Chapter 308: The Fifth Return, Earth (4)

"Emperor?"

Kim Hwiyeon asked skeptically.

An emperor. It was an exceedingly anachronistic term.

Yet, all the players from China bowed at the man's words.

Countless people knelt down and bowed their heads. Players from Korea and Japan looked on in confusion.

When they didn't bow, the desiccated man scoffed.

"Indeed, the lowly ones do not recognize His Majesty's greatness."

He glanced around. His face contorted at the sight of the devastated land and the soils marred by cultivation.

"This place is not fit for the great Emperor to stay! Wait! You lowly ones! First, we will prepare His Majesty's dwelling farthest from here and then we shall speak again."

The man gestured with his eyes. People carrying the palanquin moved their heavy feet towards Mount Baekdu.

"What's that?"

The so-called emperor.

People were taken aback by the unexpected situation.

Regardless of their surprise, the quest was underway.

［Special Quest Begins］ ［Players from various countries have gathered at Mount Baekdu. Those who have not yet arrived at Mount Baekdu within the next week will face severe penalties.］ [Prepare your dwellings and brace for monster attacks over the next week. The full quest will begin after a week.] [Choose a representative for each country.] [During this quest, players from each country cannot harm each other.]

"Representative?"

There were leaders from each country. But it was the first time they were asked to officially choose representatives through a quest.

"What do we do about this?"

"Kim Hwiyeon. You do it."

Taesan said nonchalantly.

"Who else is there to do it if not you? I'm not interested."

Kim Hwiyeon had become the leader after overcoming all disputes in his region. Now, there was no chance for anyone else to be the representative.

If there was anyone, it would be Taesan, but he was not interested.

"Ah. Yes."

Kim Hwiyeon was chosen as the representative by the people.

It was not much different in Japan. Ichijo Eika became the representative without significant dispute.

"How will North Korea handle this..."

"They'll figure it out."

It would be difficult for them, divided into dozens of groups, to choose a representative.

However, that wasn't the important issue.

More importantly, China.

That innumerable number of players.

To Korea and Japan, they appeared as if they were just a handful. Estimating their number was impossible.

And they had to proceed with the quest together.

Players from Korea and Japan tried to speak to the players from China, attempting to exchange information and align strategies for battle.

But that's where the problem began.

"Excuse me?"

"Could you please respond?"

The players from China completely ignored those from Korea and Japan.

Even if they were directly addressed or grabbed, they dodged as if they didn't see them.

People were confused. To clear the quest, they needed to communicate and cooperate.

But there was no sign of cooperation from them.

"What the heck?"

Kim Hwiyeon grumbled.

"What are they trying to do? Just survive on their own? It's so strange."

"Hmm."

Taesan was puzzled too. The China he remembered from his past life was not like this.

Although many players survived, there weren't as many as now, and there was no one called an emperor.

Instead, it was more like North Korea, with no clear leader and factions fighting amongst themselves. And as the quest progressed and people died, things gradually stabilized.

But now, it was totally different.

'The guy in the palanquin said he was the emperor.'

And then there was the power he sensed there.

Taesan quietly smiled. He had a guess.

Just one day passed, and a dwelling was prepared for the emperor.

The desiccated man called them.

"His Majesty summons you."

"Huh."

Lee Taeyeon clicked her tongue. The emperor's dwelling was the epitome of luxury.

They used a gymnasium-sized piece of silk to make a tent. Around it were placed luxurious decorations of incalculable value.

"Isn't this something I saw in a textbook?"

"Right. It's one of the famous beautiful sculptures from China, and it's here..."

Eika muttered as she absentmindedly touched the sculpture.

"What could it be, really?"

In a situation where humanity's survival was at stake, where they literally fought for their lives, to bring such a mass of silk and such sculptures was perplexing.

"Shall we go in?"

They still knew nothing about China. How they had survived.

The so-called emperor had called for the representatives from each country: Kim Hwiyeon, Eika, Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyeok, and Taesan. Only the five of them.

The desiccated man rambled about the precautions to take when meeting the emperor, but they all ignored him.

"It looks like they've only called us to check out the community? They never respond though."

Kang Jun-hyeok grumbled. Specifically, calling Lee Taeyeon, Kang Jun-hyeok, and Kang Taesan meant they knew the three were the strongest in Solo Mode.

They passed through the entrance and into the tent.

Across from the entrance was a towering throne.

Seeing the man sitting on it, Kim Hwiyeon slightly grimaced.

"Dragon robe?"

The man was wearing a dragon robe, attire said to be worn by ancient emperors.

The seated man looked down at them and spoke with a languid yet confident tone.

"I am Zhenlong. The ruler of Earth."

"What nonsense?"

Kang Jun-hyeok spat out. Zhenlong continued without any change in emotion.

"I understand. A crawling insect cannot comprehend the thoughts of a flying bird. But I am correct."

The arrogance in Zhenlong's voice was palpable.

"You are weak and fragile."

Zhenlong declared.

"You all need the protection of someone like me, someone great."

Zhenlong looked at Kim Hwiyeon.

"Chosen representative of Korea, how many players does your country have?"

"...Forty thousand."

"And what about the representative of Japan? How many survivors in your country?"

"Four hundred thousand."

Hearing the numbers, Zhenlong confidently stated,

"The players I lead in China number one hundred million."

One hundred million.

Overwhelmed by the staggering number, they were at a loss for words. Even considering the original large population of the country, it was an exceptionally high survival rate.

Even Taesan was mildly shocked. In his past life, not even a tenth of that number in China had survived.

"Forty thousand and four hundred thousand. Truly insignificant numbers without any value."

Contempt laced Zhenlong's voice.

"As far as I know, both countries had tens of millions of people. And you could only save that many? Are you even qualified to lead?"

At his words, Kim Hwiyeon and Eika were silenced.

"You are not qualified."

Zhenlong bared his teeth.

The tent began to flutter.

The faces of everyone but Taesan hardened.

"You are not fit to rule people. That is the limit of your foolish masses."

Zhenlong rose from his seat.

"Become my subjects. Follow my commands, execute my directives. Then I will save you and protect you as my people."

He spoke assertively, like an emperor.

Simultaneously, a tremendous power surged from Zhenlong.

"Ah..."

"Ugh..."

Kim Hwiyeon and Eika's faces turned pale. Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok were horrified.

'Wait.'

Kang Junhyeok had met Amelia. The power she possessed was monstrous. Kang Junhyeok, who believed he had no equal except Taesan and Taeyeon, thought she possessed a power he could never defeat.

But the power Zhenlong now displayed was even more superior.

It was untouchable.

It was like the power of an absolute being.

The power emitted grew even stronger. Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok gritted their teeth and endured, but Kim Hwiyeon and Eika began to bend under the pressure.

Zhenlong stated calmly,

"Accept it. Foolish ones. That is the best choice you can make."

Kim Hwiyeon's lips trembled. It felt like she was being crushed by an overwhelming presence.

But she bit her lip.

As she remained silent, Zhenlong frowned, about to increase his power.

"Thought it was something serious, but it was just this?"

A quiet murmur was heard.

For the first time, Zhenlong's eyes wavered.

Taesan looked at him with a calm gaze, as if he were merely taking a stroll.

'What?'

Zhenlong was flustered. Even though Taesan was right beside him, he had not been aware of his presence.

Taesan looked at Zhenlong and said,

"Interesting."

"...So you are Taesan, the one who claims to have ventured deeper into Solo Mode than anyone else."

Zhenlong showed his teeth.

"But you're still human. You cannot reach me."

Zhenlong's power exploded.

All the pressure was directed at Taesan.

It was a concentration of tremendous power, pressing down on life itself.

Taesan quietly smiled.

A very slight power emanated from him.

Whoosh!

Kim Hwiyeon gasped. The force waves collided, breaking Zhenlong's pressure.

"...You?"

Zhenlong's eyes shook wildly.

Unaware of the circumstances, Kim Hwiyeon and Eika gasped for air and looked on blankly.

After a moment of silence, Zhenlong spoke,

"...The fun is ruined. Get lost. I'll listen to your response later."

He seemed no longer interested in responding, descended from his throne, and headed out of the tent.

As he left, Taesan asked with a smile,

"I heard the players from North Korea went to meet you."

The groups, divided into dozens, had moved north to join China.

"Where did they go?"

Zhenlong left without a response.

Taesan helped Kim Hwiyeon and Eika to their feet.

"Are you okay?"

"Ah. Yes..."

Kim Hwiyeon struggled to rise.

"Thank you, Mr. Taesan."

"Ah. Thank you..."

"Brother."

Kang Junhyeok asked with a hardened face.

"What was that?"

"...It's too strong, isn't it? Isn't that like around floor 50?"

Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok were perplexed. While Kim Hwiyeon and Eika only felt immense pressure, the two, who were tackling Solo Mode, directly sensed Zhenlong's power.

"Is there anyone else who has descended to that level?"

Zhenlong's power was too strong.

Even Taeyeon and Kang Junhyeok couldn't find a way to counter such power.

Taesan shook off the intensity and said,

"Didn't you feel it?"

"What?"

"What are you talking about?"

"If you didn't feel it, that's good enough."

Taesan muttered to himself.

From the moment he met Zhenlong, he had sensed a massive concentration of power in him.

That was not something one could simply obtain by descending through the Labyrinth.

Nor was it something one could gain from receiving the attention of a god, like Amelia.

The power Zhenlong possessed was a chaotic mix of various forces, so unstable it seemed like it could explode at any moment. And such a type of power was not typically attainable.

When Taesan used Essence Detection on Zhenlong, he confirmed it.

[Slave of a Beast that Craves Life.]