HBWnovel Chapter 234: Fourth Return, Earth (1)
Chapter 234: Fourth Return, Earth (1)
Chapter 234: Fourth Return, Earth (1)
Taesan fiddled with the dark gloves.
The undulating black aura flowed over the entire glove.
As Taesan received the ring, he handed over two materials to Hafran: the ore from the world of giants and the Will of Destruction obtained after defeating the Flame Dog on the 51st floor.
Both were used to make one set of gloves.
[Gloves imbued with the Will of Destruction]
[The ore, unique to the world of giants, Bahuliya, combined with the Will of Destruction. The gloves themselves emanate a faint aura of destruction.]
[Attack Power +300]
This equipment was purely focused on increasing attack power, and given the materials, it provided a significant boost.
Hafran looked visibly older, as if it had been quite a struggle.
After Taesan said would be away from the labyrinth for a while, Hafran seemed to understand and wished him a good journey.
Taesan replied that he would.
Only minutes remained until his return to Earth. Posts on the community began to diminish one by one.
Everyone was anxiously awaiting the return. Taesan was no different, but he was more excited than anxious.
Woong.
The space opened.
It was time to return to Earth.
The landscape of Earth that appeared beyond swallowed Taesan.
And what he saw was a broken world.
Half-demolished buildings. And a huge hole in the sky.
He had come back to this place.
“I’ve come back after all.”
“But this time will be different. We’ve become stronger and more than anything... we have you, Taesan.”
People were gathering their resolve. Kim Hwiyeon quickly took center stage and clapped her hands.
“Everyone, please come this way! We need to get a rough estimate of how strong everyone has become and how many have died descending into the labyrinth.”
People quietly gathered around at Kim Hwiyeon’s call. Taesan approached and patted her on the shoulder.
“Ah, Mr. Taesan.”
Her face, happy to see Taesan, suddenly stiffened.
“...I’m sorry, but what’s that golem next to you?”
[Hmm. It's usable but... weak. Strange. Is this all the strength it has for descending the labyrinth?]
“It... speaks?”
“It’s my spirit.”
Taesan simply answered, causing Kim Hwiyeon’s eyes to waver even more.
“A spirit?”
“I’ll be stepping away for a moment, finish up here.”
“Ah, yes.”
Kim Hwiyeon blankly nodded. Taesan left her behind and headed for the outskirts of the city hall.
“Uh, uh?”
“Monster!”
People screamed at the sight of Barkaza, showing hostility. Then, realizing Taesan was beside it, they looked bewildered.
[There are many.]
Barkaza muttered as he looked around at the people.
[But they're weak. There are a few useful ones, but they're not satisfying. Strange. They wouldn't survive in the labyrinth I know with that kind of strength.]
“They are under different conditions from me.”
He shrugged.
Taesan had reached the outskirts.
The hole beyond the sky quietly greeted him.
[I'm curious. Can you give a proper explanation?]
Taesan shared some basic information with Barkaza. His world had been swallowed by a high god, and during that process, people had entered the labyrinth.
However, he didn’t delve into the details. He figured it would be better to discuss it after seeing it firsthand.
[You are the contractor of the king of wind spirits. You summoned Minerva.]
The wind blew. The materialized wind formed into the shape of a woman. Barkaza bowed.
[I greet the king.]
“Uh, what?”
Minerva looked around, confused.
“This doesn’t seem like the labyrinth, does it?”
“That’s right.”
Taesan began to explain slowly.
They were beings living in one world. Then monsters attacked their world.
And they were given a choice.
Minerva and Barkaza had made a pact with him. According to the terms of the pact, as long as Taesan didn’t die, they would be together forever.
With that judgment, Taesan decided it was okay to tell them. He explained the overall situation.
Minerva frowned after hearing the story.
While Minerva had the appearance of a beautiful woman, Barkaza looked like a golem. Perhaps because his appearance resembled that of monsters or beasts from the labyrinth, people sent uneasy glances his way.
Taesan responded,
“You don’t have to worry; you’ll know soon enough.”
The check was complete amid the people’s concerns. And then the quest appeared.
[The next quest will start in two days.]
A two-day grace period was given. People planned to rest and wait until the next quest appeared.
But Taesan knew. Since the fourth return, true rest did not exist.
Kurrreung!
A loud noise echoed from outside the city hall. The guards rushed over, screaming.
“Monsters! There are over a hundred of them!”
“What?”
Kim Hwiyeon gasped as she got up.
She checked outside, and her face contorted.
“This is a total wave!”
During the previous return, there were occasions when monsters approached during the preparation period, but their numbers were so small they posed no threat.
This time, she had been relaxed, thinking it would be the same, but suddenly a hundred monsters had appeared.
“Moreover...”
The power of the monsters, felt from a distance, could not be underestimated.
Occasionally, she saw monsters whose strength she could not guarantee.
Kim Hwiyeon urgently shouted.
“Everyone gather!”
“There’s no need.”
Taesan stepped forward.
“Barkaza. Minerva.”
[Good. We trample the monsters of the high gods. There’s little more enjoyable than this.]
“I feel the same. I welcome any chance to disrupt those damned plans.”
Both were happy as they stepped forward. The people who had gathered watched them blankly.
The strength of the monsters was mostly D-class. These were creatures that hard mode players could barely defeat if they risked their lives.
Barkaza clapped his hands toward the approaching monsters. A giant barrier materialized around the city hall.
Ka-kaaang!
The monsters banged against the barrier.
And the barrier did not shake.
Like a wall that had defended against enemies for hundreds of years, it blocked all attacks solidly.
“Huh?”
“Uh-uh-uh.”
People groaned, and Barkaza clapped his hands again.
Light rose.
The materialized light advanced. In an instant, it pierced through the monsters’ bodies, reducing their numbers.
[They’re weak.]
Barkaza now possessed power beyond the 50th floors.
D-class monsters were no match for him.
Minerva waved her hand.
A light breeze arose.
And soon, the wind became a storm.
Ka-ga-ga-ga!
“Wow!”
People screamed and ducked as the wind surged forward. The hurricane advanced towards the monsters.
Ka-ga-ga-gak!
And when the hurricane had passed, there were no monsters left.
“How much power was used?”
“Almost none. If we only use this much, we could stay for years.”
“That’s good.”
Taesan’s expectations were far exceeded. With this level of power, they had become a formidable force on Earth.
“...Huh?”
Kim Hwiyeon stared blankly.
The monsters that they had to risk their lives to defeat were all cleaned up with just two attacks.
The power Taesan had shown during the previous return seemed monstrous. Just punching released a powerful force, and just jumping damaged the earth.
But still, it was understandable. Because they were similar. As their stats increased, they surpassed human limits.
But this.
“Oh, wow...”
People bent their knees in admiration as they sent glowing looks towards Taesan.
[Proficiency in divine power has increased by 1%.]