Ascension Through Skills
chapter-277

It was more than she had expected. Kim Hwiyeon had thought it would be fortunate if even half of the players survived.

If there were 100 people, it wouldn’t be strange if two or three of them were Hard Mode players. This meant that the Hard Mode players of Korea had defeated and won against them.

“I was also surprised. Players from other countries are strong too… but it wasn’t that difficult.”

Those who had won were equally bewildered. They had thought the Hard Mode players from other countries were on par with them in terms of strength.

But after actually fighting, it wasn’t the case. There was a clear difference in strength between them and the Korean players.

Kim Hwiyeon realized it late.

“Oh, right. We had Taesan’s help…”

The Grace of the Gods.

Each one of those was never a small thing. Immediately, the Grace of Struggle and Death increased talent for struggle, and the focus in battle itself changed.

Due to that, Korea was about two or three layers ahead of players from other countries. In hard mode, that kind of difference was very noticeable.

“Not bad.”

Looking around at the people, she asked,

“Just to make sure, has anyone met Amelia?”

There was no answer. As expected, Kim Hwiyeon was not surprised. For someone to be here after meeting her meant they had defeated her, which was close to impossible.

“How strong could she be?”

Amelia Aerin. The woman descending the Solo Mode. They were also very curious about her strength.

They would find out once they reached the end. Kim Hwiyeon changed the topic.

“How was the ratio of countries?”

“America was overwhelming. I barely saw anyone from other countries.”

“Yeah, that’s expected…”

America had 1.5 million Hard Mode players. The difference in numbers was on another level.

Kim Hwiyeon made a vague expression.

“The special rule. The second one…”

“Why, noona?”

“No, it’s nothing. There’s no point in talking about it. And it might not be.”

She shook her head.

Taesan could tell what she was thinking. With a quick mind and judgment, it was easy to guess.

And her guess was correct.

But as she said, there was no need to say it. Even if they knew, they couldn’t do anything about it.

Kim Hwiyeon looked at the faces of those remaining one by one and asked.

“More importantly, what about the ones who dropped out? Minsoo. Where did he go?”

“Oh, I met him. He was panting after fighting another Hard Mode player, so I knocked him out immediately.”

“He’ll try to kill you when we get back.”

They spent time talking about random things, and soon it was time. The light began to envelop them. Their faces became serious again.

“See you at the next place.”

“Yes.”

Taesan moved to the vast plain again.

He opened his magic.

[You have activated Leraje's Territory Detection.]

The magic spread out in waves in all directions. Information began to enter his mind.

There were a hundred people again. After this battle, only 1,600 out of 16 million would remain.

Taesan didn’t move right away.

He walked leisurely through the plain. He could feel the presence of those moving around him.

And their movements were clearly different from the first battle.

They were systematic. They began to group together and eliminate those who were alone.

Before long, dozens of people were moving in groups, and Taesan was the only one left alone.

And they started approaching Taesan.

Sensing the movement, Taesan sat on a rock. Soon, he waved at those who appeared.

“Nice to meet you.”

They surrounded Taesan.

Taesan checked their faces one by one.

“You’re all Americans, right?”

“Yes.”

The muscular man at the front nodded.

“We’re using the best method for our victory. Don’t blame us.”

The man said that and drew his sword. Dozens of people behind him also took out their weapons.

Taesan smirked and looked at them.

“Of course. There’s no way Oliver would miss this opportunity.”

Special rule. The second one.

Additional points were given to the country with the most players remaining when the quest ends.

In other words, the more they eliminated players from other countries, the more beneficial it was. And America had the most players in the world.

Even if they were randomly assigned, it was natural for most of the battlefield to be filled with American players.

And the majority of Americans joined forces to eliminate players from other countries first.

“You’re really smart. There’s a reason you survived until the end.”

What happened after the Rift? Did Oliver survive?

Taesan didn’t know. After clearing the labyrinth, he couldn’t know about other countries’ situations. Surviving the present was hard enough.

Sitting on the rock and mumbling indifferently, the muscular man, Liam, frowned.

Too calm.

The players from other countries they had met so far were either dumbfounded by their cooperation or yelled with red faces.

They said it was unfair. That this couldn’t be allowed.

All those who had survived the first battle were Hard Mode players. Dozens of such Hard Mode players joined forces. No matter how much one struggled, it was impossible to win.

Liam had no particular thoughts about it.

Numerical superiority was also a clear strength. There was no problem in using it to win.

If they had complaints, they should have survived with more people too.

After dealing with everyone, they planned to fight among themselves to determine the final winner. The man in front of them was the last to be defeated.

But something was strange. Only then did Liam see the yellow cloth hanging on Taesan’s shoulder.

“Who are you…?”

“What are you talking about! Just kill him!”

Three men who had been holding back rushed at Taesan simultaneously. They shouted with bloodshot eyes.

“Be a stepping stone for the great America!”

Three Hard Mode players’ attacks. Fast and precise. With his current health at 100, even one hit would mean instant elimination.

But Taesan did not move from his sitting position.

Watching his approaching opponents, at the moment their swords were about to strike his head, his hand moved.

Kwajik.

The three who charged were crushed in an instant. Liam’s pupils widened as he watched silently.

He couldn’t see the movement of the fist at all.

And then the damage windows appeared.

[Jackson took 4355 damage.] [Lucas took 5332 damage.] [Grayson took 4123 damage.]

“You are…”

“I am Kang Taesan.”

Taesan smiled and stood up. His answer caused a ripple of murmurs.

“Show me what you are proud of, your numerical violence.”

Taesan stomped his foot. At that moment, they lost sight of Taesan’s movement.

Kwakjig.

Taesan descended from the sky and stomped on the head of a Hard Mode player.

The player whose head was stomped disappeared.

It was a defeat from being incapacitated.

Liam shouted belatedly.

“Everyone, move!”

Pababak!

They all distanced themselves from Taesan at once. The woman next to Taesan hastily turned to flee, but her head was caught by Taesan.

“Where are you going?”

Taesan slammed her into the ground. The woman’s movements stopped.

Taesan did not stop. Clenching his fist, he pierced through the backs of those trying to distance themselves. In an instant, more than ten players disappeared.

“What the!”

Liam was shocked. To see more than ten people fall with just one move. And each one of them was a Hard Mode player!

Taesan dusted off his hands. He could have knocked them all down the moment they tried to distance themselves. Taesan had the speed and power to do so.

He didn’t do it to gauge their level.

They gritted their teeth. Moving in all directions, they started pressing Taesan.

“Not bad.”

Taesan murmured. Nearly eighty of them, all Hard Mode players.

Their level was lower than that of Korean Hard Mode players, but it wasn’t bad.

But that was it.

There was no need to draw his sword. There was even less reason to use a skill.

Just with overwhelming strength and speed.

He brushed aside the charging man’s spear. Unable to withstand the force, the man’s hand bent, and the spear flew far away.

Kwakjig.

Taesan’s fist pierced the man. He then turned and kicked. The man aiming for his back rolled across the plain in a defensive posture.

Kooong!

Taesan stomped his foot.

The ground exploded. Those charging lost their footing momentarily and staggered.

And then a gale arose. Unable to withstand the wind, they were blown away.

[Logan took 934 damage.]

Liam was dumbfounded.

“What is this…!”

It wasn’t even a direct hit from a fist. It was a simple gale. Yet the damage was 1000, a number he couldn’t even imagine.

It was happening despite being something he couldn’t accept. Taesan was knocking them down one by one as they were bewildered.

“Just once!”

Liam shouted desperately.

“If we succeed in attacking just once!”

Even if it was just the tip of a sword or a graze from a fist. They were Hard Mode players. Using a skill, they could easily draw out 100 attack power.

Their confused faces showed calmness. Their movements changed. Even if they became incapacitated, they moved to kill Taesan.

‘It’s useless though.’

Even if an attack landed, the nullification would activate. There was no possibility for them to defeat Taesan.

He parried and kicked away the swinging swords. He countered the fists flying toward his face.

Dozens attacked Taesan simultaneously, but not a single attack landed on him.

Experience, stats, everything was overwhelming. Even with dozens of Hard Mode players gathered, they couldn’t do anything against Taesan without him using a single skill.

“I have roughly gauged your level.”

Taesan spread his hand. A chilling cold began to form. Sensing the ominousness, Liam shouted urgently.

“Everyone, back off…”

[You have activated Frozen World.]

Jjeojeojeok!

The cold swept through. The players responded to Taesan’s power. Some tried to protect themselves with skills, some called forth flames with their staves to melt the ice, and others tried to distance themselves and escape.

But it was futile.

The cold froze them all equally.

Liam was the only one left.

Liam looked at Taesan with a dazed expression.

‘This is…’

Liam thought Taesan was strong, but still within reason. He believed Taesan could never reach Amelia.

But this was beyond the norm.

He continuously drew out ridiculous damage in the thousands. It meant that this was really Taesan’s normal damage.

Stronger than Amelia by far. Liam realized this.

“Are you really… human?”

Those were his last words. Taesan’s fist aimed for his head. When he came to his senses, he was summoned to the plaza of the defeated.

[Quest Complete] [You are the winner.] [Calculating...] [You have earned 380 points.] [Returning to the winner's place.]

380 points. Unlike the first area, the opponents were all Hard Mode players, so the points were quite high.

Looking around, there was still no one. Taesan waited quietly.

After a long time, Lee Taeyeon appeared. She was panting and catching her breath.

“Whew. I barely won.”

Following her, Kang Junhyeok appeared. He looked as exhausted as Lee Taeyeon.

[All winners have been determined. Moving to the next battlefield in one hour.]

“Taesan-ssi. Something’s strange. The American guys seem out of their minds…”

Lee Taeyeon murmured and then looked around, her eyes widening.

“Huh? Why are we the only ones here?”

“They all got knocked out.”

Taesan replied. Realizing the meaning, Lee Taeyeon’s face twisted.

“Really?”

“Look around and see?”

“Damn it.”

Lee Taeyeon muttered blankly. She knew why this happened.

“Damn special rule. Why did they even make that?”

“The reason is obvious.”

Taesan smiled.

Why were there special rules that didn’t exist in his past life?

The reason was simple. The God of Descent didn’t want Taesan and Amelia to meet. He probably wanted to take Taesan down somehow before that.

So he made his health 100 and removed his defense. He added the rule that gave extra rewards to the country with the most remaining players to make the American players team up to eliminate Taesan.

‘But it’s a bit disappointing. Do they think they can stop me with just this?’

Trying to catch Taesan off guard with Hard Mode players. It was a clumsy plan for something orchestrated by a god.

‘Are they aiming for something else?’

There was a possibility they were aiming for the time when he met Amelia directly. If Amelia took him down herself, she would become even more arrogant.

But it wasn’t a bad story for Taesan either.

If a god directly did something, it also meant he could gain a lot.

It was the first time an exalted being tried to crush him like this.

So he was looking forward to it. The time to meet Amelia.