[Easy Mode] [This is the easiest difficulty. There is plenty to eat here, and the shelters found throughout the Labyrinth will be a welcome rain in a drought. Even an ordinary and weak person can one day clear it if they try.]
Easy Mode.
The mode he had chosen was incredibly easy. Just as the description said, if one was determined, even a dullard could clear it. Of course, people who were fated to die still died.
The clear rate was about 70%.
[Normal Mode] [This is a normal difficulty. Food is scarce here, and the shelters found throughout the Labyrinth are noticeably fewer than in Easy Mode.]
[It is difficult for ordinary people to survive, but you can clear it if you do your best and possess a spirit that does not succumb to despair.]
From here, the survival rate dropped sharply. The average clear rate for Normal Mode was about 30%.
[Hard Mode] [This is a difficulty that will test your limits. Food is absolutely scarce here, and the shelters found throughout the Labyrinth are extremely few. Monsters will gladly sacrifice their own lives to kill you, and you will die a terrible death if you do not secure maximum safety.]
The clear rate for Hard Mode was a mere 1%. Those who emerged boasted a power incomparable to those from Easy and Normal. Up to this point, all Players of the same mode could cooperate.
They could clear the Labyrinth together and attack bosses as a team. And the last one.
[Alone Mode] [This is a mode where you are alone. You cannot meet anyone who came from your world. The only things you can see here are Monsters, those hostile to you, and NPCs.]
[Luck, talent, wisdom, strategy. You cannot survive here, where everything is tested. If your life is precious, do not choose this difficulty.]
It was still a chilling description. The funny thing was that even after seeing that description, about ten thousand people chose Alone Mode. Among them, the only survivor was Lee Tae-yeon.
A Labyrinth with an unknown clear rate. At that time, Taesan had chosen Easy Mode. Because he was weak, because he didn't know his own worth.
But now, he knew his own worth. Taesan looked up at the Rift in the sky. Beyond it, the Apostle who had killed him would also be there.
Would he have won if he were in perfect condition? From Taesan's perspective, there was a possibility. If he had used every means and method available, perhaps he could have won.
But would that have been the end? It was only four Waves. The Monster that appeared in the sky at the end was stronger than the Apostle.
The strongest Monster hadn't even shown itself yet. In the end, he would have been defeated. But what if he didn't choose Easy Mode, but the mode where he could gain the most and become the strongest.
Taesan smiled faintly.
"Just wait."
[Alone Mode selected.]
[May fortune be with you.]
His vision flipped, and his body was transferred. Taesan closed his eyes and waited patiently. Soon, the strange sensation disappeared.
When he opened his eyes, he saw a village. A house with a chimney. A well in the center of the village.
A world with a medieval setting was before his eyes.
"Hah."
Taesan let out a breath filled with nostalgia and weariness. After a long, long time, he had returned to this place once more.
"It looks the same."
The appearance of the village was no different from Easy Mode. The important thing was the Labyrinth, not the village, so they probably hadn't put much effort into creating it in the first place. He had no business here.
He planned to run straight to the Labyrinth after a minimum check. Taesan opened his mouth.
"community forums."
[community forums.]
[Posts.]
[Kang Jun-hyeok [Alone]: ??? Everyone, what is this?] community forums.
The only window to communicate with people from different difficulties. It was a great help as pioneers shared various pieces of information. 'There's already a post?'
He logged in and immediately opened the community forums. But the fact that there was a post meant that someone had shouted "community forums" and left a message as soon as they arrived here. He didn't know who it was, but what an adaptable fellow.
Taesan wrote a comment.
[Kang Taesan [Alone]: Good luck.]
The community forums could be utilized later. It had little meaning right now.
"Status Window."
[Kang Taesan] [Level: 1] [Health: 100/100] [Mana: 10/10] [Strength: 10] [Intelligence: 10] [Agility: 10] [Attack Power + 0] [Defense Power + 0] [The subject is in optimal condition.]
A familiar window appeared. A smile automatically formed on his face at the sight of the pitifully weak Stats. All Players who entered the Labyrinth started with the same Stats.
But the growth potential differed according to the difficulty. As they navigated the Labyrinth and leveled up, the gap grew wider and wider, eventually becoming impossible to close. Right now, he was in Alone Mode.
He would become stronger faster than anyone. The simple check was over. Taesan headed for the Labyrinth.
As he walked the village path, he recalled Lee Tae-yeon's words. 'She said there was a guy guarding the entrance to the Labyrinth.' There was one in Easy Mode too.
An old man with a long white beard, a common NPC who only answered what was asked. It would be different here. Taesan recalled the description of Alone Mode.
[This is a mode where you are alone. You cannot meet anyone who came from your world. The only things you can see here are Monsters, those hostile to you, and NPCs.]
NPC.
There must have been a reason why that was written so meaningfully. When he arrived in front of the Labyrinth, a man was sleeping while leaning against the cave wall. As Taesan approached, the man's eyes fluttered open.
"What, you're here already? I thought it would take about a month."
The black-haired man stood up with a yawn. His eyes looked sharp.
'Hoh.'
Taesan let out a small gasp of admiration. When the man stood up, it felt as if the world itself was rising. Something immense seemed to be condensed within that small body.
An aura, or perhaps an overwhelming pressure. Something could be felt. 'This... he's stronger than Lee Tae-yeon.
An opponent against whom even his past self could not guarantee victory.' 'This is a gatekeeper?'
"First off, congratulations. I am the gatekeeper of the Labyrinth. A guardian who protects this place, and the one who will guide you."
The man asked while stretching.
"What's your name?"
"Kang Taesan. It's Taesan."
"Taesan. Not a bad name. Call me Broken Man."
"The broken one?"
"The guy who challenges and fails becomes the gatekeeper. Sounds plausible, doesn't it?"
"That does make sense."
Taesan gave a small nod. On the outside, he was conversing calmly, but inwardly, he was quite startled. 'So it was true.'
Lee Tae-yeon had often told him how hard her difficulty was. He wasn't particularly interested, but since she provided the drinks, he had listened half-heartedly. Among her stories, one thing stuck in his memory.
[Taesan. What were the NPCs in Easy Mode like?]
[They were just NPCs. Was there anything different?]
NPCs in a game that only gave set answers and repeated actions without any intelligence. All NPCs in Easy, Normal, and Hard Mode were such beings. But Lee Tae-yeon had denied Taesan's words.
[The NPCs in Alone Mode were... how should I put it. A bit different. They were like real people.]
[People?]
[Yeah. They had proper intelligence and moved around freely. I think that's one of the differences between the other modes and Alone Mode.]
Proper NPCs, not machines. That's what Alone Mode had. Why did this mode have something that Easy, Normal, and Hard did not?
The reason wasn't hard to figure out. 'Perhaps this is the only proper mode.' As Taesan calmly organized his thoughts, Broken Man's eyebrow twitched.
'Why is this punk so calm?' He had thought that someone coming from a peaceful world would be unable to accept this sudden reality and would go crazy upon seeing him. So he was planning to beat him up first and then explain, but Taesan showed no signs of agitation.
He just stared at him with a silent gaze.
"Are you going to listen to the explanation?"
"Yes."
Taesan replied.
Most of the information he knew was from Easy Mode. It was better to listen.
"You probably heard the gist of it outside, right? Your world is being destroyed by the Invaders. This place is an opportunity bestowed upon you by a Merciful Being."
Broken Man grumbled.
"A damn Merciful Being. It would have been happier to just be destroyed."
"Is that so."
From that last line, Taesan was certain. Broken Man was a being similar to them. A being who came from a destroyed world, just like them.
Broken Man continued.
"This is a Labyrinth. Some guys call it a Tower, but call it whatever you want. It has a hundred floors in total, with a big change every 10 floors, and naturally, it gets harder the deeper you go. Find your own food inside the Labyrinth, and figure out the detailed information for yourself. That's it."
"... Is that all?"
It was a very shoddy explanation. Broken Man grumbled.
"What, you want me to explain what's on the 1st floor, what's on the 2nd floor, and all that? There's a guy who sells things inside, so hear it from him."
His face truly screamed of annoyance. Taesan recalled Lee Tae-yeon's words. 'That gatekeeper guy had such a nasty personality that he'd beat up anyone who complained.
I'm telling you, I almost died before I even entered the Labyrinth.' Taesan heeded the pioneer's advice and kept his mouth shut. Broken Man reached his hand into space.
"Still, I should give you the basics."
Jjeoeok.
Space split open.
"Catch."
Broken Man threw a cloth armor and a sword that he pulled out of the space.
"Say 'check'."
"Check."
The same System Window as before covered his vision.
[Worn Cloth Armor] [Defense Power +1] [Seems like it could block minor scratches.]
[Rusted Sword] [Attack Power +1] [Seems like it will break before long.]
"It's shoddy."
It was the same as the equipment provided by default in Easy Mode.
"What. You don't like it?"
"No." He could finally enter the Labyrinth.
That in itself was immensely enjoyable. Broken Man was looking at Taesan's reaction strangely.
"What is it?"
"No, it's nothing."
After a moment of thought, Broken Man made a decision.
"Take this too."
Broken Man gave him a wrist guard.
[Defense Power +1] [Having been used for a long time, it has lost its original value. It seems it could block the teeth of a beast.]
Taesan was momentarily taken aback, but he received it silently. 'What is this.' Lee Tae-yeon had said she only received a rusted sword and cloth armor.
Two items only. There was no wrist guard. But Broken Man didn't explain.
"And try shouting 'inventory'."
"Inventory."
A window covered his vision. The black window was divided into individual slots, a total of twenty.
"You can put one item in each slot. Identical items can be stacked up to 20. If it gets full, carry them yourself. Or sell them. And..."
"Status Window."
A window appeared in front of Taesan.
"You know it well, huh?"
"It's common."
Taesan checked the Status Window with familiarity.
[Kang Taesan] [Level: 1] [Health: 100/100] [Mana: 10/10] [Strength: 10] [Intelligence: 10] [Agility: 10] [Attack Power +1] [Defense Power + 2] [The subject is in optimal condition.]
Looking at the numbers, Taesan smiled with satisfaction. A difference of 1 Defense Power held quite a significant meaning in the beginning. It was an unexpected gain.
"Check for yourself what gets added later. Check for yourself what effect each stat has. And figure out Skills on your own too."
Broken Man jutted his chin.
"Now, go on in."
"Yes."
Taesan quickly entered the cave.
"Thank you."
"Good luck with the hardship."
Broken Man waved his hand, seeing Taesan off. Only when his figure sank into the darkness and was no longer visible did he lower his hand.
"Will he be able to survive?"
This place is hell. Broken Man had seen countless people so far. Among them were born warriors and skilled mages.
There were also those called so-called geniuses, but none of them had managed to conquer this place. However, in Broken Man's eyes, Taesan had something different from them. Not simple talent or skill, but something more fundamental.
The strength to survive.
"I hope he survives."
But he was the gatekeeper of the Labyrinth. He could not interfere with the Labyrinth. Unless Taesan returned, he would never see him again.
Broken Man lost interest and continued to guard the Labyrinth. Taesan walked through the cave. There wasn't a single torch, but his vision was as clear as if the sky were open, so there was no problem seeing.
Soon, the cave ended, and a brick passageway came into view. It was the Labyrinth. As soon as he saw it, a window covered Taesan's vision.
[This is a labyrinth created by a great mage long ago, and it is rumored that a wish will be granted to the one who conquers it.]
[This place is a prison.]
[Horrifying beings move without breath, and the living die. Everything in this place exists to oppress you.]
[Eternal glory awaits you who will break through this deep, dark abyss.]
Familiar.
But a different description. With a joyful expression, Taesan stepped into the brick passageway.
[This is the entrance to the Labyrinth.]
[This is where things that die when stabbed by a knife live. The power here is not very strong.]
As soon as he confirmed the content, another window appeared.
[Main Quest started.]
[There are many hidden places and secrets here.]
[Rewards will be given upon clearing, depending on the secrets you find.]
[1st Floor Quest started.]
[Defeat the 1st Floor's boss and pass through.]
[Reward: Random Stat Increase Potion.]
[Secret Reward: ???]