303 - Regression Is Too Much

303 – The Returnee's Battle (22) I admit it. There was a time when I relished it. Regression is anything but pleasant. Repeating the same actions to manage variables is a taxing endeavor on one's mental fortitude. To confront Cheonma, I had to communicate with angels, battle water-based beings, negotiate with arena management... I had to go through all sorts of nonsense repeatedly. Throughout the process, aside from Choi Ji-won, symptoms akin to NPCs or environmental objects resurfaced, but it was merely a mild psychological ailment. It would improve with a bit of recovery, so there was no need for concern. There was joy in growth. I felt it. Strictly speaking, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, an optimal environment, a sort of level-up arena. An excellent support facility. Adversaries who were physically akin to me, yet nearly perfect in technical mastery. A great mentor and lover who only bolstered my endeavors. In every setback, I gained something. There were aspects to rectify, lessons to learn. My swordsmanship was honed. My strikes grew sharper. My defenses became sturdier. The sensation of improvement, the assurance that I could better myself, propelled me forward. It became my fuel. The joy of learning is one of life's greatest pleasures. I was learning. I continually asked myself how I could become stronger and supplied my own answers. Fight. Defeat. Organize what I'd absorbed during the lead-up to my battle with the Heavenly Demon. Fight. Organize. Fight. Organize. Triumph. Learning. Conquering. The process of learning through overcoming was the only way to amass knowledge, but most perish when they are defeated. With the deceitful trait of regression, I learned even more, and more, and more. Once again, I collected my scattered rationale. The Heavenly Demon's sword swung. Blocked. Thrust my blade. The Heavenly Demon parried. Slashed. Dodged. Blocked. Thrust. Slashed. Bent. Thrust. Lift. Deflected. Deflected. Deflected. Deflected. Downward blow. Dodged. Struck. Struck. Struck. Struck. Struck. Was it a true weakness? No. It was a trap. Don't get greedy, aim for the wrist. Failed. Retreat. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. I could see it. I began to discern, bit by bit. The subtle difference between a false weak point and a genuine one… "You." "?!" I was jolted from a peculiar state of unconsciousness by Cheonma's voice. He was gazing at my sword, not at me, and continued to tilt his head. "You're indeed peculiar." Cheonma spat as our swords remained locked in place. "I've witnessed many geniuses. They use their talents to fill their idle time. They solve concepts that take others three days to grasp in a single sitting." "...What do you expect me to do?" "However, there are shortcomings that only time can mend. No matter how brilliant a genius may be, there are parts they overlook, aspects they don't immediately recognize as something that can be developed. Even if you are ordinary, if you pay close attention, there are always areas where you can improve." Time. Cheonma was referring to that. Talent is not omnipotent. There are things that can be understood with a superior brain and intelligence, but there are also aspects that remain lacking. While a genius may excel in many areas over an average person, there are often fields where an average person, having invested time, performs better. "Your swordsmanship is one crafted by time. It's a martial art I've refined and perfected over a long period. I can see the effort." "…" "Normally, one would consider it secret swordsmanship. Your sword technique matches your body perfectly. If it wasn't crafted specifically for you, I can't comprehend it." His words rang true. This swordsmanship was created by me and my clone battling on the fifth floor; it is a style I refined while facing Cheonma. It's a technique I've developed by wringing out my brain over an indefinite period. Essentially, it's a swordsmanship tailored for myself. "But you're still young. There's no sign your body has been replaced. It doesn't seem like a machine has swapped it out. The martial art you employ in such a situation is swordsmanship focused on extreme offense suited to your personality. You lack the wit to be called a genius, and you're not as slow as a fool. You are indeed an odd person." "So what? What is it you want to say?" "What are you?" Cheonma laughed. "Did a fearsome master craft swordsmanship solely for you? Or have you returned from the future? You're an impossible existence. An irrational human. While I'm intrigued by your secrets, I can't bear the revulsion you evoke." "Revolting?" "Your excessive power, grossly disproportionate to your meager talent—how could I not find it revolting?" – Swaaak! The sword aimed for my neck. I retreated too late, and my neck was grazed narrowly. I had been prepared, but it was already too late. Drops of blood sprayed into the air. I thought that "garbage" was too harsh a term, but with talent like that, one might indeed feel like trash. I was growing, too, but this person grew at such a rapid pace that my growth seemed a mockery. He closed the distance I evaded, relentlessly pursuing me on foot. But does Cheonma know? "Do you realize?" "What?" "I can see it now." I was gradually becoming accustomed to the sword Cheonma wielded. I could perceive everything, from his habits to his weaknesses. He grasped my swordsmanship and wielded a new technique that perfectly countered it. The series of actions acted as a master's whip, highlighting my deficiencies. I addressed the flaws Cheonma exposed in subsequent rounds. I was improving. If a genius lived an hour as if it were 100 hours, I spent 200 hours. I was continuously dripping water onto the foundation stone. "I'll soon win." Water can penetrate stone. The tortoise can leap past the hare. I. "Wait." I can defeat Cheonma. [You've taken damage.] [Returning to the point of initial entry on the 28th floor.] *** "Are you feeling okay?" Choi Ji-won asked me one day. "Is Cheonma regressing?" "I don't think so." I despised Cheonma. I wished for his demise. However, my feelings weren't so intense that they made my teeth chatter. It wasn't a 'strong feeling.' "Actually, the more I fight, the less I hate Cheonma. Could it be that I'm beginning to like him?" "...Don't joke like that." "Alright, alright." Cheonma became a ledger of my mistakes. He demonstrated diverse martial arts to me, pointed out my errors, and mercilessly struck if I showed any weaknesses. Compared to what he provided, I could forgive the minor cruelty of piercing my flesh with his sword time and again. The gap between us slowly narrowed, yet simultaneously widened. The more we fought, the more varied Cheonma's swordsmanship became. That's how I came to know. Just how deep Cheonma's understanding was. How brilliant he was at martial arts. "Ji-won." "Hmm?" "I was just thinking, but it seems using the martial arts himself is a kind of punishment for Cheonma." "...Why?" "From any angle, it seems like he's using someone else's martial arts." Cheonma claimed he could steal others' martial arts with just a glance. And from what I perceived, the techniques he employed were all borrowed from others. "It's impressive that he's skilled with various weapons, but don't you find his understanding of using them accurately frightening, too?" "That's true, but..." "But compared to his terrifying comprehension, the martial arts he uses… are on a lower level. It's somewhat odd. Even if you compare it to what I'm capable of now, you can tell. Isn't that right?" "…" You'll learn how formidable Cheonma, the munchkin, is. And you'll also learn just how limited he is in this moment. "I'm fine with that." But what? What do you want from me? If you must try, return to your prime condition. If I can defeat him, that's all I need. Once again, I will begin to control my thoughts to fight against Cheonma. Against the heavy sword... evade. Against the illusionary sword, parry. Against the swift sword, counterattack. Regarding the powerful sword... still uncertain. Choi Ji-won explained it to me, but I sense it’s not a method I can employ. What is a sword? Its primary purpose is as a sharp blade to kill the opponent. A sword is a weapon designed to effectively dispatch enemies. That is the essence of a sword. Yet, the more I learned, the more I was unable to shake the thought that the sword has greater potential than that. A sword imbued with magical power can hold meaning. A sword can contain will. Choi Ji-won's sword is one that seeks victory. Not a sword for 'killing.' Victory can be achieved without killing. That truth is embedded in her sword. Cheonma’s sword… I cannot define it. Since every sword technique he uses carries a different meaning, I'm convinced that the martial arts Cheonma employs are not his own. And my sword… if I must define it, it is a coward's sword. A sword that would retreat at a single blow, so I've learned and relearned methods to avoid being hurt. A sword that conquers the enemy before they can strike me. A sword refined over time. I am always prepared for the worst. I regress while worrying over things that haven't even occurred. That may manifest in the form of my sword. Strike. Strike the enemy before they can strike me. Win. Win before being harmed. Now. Now, if I cut his arm…! -Kyaaah!!! The sword I held was thrown from my grasp. A sudden blow hit me, and I lost my hold on the sword in an instant. Thanks to the transparent gloves, I wasn’t injured, but now I was unarmed. Defeated once more. "Hahahahahahaha!!!" "...Have you lost it?" I was without a weapon. Cheonma nearly killed me. Yet, I laughed. I was elated. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I laughed uproariously. What Cheonma held in his hand was a spear. He had forsaken his sword. He picked up the spear from the ground and thrust it into my midsection. He had made a decision. He couldn't exploit my weaknesses with a sword. He stated he could only leverage my gaps with a spear. It felt like my strict teacher had acknowledged me. "Are you shelving the sword for now?" The world felt incredibly vibrant. [You've taken damage.] [Returning to the point of initial entry on the 28th floor.]