305 - Regression Is Too Much

## Chapter 305 – The Battle of the Returner (24) Black magic exploded from Cheonma's body. Sensing the impending crisis, I reflexively unleashed my own magic power. Yet in my heart, I braced myself for retreat. Cheonma's magic power was an insurmountable force—a power that could not be overcome. "... Huh?" But my body remained intact. Though Cheonma's magic repelled mine, I managed to hold my ground. How could that be? Weak. Cheonma's magical power was substantially weaker than what I remembered. Three months ago, it had been pure destruction, an energy that drained life from anyone who dared touch it, bringing them to their knees. Now, it was far less formidable. However, when I subdued Choi Ji-won with magic, the force seemed immensely stronger than this. Why the discrepancy? "Ah." The battle was brief. The fight itself was much shorter, and Cheonma had only half the time to mature. It seemed like he was deliberately avoiding using his full power, which surely indicated a reason behind it. In other words, Cheonma was making a strenuous effort to eliminate me. Originally, he should not have relied on magic power, but he forced himself to release it. "..." "..." The good news was that Cheonma didn't flee even after witnessing my magic. In situations where I refrained from using magic, he understood the nature of my power and chose to keep his distance. Now that he too could utilize magic, he likely calculated his chances were better to defeat me directly. In retrospect, the battle's initiative lay with Cheonma, though he seemed unaware. "Do you want to kill me?" Let me summarize my advantages. I can wield magic, and my swordsmanship has improved significantly. My disadvantage is that Cheonma has also released his magic, and he started using his fists. He may be more accustomed to combat with his fists. "Bring it on." So, it's evident that this state approaches the 'power of Cheonma.' Let's see. How great is the power Cheonma possesses? *** The arena's waiting room. Various races spend their time in myriad ways. Some are tense, some chat casually, while others lie down without expression. This is the largest arena in the universe. Not only do all races gather here, but all cultures blend together. With diverse cultural influences from across the cosmos, combined with cutting-edge technology, this arena truly becomes a place where anything can transpire without a hitch. Suddenly lying naked, fornicating in the hallway, dancing and singing… 'The greatest in the universe' conjures scenes beyond imagination. -Flash. In such an arena, sudden appearances of people aren't out of the ordinary. It is commonplace to see individuals emerging in the waiting room through teleportation devices. "Ugh...! Grk..." However, it was unusual to see a human who had just teleported suddenly stand up from their seat and cough repeatedly. It was like watching a melodrama, with people clutching their chests, looking around in disbelief, and sighing in relief. “Are they mentally ill?” “They say humans have chips implanted in their brains and experience hallucinations due to drugs. They must be addicts.” “Ck ck…” Whether those furry beastmen clicked their tongues or not at the sight, the human who had just moved was preoccupied with repeatedly opening and closing his hands to check his physical condition. Yes, what else can I say? That was me. I had just returned. “What in the world…” The power of the Heavenly Demon pierced my chest, making my heart explode. I never expected to hear the sound of a human heart bursting, least of all my own. Heavenly Demon... A devil using his fists couldn’t simply be described as ‘strong.’ It was… indescribable. I clearly tried to cut, but it wouldn’t cut; I dodged, but couldn’t evade. It was as if he could foresee my every move, and all my thoughts seemed to be in the palm of his hand. What is this? What do you expect me to do? An enemy like this appearing on the 28th floor? I know it's a mistake, but you want me to accept this? Damn angels. Is this how you handle things? You may as well be fired, but we’ll all lose. “… Calm down.” Yes, I'm the one dying, not the angels. No use whining. I took a deep breath and stroked the fur of one of the water spirits watching over me. The water spirit resisted, so I froze it with cold air and petted it. Touching something soft seemed to help stabilize my mind. Let’s calm down and organize my thoughts. I put significant pressure on Cheonma. I destroyed most of the martial arts he utilized. In the process, I was able to grow tremendously and gain confidence. It was a tough yet satisfying time. Anyone who saw it would commend me, saying, “Well done,” and I was proud of myself. However, Cheonma, who revealed his true power, trampled on me like it was a reward. He deflected my sword and crushed my heart. I ascended the stairs diligently, but Cheonma looked down at me from atop the mountain. A genius uses the same amount of time differently. I believed I'd caught up to ten minutes of a genius’s work in six hours, but Cheonma had devoted tens, perhaps hundreds of years to martial arts. How many more times the effort must I put in to catch up to the genius's time? How much time must I invest to surpass Cheonma, who has worked so hard? What sacrifices must I make to defeat Cheonma, who has given hundreds of years to his training? "Sigh..." This was the worst-case scenario. It was true that Cheonma had concealed his power, and I realized that force might be unleashed if I pushed myself to a certain extent. If this were a game, I'd call an operator, but no operator was available. How strong must the emperor be to stand against Cheonma? Or perhaps he was never strong enough at the time. Should I blame the emperor for not being able to face him back then? I still had the option to converse with Cheonma and gather information, but I didn’t feel like moving now. I was so shocked that I had lost my spirit. I suppose I was just exhausted. The drone took me to the stadium, and I didn’t utter a word until I met Choi Ji-won again. After completing the first match, we decided to return to reality and rest. I needed time to recover. "Cheonma could use his full power…?" Choi Ji-won asked while eating chicken. "Not his full power. It felt like 10% of what he could do." "Hmm…" Having witnessed the Heavenly Demon after three months, we knew how formidable he would become. The Heavenly Demon after having his seal broken was considerably weaker compared to what he would be after three months. Yet, he was still not an enemy to be taken lightly. "Even if I used cold energy, I faced him with magic power. My physical abilities seemed comparable, but martial arts using magic power were immensely challenging." "Of course... those punches were strange." Thanks to my high achievement level, my magic power was at its peak among players. As the tower didn't recommend bows, magic, or other martial arts, players generally invested their capabilities in physical abilities, making their magic power relatively lacking. That's why I, with a high achievement level granting all-around abilities, possessed the most potent magic. "The Heavenly Demon... surpassed me." The magic power of the Heavenly Demon was greater than mine. Twice, perhaps even three times as much. It wasn't just the quantity that was superior, but the quality was also elite, leaving me on the backfoot in face-to-face combat. Does that mean I'm lacking? Not really. That man's punches… they were incomprehensible. I couldn't grasp them. Those extended punches seemed to bend at some point, and the steps he took appeared to fold space and dash forward. Cheonma. There’s no other way to explain it. Even in a weakened state, he remained powerful. That's because he is Cheonma. "Certainly, the power Cheonma displayed didn’t seem without risk. In fact, he didn’t reveal his hidden strength until he was pushed to the edge." Cheonma must have made his decision. He must have taken on a certain level of damage. But if I'm going to succumb to a setback now, what was the point of it all? It's exhilarating and cool when the protagonist uses temporary doping, but when the enemy utilizes it, there's no greater absurdity. What if my lifespan shortens, my body deteriorates, and my health declines? I’d lose right then and there. How many people in modern society would choose to become stronger if it meant sacrificing their lifespan and health? It's frustrating that they employ it as a punishment. "Negotiation… should we consider it?" He might be able to defeat Cheonma. However, it might not stop after a few years, and you might need to brace for repercussions lasting tens or hundreds of years. Repeated regressions alone are exhausting and drain one’s vitality. If it spans decades, it could genuinely ruin you. (Pleasure and hardship are two separate matters.) So, if there's a way to stop Cheonma without achieving victory… If there's a method to buy time until the Archangel arrives. It might be worth seriously considering those options. "Junho." Choi Ji-won, resting her chin in her hand deep in thought, suddenly spoke up. Boongboongi on the table vibrated eerily. "Boongboongi just shared an idea with me... but it's a bit strange." "Huh?" Choi Ji-won typically speaks directly in such cases and never wavers. It was actually the first time Boongboongi expressed an opinion. The sword seemed ready to share a shocking suggestion. "If you're uncertain, just tell me. If you’re unsure about defeating Cheonma..." "If not?" And Boongboongi's plan was. "To Cheonma... how about implanting a memory?" "Does that mean we should retreat together?" "Huh?" That was the most astonishing plan I had ever heard.