering power to kill Taesan.


    In such a situation, it wouldn’t waste its power targeting yers from other countries. From Goshin’s perspective, everyone except Taesan was no more than dust.


    Taesan concluded that they would reach their destination without interference.


    “Isn’t there something to do? We’re talking about at least hundreds of thousandsing, right?”


    “Probably...?”


    “Then where will we amodate all those people?”


    “That’s a problem as well.”


    Even now, there were quite a few people sleeping on the ground. If a poption the size of hundreds of thousands arrived, finding space for them would be a significant task.


    “Isn’t expanding the holynd difficult?”


    “Impossible. The size of the holynd has its limits.”


    As the size of the holynd increased, the consumption of divinity grew exponentially. Considering the faith of the people, the limit was about twice the size of the heavens.


    Taesan rose from his seat.


    “Don’t overthink it. Let’s just clear somend.”


    “...That doesn’t sound very reasonable.”


    Kim Hwi-yeon replied with hesitation.


    Taesan stepped into the holynd he had created.


    The holynd had formed around the heavens.


    During the battle with the monsters, Baekdu Mountain had crumbled. The debris was still upying space.


    He would clean that up and return it to its original state.


    It wasn’t difficult. The holynd was his domain. What he desired would be realized.


    He infused his will into his words.


    “Return.”


    [You have activated the Deration of Regeneration.]


    Kugugugung!@@novelbin@@


    “Uh, uh?!”


    People resting in the holynd jolted awake in shock. The ground began to tremble.


    “Whoa!”


    In the sudden chaos, people hurried outside of Baekdu Mountain. They gazed nkly at the mountain.


    Kugugugung...


    Cliffs began to rise, and the waters that had scattered in all directions started to rise into the air. Trees grew, and colors began to spring forth into the space.


    The crumbled Baekdu Mountain was rising once more.


    As the shaking subsided, people were left speechless.


    Baekdu Mountain, which hadpletely copsed and lost its form, regained its original shape.


    When the people reached the peak of Baekdu Mountain, the heavens were also as they once were.


    “...O God.”


    Someone murmured in a voice that resembled a groan.


    Taesan then cleaned up other locations, not just the holynd.


    It was not difficult. Taesan, who had contracted with the Spirit King, could exert absolute influence over nature. With the power ofmand, he could easily turn the entirend upside down.


    In an instant, all obstacles that blocked his view disappeared.


    Space was created for hundreds of thousands of people to settle.


    The people did not cheer or exim in awe.


    They simply knelt quietly and offered prayers to Taesan. A pure faith, free from any impurities, enveloped Taesan’s entire being.


    Time passed, and they arrived.


    ---


    * * *


    “They’vee.”


    “Heh, heh.”


    Taesan halted his sword. Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyuk copsed in exhaustion.


    Taesan was gazing toward the distance. The two, finally calming their breaths, turned their eyes in the direction Taesan was looking.


    “...There’s nothing there?”


    “You’re not seeing it because it’s outside your view. Tell Kim Hwi-yeon to get ready; they’ll be arriving soon.”


    “Yes...”


    Lee Tae-yeon staggered to her feet and headed toward Kim Hwi-yeon.


    Not long after, Kim Hwi-yeon and the other leading yers stared at the direction Taesan had indicated with tense faces.


    Soon, the approaching figures drew near enough for them to discern.


    “What’s with all these people?”


    “Wait a minute. How many are there?”


    People were aghast. They couldn’t count the numbers. It was literally endless.


    Even when they first met the Chinese, they had been overwhelmed by the numbers, but this time it was even greater.


    The people waited nervously for them to approach.


    As those figures drew closer, they stopped at a certain distance.


    “...Huh?”


    Kim Hwi-yeon’s eyes widened.


    The others were establishing their own camp while keeping their distance.


    “What are they doing?”


    It was quite strange. They were survivors from a perished world. Even if survivors excluded each other for their own gain, they had never kept their distance like this.


    Yet this time, they seemed to be intentionally avoiding contact, setting up camp at a distance.


    This bewildered Kim Hwi-yeon. She couldn’t fathom what the other party was thinking.


    As she hesitated, unable to make a decision, someone approached from their side.


    He was a man who looked somewhat frail. Approaching alone, he quietly spoke.


    “I am Kamal Hassan, an Alron mode yer and the leader of the Asian Alliance from India.”


    “The Asian Alliance?”


    “A group formed primarily around my country, India. We’re calling it that since we don’t have a proper name.”


    Hassan said this and fell silent. Kim Hwi-yeon steadied her surprise and spoke.


    “I’m the leader from Korea. Kim Hwi-yeon.”


    “Nice to meet you. Are you the leader of this group?”


    “For now, that is the situation.”


    Hassan nced behind Kim Hwi-yeon.


    There was the golden holynd.


    Hassan’s eyes flickered.


    “Did you create that...?”


    “Eh? No, that was made by Kang Taesan over there.”


    “Kang Taesan...”


    Hassan looked at Taesan.


    After pondering something alone, he spoke.


    “I havee to talk with you. Would that be alright?”


    “Of course.”


    Kim Hwi-yeon nodded vigorously. In a situation where the other party was keeping their distance and unsure of what to do, a leader had approached them. Kim Hwi-yeon intended to extract information no matter what.


    “May I ask why you are keeping your distance from us? It would be better to join forces if monsters appear...”


    “I think so as well.”


    Hassan smiled wryly.


    “However, there are those who refuse that. I am in a position where I can do nothing.”


    “Pardon?”


    Kim Hwi-yeon was taken aback by Hassan’s words.


    “Didn’t you say you were a leader? But you can’t force others when some refuse? What do you mean by that?”


    If it was something everyone opposed, that would be one thing, but for the leader to have to bow to the wishes of a minority was iprehensible to Kim Hwi-yeon.


    “...Ick power.”


    Hassan closed his mouth with a depressed expression. Kim Hwi-yeon wanted to ask more, but Hassan wouldn’t respond any further.


    She led Hassan toward the holynd. Those who saw Taesan knelt and offered their prayers.


    As Hassan observed their demeanor, he spoke.


    “All of them worship you, just like themunity said, Taesan.”


    “That’s right. Taesan saved us. If it weren’t for Taesan, none of us would have survived.”


    It was no empty talk. The monsters that appeared were beings they couldn’t contend with. Without Taesan, no living creature could exist in thisnd.


    However, Hassan appeared troubled by that statement.


    He looked at Kim Hwi-yeon.


    “You’re a hard mode yer, right? How far have you advanced?”


    “I just reached the 70th floor.”


    Hassan’s pupils widened.


    “Se


    ventieth floor?”


    “Why do you ask?”


    Kim Hwi-yeon tilted her head. It wasn’t such a surprising level, in her opinion. A considerable number of hard mode yers had reached the same level as her.


    But Hassan looked as if he had heard of an impossible feat.


    After struggling to regain hisposure, Hassan asked again.


    “It seems you’re an Alron mode yer, but could you tell me how far you are?”


    “What level are you at? I heardst time you were at the 77th floor.”


    “78th floor.”


    “Wow. You’re fast indeed.”


    Kim Hwi-yeon couldn’t help but express admiration. However, Hassan’s reaction was even greater. His eyes grew wide in astonishment.


    “Seventy-eighth floor...?”


    “Why do you ask?”


    Kim Hwi-yeon tilted her head. Hassan couldn’t close his mouth.


    “Just how... did you reach that point...?”


    “It’s not just Taesan. yers Lee Tae-yeon and Kang Jun-hyuk are also clearing Alron mode at a rapid pace.”


    “Are they...?”


    “About thete 40s? I think so.”


    Hassan was left speechless.


    ‘What is this...?’


    He had just entered the early 40s of Alron mode.


    And the other hard mode yers from India had only just reached the 60th floor. It was an overwhelming difference.


    ‘...And yet, you’re saying that without Kang Taesan, you would have been annihted?’


    “Uh, why do you look like that?”


    A momentary look of fear shed across Hassan’s face. Kim Hwi-yeon cautiously inquired. Hassan hurriedlyposed himself.


    “It’s nothing.”


    Her confusion about his inexplicable reaction deepened. She couldn’t fathom Hassan’s thoughts at all.


    “This is it.”


    Kim Hwi-yeon brought Hassan right in front of the holynd.


    As Hassan stared nkly at the golden realm, he asked.


    “May I enter it once?”


    “Do as you please.”


    Taesan replied. Hassan stepped into the holynd.


    “Ah.”


    Hassan involuntarily let out a groan.


    The golden aura enveloped his entire being. A sense of fullness he had never felt before surged within him, and the fatigue of his mind vanishedpletely.


    ‘This is...’


    Power that felt unhuman.


    Hassan stared nkly at Taesan.


    ---


    * * *


    “What on earth is going on?”


    Kim Hwi-yeon grumbled.


    Hassan stood there, still in shock for a long time before quietly leaving. Kim Hwi-yeon tried to grab him, but it was futile.


    She had no idea what the other party was thinking or what they desired.


    “Are you thinking about cooperating with us or not?”


    “You’ll find out soon enough.”


    Taesan replied calmly.


    Before long, the yers from Russia and Mongolia also arrived. Unlike the Indian yers, they did not keep their distance at all.


    However, their gazes were not particrly friendly either.


    While it wasn’t clear exactly because they hadn’t had a detailed conversation yet, Kim Hwi-yeon sensed an air of contempt and disdain directed at them.


    In the midst of the confusion, all yers gathered. Quietly, a system window appeared.


    ---


    **[Special Quest Initiated]**


    [The first wave is beginning.]


    [Preparation time: one week.]


    [Defeat all attacking monsters.]


    [Rewards upon return to thebyrinth will be distributed based on performance.]