Ascension Through Skills

The Second Floor(2)

TL: handCream

PR: Kasaix

Just like the other Tae-san didn’t want to die in the labyrinth, so he had no choice but to adapt to it. In the hope he doesn’t die of hunger, he moved forward. 

Soon people had become exhausted.  

Unlike the other modes where players could meet, talk and discuss with each other. In Solo Mode you were left all alone. 

In the village right outside the labyrinth, there were only NPCs who would answer certain questions. Other than that the human-looking NPCSs refused to have any conversations.  

The players could interact with each other to some extent through the community though, but there was still a huge difference between meeting and talking in person.

Nobody had anyone to talk with.

Neither there was anything to eat 

It was a perfect environment for someone to go crazy. 

In fact, numerous Solo players in the past had died recklessly because they gave up on their survival as soon as they entered. As their motive was to commit suicide.

In that horrendous situation, Tae-san posted.

A long post with details on how to survive the first floor.

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]:  You say that you didn’t expect much, but from our point of view, it was a really necessary article.]

There was solid information written by Tae-san. 

There was a store owner inside the labyrinth, and a mouse similar to Capybara appears as a monster. And if a player couldn’t handle the monster, they were advised to return to the store.  

For the players in Solo Mode, the labyrinth was an unknown entity. The reason why they couldn’t enter was because they didn’t know if they could ever come out. Every single player was afraid. 

But thanks to Tae-san, they had a little information.

And after shaking off their fear of the unknown, they began to be determined to enter the labyrinth. 

Among them, Lee Tae-yeon was one of the very few who trusted his direction.

Following Tae-san’s words, she entered the labyrinth, met the store owner, and arrived at the fountain of life. She cleared the first step of the labyrinth and survived.

Lee Tae-yeon left a lot of scolding as well as motivating messages in the community. Especially for those who lurk in the community, she wrote that people should stop being a scaredy-cat like herself. 

She also said that she gave the post a try and she survived.  

In other words, anyone could arrive at the common resting area where infinite recovery was possible. Seeing Lee Tae-yeon succeed, many Solo players gave it a shot and ran towards the unknown zone. 

Not everyone succeeded however. Even if they knew the route and what could happen, it was still too difficult. The Fountain of Life was quite far from the store and the probability of meeting Big Rat on the way was too high.

Still, the number of survivors that couldn’t be seen in Tae-san’s previous life, were achieved in this one. And it was all thanks to his post that many arrived safely at the Fountain of Life, it was a surprising difference. 

However, killing the Big Rats was a separate matter.

Even if they had the Elixir of infinite recovery, it was still impossible to kill monsters that exceeded the speed of an average human. 

So, most of the players took refuge and tried to soothe their hunger in the fountain.  

Till now, only two people succeeded in hunting those rodents.

Firstly, Lee Tae-yeon.

And the latest was Kang Jun-hyuk, who was talking to him at the moment. 

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: What were you going to do before my post came up?]

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]: I was just going to dash through the labyrinth. I couldn’t stand being hungry. I thought I would beat anything up who came into my view and eat them.] 

A 17-year-old boy who had not yet reached adulthood. He had already won against Big Rat, so he must have a talent similar to Lee Tae-yeon.

But Kang Jun-hyuk was a name he had never heard before.   

Perhaps in his previous life, he fought against the Big Rat and died right away. But thanks to this post, he was able to survive.  

“….”

If he left a strategy, will the number of survivors increase?

That’s not how Tae-san thought. Even if he managed to kill the Big Rat, there was still a big difference in clearing the labyrinth. He would not be able to go any further.

The survival rate and clearing rate had a vast difference.  

Even in the previous life, there were several players who had reached the Fountain of Life.  

But except for Lee Tae-yeon, no one was able to clear the first floor.

But this time not only Lee Tae-yeon but also Kang Jun-hyuk had the potential.

“Would it be worth helping?” 

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: What are you doing right now?]

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]] : I’m just taking a break from hunting Big Rats.] 

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: What about Lee Tae-yeon?

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]: She’s probably sleeping right now.]

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: Did you meet Einzhar?] 

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]: Huh? Who?]

It seemed that he didn’t know. In the past, Lee Tae-yeon met Einzhar, so it was safe to say that she would meet him again if she stayed in the Fountain of Life. 

[Kang Tae-San [Solo]: A strange old man who is a seeker of God will come. An NPC whose treatment changes according to your actions? He is going to attack you out of nowhere, so don’t be scared and react properly. Perhaps you might get something useful] 

Tae-san wasn’t sure if Einzhar would give the Ahirak Weapons Techniques but Jun-hyuk might get something else. In the beginning, each skill was precious.  

[Kang Tae-San [Solo]: When Tae-yeon wakes up, tell her too.]

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]: Uh…］

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: What?]

Kang Jun-hyuk looked all serious for a moment. After all, Tae-san gave him some precious information.  

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]: Brother, it’s okay]

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: Huh, what are you talking about?] 

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]: Aren’t you helping me too much? I’m thankful for your help, but we are just players who are trying to clear the labyrinth together.] 

Kang Jun-hyuk hesitated but he still kept on writing.

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]: Of course, though I’m weaker than you right now. But if you give me too much, I might catch up to you very quickly. I’m not going to do anything to you, but I was wondering why you were being so considerate. You don’t have to just give me what you’ve earned.] 

Tae-san laughed. 

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: Here, I was wondering what you were gonna talk about, and it was just like that?] 

[Kang Jun Hyuk [Solo]]: I’m rather serious.]

Kang Jun-hyuk’s words were understandable. No one wanted to give out their hard-earned achievements without any conditions.

However, Kang Jun-hyuk was mistaken. 

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: I am just trying to help you. There are tons of people dying here. And don’t fall behind in strange places.] 

Just because someone knows what will happen doesn’t mean they could survive.

Lee Tae-yeon cleared the labyrinth because of her luck but that doesn’t mean others could. Tae-san said luck because she was the one who stated that she wasn’t confident enough in her skills. 

This was a place where no one could guarantee that they could survive. 

That was the essence of ‘Solo’ mode.

Even if Kang Tae-san informed Kang Jun-hyuk of the secret room, he would not be able to clear it. The boy was likely to die even before he reached the last 15 arrows.

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: Do you really think you can catch up with me just because I give you some information?]

Even if he cleared Easy Mode, he could still be compared to Lee Tae-yeon. Kang Jun-hyuk’s words were similar to that of a chick fed by the owner which threatened to kill him.

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: Don’t let yourself get dragged away.]

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]: Well, I didn’t think I would be able to pass the first floor. So I am very happy right now.]  

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: Okay that’s fine. But work hard for now. I am heading down.]

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]: Where are you right now?]

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: Second floor]

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]: Wow. I am still hunting the Big Rats. It’s only been a week. Isn’t it too fast?]

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]:  Fast? It’s normal.]

While texting, a thought crossed his mind.

‘Come to think of it, was I too fast?’

About a week had passed. It was time for the Easy and Normal Mode players to adapt. So, Tae-san asked.

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: How’s the community these days?]

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]: It’s normal. Oh, by the way, players from the different modes are talking to me little by little these days. But… Some people are fighting. I am mostly trying to ignore them.]

Those who are picking a fight. Tae-san knew them all. He knew what kind of people they were. 

‘Those who do not know what’s going on have started to run rampant.’

Players from different modes couldn’t meet each other. They could only communicate through the community. 

Not everyone could understand the difference and the difficulty of each mode. So everyone misunderstood their mode as the hardest one. 

In his previous life, Tae-san would be the mediator helping everyone out. But now that he was out of all these, they would go crazy. 

Tae-san was no longer interested. For him, if someone had the guts to ask him for help he would but other than that he had no intention of helping anyone. 

[Kang Tae-san [Solo]]: Fighting!] 

[Kang Jun-hyuk [Solo]]: Yes, you too.]