Chapter 1

Translator: Mamanrecing

Taesan stared at the enemy before him.

[Roarrr!!!]

Scales cold as ice that blazes bright as an ever flickering flame.

Eyes that gathered the wills of the world.

And teeth able to lacerate even the thickest armor.

The red dragon growled as the wisps of smokes coming out of his nostrils disappeared into the twilight.

The King of Dragons. An ominous lizard that marked the end of all things.

A deity that even the gods would not dare to look down upon.

There he stood, lithe even in his shabby equipment. Wearing nothing but a basic armor and holding his rusty old sword.

But that was all that he needed.

“I can beat the dragon with this equipment alone.”

He could feel the beast shifting its cranium to gaze downwards.

The fury in his fiery eyes.

He had boundless expectations and Taesan marveled at the miracles yet to be seen.

[Grrr…]

The dragon moved its front feet.

Taesan stepped back cautiously, glancing at the beast from above the mountains.

A glimpse of fear could be seen in the eyes of the knight.

“Why do you roar?”

[Roarrr!!!]

The dragon roared and dragged his feet forward as if he had made up his mind.

Its feet landed on the ground with a thunderous whomp.

Look behind you. The door has long been gone.

There was no escape.

For this was a battlefield.

“It’s the same as always.”

Dead or alive…

The dragon continued to threaten him with an intimidating roar.

[Roooaaarrr!!!]

[The roar of the dragon comes upon you!]

[Starting judgment.]

[Estimating a drop in the stats…]

[Deciding no action…]

[Deciding mental breakdown…]

[Deciding to surrender…]

[Immediate judgment…]

[…]

[Full judgment!]

[You have endured with an indomitable spirit!]

[All stats increased.]

[Your actions never stop. Special Permanent Operational Skill [Always Action] has been acquired.]

[A spirit that does not yield.]

[A body that does not give in.]

[The opponent is a formidable enemy.]

[No judgment required. You have not broken your heart against an enemy that is impossible to beat!]

[No judgment required. You have a fighting spirit against an enemy that is impossible to beat!]

[No judgment required. You have increased your will against an enemy that is impossible to beat!]

[All stats increased.]

[You never gave up in battle.]

[You know your weaknesses.]

[Your bravery is perceptible as you did not surrender.]

[The dragon is overpowered by you who do not surrender.]

[The dragon was afraid of you whose spirit did not bend.]

[The dragon fears that he will be defeated.]

“I’ll get rid of you.”

Taesan removes the system window and pulls his sword.

The dragon ran towards Taesan.

“How annoying,”

Taesan complained as he roamed through the tedious city.

“Why would a bully run this far and bother other people?”

There was a rare presence in the empty streets.

But Taesan continued to walk through the streets in a calm manner.

“Is this Anyang?”

As you approach the town, it is immediately evident that something is wrong.

A gust of dry winds through the buildings where windows have long shattered in the weakness of their structures and rotting boards.

The streets that once thronged with life stood empty. In those streets, he was the only beating heart, the only being of warm blood and flesh.

“I don’t care…”

(Stomach rumbling…)

He strode along.

Suddenly he heard a strange noise.

It was a monster.

It’s neither human nor animal.

Three monsters stood before him, its physique hardly discernible in the shadowy twilight of the alley. There they preyed on a corpse.

That corpse was the object of a massacre.

“What a sight.”

(Rumbling continues…)

Then, they noticed him.

They swallowed the body, roared like the sound of a thousand nightmarish ghouls, then slowly moved.

[Monster 435 stares at you.]

[Monster 221 stares at you.]

[Monster 222 stares at you.]

The monsters advanced to him. The speed beyond the capability of a human, they were too fast…

He glared at them with a look of annoyance.

“Hey. Open the door.”

In front of the huge barrier, Taesan banged at the door. It was not long before the door finally opened.

“Brother. Are you there?”

“I’m sick of it. Can’t you just make someone else do it?”

“Haha. You know there’s no one else who can do it but you.”

He is very glad to see him back. He looked around the mountains and asked.

“What about the escapees?”

“All dead. All the bodies were eaten by monsters.”

“What?” Taesan asked, puzzled.

“He’s a hard-mode player, yet he’s already dead?”

“The three A-class monsters were eating together.”

“Ah.”

“Junggeun, shut your mouth”. Hard mode players are strong, but three A-class monsters ganging up on one player. If it’s three versus one, he won’t survive.

“Where are they?”

If there were three A-class monsters nearby, then it has to be handled quickly.

Taesan answered Junggeun’s question.

“I killed all of them.”

Junggeun grumbled with a tired face.

“I see.”

“Okay, I’m hungry. Let’s go eat at a restaurant.”

“Yes.”

There were several buildings inside the barrier. The houses were still intact, although they were all fragile and seemed about to collapse.

Junggeun asked Taesan as they strolled along the streets.

“Brother, be honest with me. You’re not an Easy Mode player, are you?”

“What bullshit are you spouting?” Taesan frowned.

“How many mazes you and I have escaped?” he asked.

“Easy Mode Players are all dead, all except you. Even strong ones die within two days.”

“Really?”

“Honestly, how does an Easy Mode Player hold out for this long? I’m in a situation where even Normal Mode Players have to be on the lookout, but you’re weird. You are an Easy Mode Player, but your skills are above those in hard mode.

“Why are you curious as to why I’m so strong?”

“I’m a Hard Mode Player, but I can’t even land a punch on you.”

“That’s because you’re careless.”

“But I keep failing again and again!”

“So what do you want me to do?”

“We can’t go back to the maze anyway, so let’s just have a meal instead of talking nonsense.”

“Yes, yes.”

They entered an old tent.

Taesan sat down at the table.

“What’s cooking today?”

“Potatoes.”

Taesan’s facial expression sank.

“Potato again? Can’t you make something else? There are only sweet potatoes and corn.”

“Potatoes are the most efficient. There is a limit of cultivation.”

A skill that can be grown anywhere and without anything. Thanks to cultivation, mankind could still live until now.

“Didn’t you learn?”

“Why would an Easy Mode Player learn that? There’s a lot of food everywhere.”

“That’s true, too.”

Junggeun shook his head.

After a while, Junggeun brought the potatoes. The two ate silently without any conversation.

Suddenly, a loud noise broke the calm atmosphere. A voice mingled with shouts, sighs, and cries that denied reality.

“That guy’s here again.”

“I guess so.”

The player had returned to Earth after clearing the maze. But he was unable to accept the reality. It was a common thing to see him cry in sorrow.

Neither Taesan nor Junggeun moved.

He’s making a fuss, overwhelming the players around him.

This time, however, the commotion did not die down easily.

“Oh, brother. You look like a hard player.”

“Damn it.”

Taesan’s face was distorted.

As if to prove Junggeun’s words, a man came running.

“Mr. Taesan. Please come quickly. Something crazy is happening right now.”

“Why are you asking me? You have a lot of Hard Mode Players. Can’t you ask them instead?”

“Well, uh… You know what? Just come quickly.”

Taesan stood up with a creased forehead.

Junggeun took Taesan’s potatoes with ease.

“Goodbye.”

“If you eat those, I’ll kill you.”

“……”

Junggeun put back the potatoes on his plate.

Taesan followed the man with a sigh.

“What the hell is he doing this time?”

“How many Hard Mode Players do you have here, and why can’t you control it? Is he that strong?”

“Yes.”

Taesan clicked his tongue.

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