Ascension Through Skills

Lee Taeyeon tried.

She started by cleaning up the city. She single-handedly dealt with all the monsters near their residence.

Then, she organized the interior of the city. She led the people, selected those with construction experience, and began building. Up until now, they had no room to breathe due to the monsters’ attacks, but now, there was Lee Taeyeon.

As she defeated the monsters, they finally had the chance to tidy up their dwelling.

Next, she began managing the people who appeared. She showed hope to those who had returned to Earth and were running wild, ensuring they didn’t fall into despair. She gave them the belief that they could survive on Earth.

She gathered those with good eyesight and survival-related skills to stand guard. She also freely used the items she had.

“Place one of these at the edge of each zone.”

She handed Taesan four small black stakes.

“What’s this?”

“It’s an item that forms a barrier to block intruders. If any enemies break through the barrier, it’ll send a warning.”

The depths were unique. There were cases where one had to survive for months in a jungle overflowing with monsters.

It was an expensive item she had purchased for such situations. Taesan took the stakes and drove them into the edges of the zone.

The weaker monsters were blocked by the stakes’ power and couldn’t enter. When stronger monsters that could overcome the stakes entered, the warning rang loudly. Thanks to this, the people could prepare in advance.

Not only did Lee Taeyeon’s personal strength play a major role, but the numerous items she possessed also greatly contributed.

When she returned to Earth, many problems were solved at once.

“Ooooh!”

“Lady Lee Taeyeon!”

“If Taeyeon is here!”

The people’s gaze towards her grew even stronger.

Lee Taeyeon barely suppressed the nausea rising within her and spoke to them.

“I will protect all of you.”

No.

In truth, she wished someone would protect her.

She didn’t want to lead the people. She didn’t want to be responsible for their lives.

But she couldn’t say that.

She always wore a mask of laughter and confidence.

All she could do was scream her lungs out when she went to scout the area outside the zone alone.

“Aaaaah……”

She sat down on the broken sofa, entranced by the dying groan.

Hearing her voice, a monster broke through the wall and appeared.

[Monster 978 has appeared.]

“Get lost.”

Boom!

Still seated on the sofa, she swung her arm. The three-digit-numbered monster that rushed at her was smashed into pieces.

“No…”

She bit her lip. The monster that had charged at her was already erased from her mind.

Her acting was reaching its limit. At this rate, she would eventually show her weakness to the people.

That couldn’t happen.

Their source of trust must never waver. She always had to be confident and full of self-assurance. Only then would people believe they could win.

While pondering how to find a solution, her eyes fell on a painting hanging on the wall.

The place she had entered was the remnants of a high-rise building, a building that once housed fairly wealthy people.

Perhaps that was why the decorations and paintings remained relatively intact.

It looked like a painting done by a renowned artist.

Though she had no particular interest in it, she still took the painting back to their zone.

“Taeyeon, what’s that?”

“It looks pretty. What do you think? Isn’t it cool?”

Lee Taeyeon smiled lightly as she held up the painting.

“Even in a world on the verge of destruction, these small hobbies are precious. They become a ray of hope in a desolate life.”

“Ohhh…”

“That’s right!”

People nodded their heads vigorously.

Afterward, everyone began to find their own hobbies. Some carved decorations out of concrete with their hands, while others started painting.

Just as she had said, those small hobbies had a surprisingly positive effect on the people. The calls for Lee Taeyeon grew louder once again.

Everyone worshiped her.

Everyone trusted her.

They were absolutely convinced she would save them.

Only Taesan, staring at her quietly, asked,

“Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

She smiled faintly.

“This is what I’m supposed to do, right? It’s not that hard.”

“…Is that so?”

Taesan responded calmly.

She felt a sense of unease. Had she been found out? No, she thought she was good at acting. After all, everyone else fully believed in and trusted her.

He must be genuinely concerned for her. That’s what Lee Taeyeon thought.

“I’m going to rest now. Call me if you need anything.”

“Alright.”

Taesan replied.

Returning to her dwelling, Lee Taeyeon buried her face in the pillow.

“Huuu…”

She exhaled, stretching her body and releasing the accumulated fatigue.

“It’s hard.”

She muttered softly. She turned around and looked at the sky through the cracked ceiling.

A chill ran down her spine.

Just looking at it gave her goosebumps. The power contained within that rift was truly terrifying. She averted her gaze.

‘No one knows.’

Only she knew that there was no chance of winning.

The beings beyond the rift hadn’t moved yet, but one day they would.

But even so…

Lee Taeyeon clenched her fist.

From then on, she continued to save people, putting on her mask of confidence.

A year passed like that.

“Oh. Taeyeon.”

A man standing in front of the massive wall greeted her brightly when he saw her. His complexion was good, and his hair was neatly groomed.

“Are you heading out on another scouting mission? You’ve been going out a lot lately.”

“Yes. I’ll be back later.”

“Alright. Stay safe.”

Lee Taeyeon was seen off as she stepped outside their zone. Once she confirmed she was alone, she muttered to herself.

“I’ve somehow managed to survive.”

For a year, Lee Taeyeon had done her best.

As a result, the people’s situation had improved considerably. Their zone had expanded, and the number of survivors steadily increased.

Hope that they could continue to live began to appear on people’s faces.

But Lee Taeyeon grew increasingly uneasy.

The power within the rift in the sky was becoming more violent, as though it would explode at any moment.

The time when something enormous would descend was drawing near. Her instincts, honed by clearing the labyrinth, sounded an alarm.

“…Shall I take a look?”

[You have activated the Breath of the Hidden Rat.]

[You have activated the Hidden Story that No One Knows.]

[You have activated the Invisible Shadow.]

Her presence vanished.

Even the Guides of Sin, the leadership of that organization, couldn’t detect the current Lee Taeyeon.

Concealing her body, she continued to move.

She cleared away all the monsters she encountered as she continued her search.

At the end, she arrived right beneath the rift.

“It’s been a while.”

Lee Taeyeon absentmindedly looked up at the rift.

Now that she was closer, she could sense it more clearly.

The power within the rift was wildly fluctuating.

“Woo…”

[You have activated the Gaze of Contemplation.]

Her field of vision expanded.

All the power, laws, and order contained in things came into her view.

As she stared at the rift, she suddenly stopped.

“Oh?”

The rift was expanding.

Something began to fall from the rift.

Boom!

With a thunderous crash, the earth shattered. Lee Taeyeon held her breath.

What fell from the rift was about ten monsters.

It wasn’t a large number. For Lee Taeyeon, who had already defeated tens of thousands of monsters, it was a very small number.

However, the moment she sensed the strength of the monsters, her whole body froze.

[Monster 3 has appeared.]

[Monster 9 has appeared.]

[Monster 10 has appeared.]

[Monster 43 has appeared.]

Two single-digit monsters.

Eight double-digit monsters.

Monsters of a level she had never seen before.

Grooowl.

The aura spread in all directions. Everything nearby that was breathing began to die.

The monsters seemed unaware of Lee Taeyeon and passed by, ignoring her.

Lee Taeyeon couldn’t do anything.

Only after the monsters disappeared beyond the horizon did she finally exhale.

“Huff!”

Sweat trickled down her cheek. Her whole body started trembling in fear.

“…What is that?”

She barely managed to speak.

They were strong.

Especially the single-digit monsters—she couldn’t guarantee victory even if she risked her life in battle.

‘This isn’t good.’

The fear of death overwhelmed her. She was about to move, to flee in the opposite direction from where the monsters were heading.

Then, she realized.

The place the monsters were moving toward was the zone where the survivors had gathered.

A thousand emotions rushed through her mind in an instant.

“…Aaaah!”

She roughly tousled her hair, her eyes bloodshot as she stomped the ground.

A small gem appeared in Lee Taeyeon’s hand.

[You have activated Spatial Leap to a Designated Location.]

“Ta, Taeyeon? Weren’t you out on reconnaissance?”

People were startled by her sudden appearance. Lee Taeyeon brushed off the broken pieces of the gem and shook her head roughly.

“…Gather everyone. I have something to tell you.”

Lee Taeyeon gathered the people and spoke.

Single-digit and double-digit monsters were coming.

Monsters that even she couldn’t guarantee victory against.

They would have to risk their lives in battle.

When Lee Taeyeon finished speaking, no one could utter a word. Everyone froze in silence.

“…Is this true? Taeyeon?”

“Do you think it’s a lie?”

Lee Taeyeon snapped sharply. The man who had cautiously asked the question flinched and lowered his head.

“N-no, I’m sorry…”

Lee Taeyeon pressed her hand against her forehead.

She didn’t even have the energy to act. Her heart was pounding, and her breath was rough.

She barely managed to suppress her emotions and started speaking again.

“…I’ll handle as much as I can. But I can’t stop them all. You’ll have to deal with a few of the double-digit monsters.”

“Damn it. Damn it. Damn it.”

Those who had forgotten the fear of death since Lee Taeyeon’s arrival began cursing under their breath.

Lee Taeyeon turned her head.

Taesan, amidst the fear-stricken crowd, was calmly watching her.

She clenched her fist tightly.

“My limit is stopping one single-digit monster. So, Taesan, you’ll have to stop the other one.”

“Alright.”

There was no rejection, no frustration, no anger.

Taesan accepted quietly.

The news quickly spread among the people. Though terrified, they gripped their weapons and prepared for the coming assault.

Lee Taeyeon was no different. Although she tried hard to keep up her confident act, she couldn’t stop her fingers from trembling slightly.

To hide that fact, she started talking to Taesan.

“Surprising.”

“What is?”

“I thought you’d at least complain a little.”

Despite being in Easy Mode, Taesan had to face a monster that even Lee Taeyeon couldn’t guarantee victory against.

He was indeed strong, but his strength was very limited. Depending on the opponent, there was a good chance he could die in vain.

Yet Taesan responded calmly.

“Who else would do it if not me? You can’t handle it either, so I have to.”

He had already made peace with risking his life in this fight.

Lee Taeyeon stared at him blankly.

Taesan was strong.

Not just in terms of physical power, but mentally as well.

He was so different from her.

Rumble…

But before she could get lost in thought, a thunderous roar echoed in the distance. A chilling energy swept through, and the faces of the people turned pale.

“Haha, they’re here.”

Lee Taeyeon chuckled dryly and gripped her sword.

“Well then… see you on the other side.”

She kicked off the ground.

She clenched her fist as she rushed toward the approaching monsters.

[You have activated Veil of Deception.]

The world shifted. The monsters’ vision distorted, and Lee Taeyeon’s figure was magnified.

Boom!

They began charging toward Lee Taeyeon, and she licked her dry lips as she distanced herself from the zone.

“I didn’t think I’d be using this skill like this.”

Originally, it was a skill that concealed her presence and disrupted the opponent’s movements.

But this time, she had to become the target. She hid the city and enlarged her own presence.

Once she had gained enough distance, Lee Taeyeon stopped.

One single-digit monster.

And six double-digit monsters.

She muttered gloomily.

“What are you?”

-Why are you tormenting me like this?

-Why are you attacking Earth?

-Why can’t you just leave us alone?

-Why can’t you let us die quietly here?

-Why. Why. Why.

[Instant Death Judgment in progress...]

[You have activated Negate Negative Judgment.]

[Judgment Negated!]

She gripped her sword tightly.

“If you keep tormenting me… just die.”

She gritted her teeth. Her mind, worn out by extreme stress, focused into rage.

Lee Taeyeon furiously opened her inventory. She pulled out equipment she had cherished all this time.

It was a plain, red staff.

At the tip of the staff, a red orb was attached.

As soon as the staff appeared in the world, the air heated up. The temperature within a radius of several kilometers shot up by several degrees in an instant.

Lee Taeyeon raised the staff.

“Burn to death.”

[You have activated the Red Giant.]