After Regressing, I Gained the Power of the Demonic Dragon - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 15
Ssssshhhhiiick!
Black energy spread from Sang Hyuk’s right hand, engulfing the Spirit Vein Ring.
The dark crimson stains sprawling across the silver surface began to darken from the edges, turning black.
Fsssshhh.
The stains soon transformed into black smoke that scattered between his fingers.
[Current Contamination Level: 1%]
[Current Contamination Level: 0%]
As the stains faded completely, the Spirit Vein Ring gleamed with a clear blue light once more.
Meanwhile, the mist in the Corridor continued to press toward Sang Hyuk’s wrist.
Yet whenever the mist drawn into the Spirit Vein Ring seeped inside the ring, the dark crimson energy within it touched the Extinction Technique and vanished.
Only the pure magical power accumulated inside the silver ring.
[Magical power required for growth is accumulating in the Spirit Vein Ring.]
[Current Growth Progress: 0.02%]
Sang Hyuk’s prediction had been correct.
‘I can keep going like this all the way through.’
Sang Hyuk pressed his right hand against his left wrist and moved forward.
Ssssshhh.
With each step, dark crimson mist surged toward him.
But the contaminated magical power within the mist scattered into black smoke the moment it touched the Extinction Technique.
[Current Contamination Level: 1%]
[Current Contamination Level: 0%]
As the Contamination Level dropped to zero again, the blue light inside the ring grew slightly deeper.
Sang Hyuk quickened his pace.
The mist that had covered only his ankles at first now rose past his knees to his waist as he ventured deeper into the Corridor.
Dark crimson stains smeared across the walls and floor continuously leaked murky energy.
“You have entered deeper into the Corridor.”
“The concentration of contaminated magical power is rising.”
Gooooosh!
The mist ahead surged violently before crashing down on Sang Hyuk all at once.
His vision filled instantly with dark crimson light.
[Current Contamination Level: 3%]
[Current Contamination Level: 5%]
The Contamination Level spiked far more rapidly than before.
Sang Hyuk did not hesitate, drawing more magical power into his right hand.
‘Extinction Technique.’
Whoooosh!
The black energy wavering beneath his palm spread violently, enveloping the entire Spirit Vein Ring.
The dark crimson stains covering the silver surface transformed into black smoke, scattering relentlessly.
[Current Contamination Level: 3%]
[Current Contamination Level: 1%]
[Current Contamination Level: 0%]
Once the Contamination Level returned to zero percent, only the pure magical power from the mist remained in the Spirit Vein Ring.
[Current Growth Progress: 2.7%]
The blue light around his wrist deepened further.
With it came a rapid recovery of the magical power he had consumed using the Extinction Technique moments before.
Sang Hyuk examined the black energy pooling in his right hand.
The speed at which magical power diminished even while maintaining the ability’s constant effect was noticeably slower.
The Spirit Vein Ring was absorbing the pure magical power from the Corridor, continuously replenishing what he spent.
Having confirmed the recovery rate, Sang Hyuk pressed deeper into the mist while maintaining the black energy.
Ssssshhh!
Then the mist clogging the path ahead began to writhe, taking on a human shape.
Faceless dark crimson figures spread their arms wide, blocking his way, foul magical power flowing from their bodies like mist.
[Corridor Contaminated Entity]
[Lv.6]
The Contaminated Entity at the front rushed toward Sang Hyuk.
Its dark crimson arm stretched out like a whip, aiming for his face.
Without lifting his right hand from his wrist, Sang Hyuk lowered his upper body and evaded the limb.
He drove forward into the entity’s embrace and pressed his left arm against its chest, and the Extinction Technique wrapping the Spirit Vein Ring made contact with the Contaminated Entity’s body.
Ssssshhhhiiick!
The monster’s crimson body crumbled into black smoke the moment the Extinction Technique touched it.
Fwoooosh.
The contaminated entity scattered completely in an instant.
The pure magical power that remained in its body was immediately absorbed into the Spirit Vein Ring.
[Current Growth Progress: 3.8%]
The contaminated entities rushed at him all at once.
But Sang Hyuk dove straight between them instead.
When a crimson arm flew toward him, he twisted his body to evade it.
Those blocking his path he shoved aside with his left arm, pushing through.
Screech!
Fwoooosh!
The contaminated entities touched by the Extinction Technique scattered into black smoke one after another.
All the pure magical power remaining in their bodies accumulated in the Spirit Vein Ring.
[Current Growth Progress: 12.6%]
The more contaminated entities he eliminated, the faster the Spirit Vein Ring grew.
The Corridor detected the change immediately.
“Corridor Contaminated Entities are being rapidly eliminated.”
“Releasing additional contaminated magical power.”
Boom-boom-boom-boom!
The entire Corridor shook violently at the same moment the announcement finished.
The crimson stains clinging to the walls and floor swelled all at once, expelling thick mist.
Roooooar!
Crimson mist poured from all directions, surging like a violent current.
The mist coiled around Sang Hyuk’s ankles, swept past his waist and chest, and rose above his head in moments.
[Current Contamination Level: 8%]
[Current Contamination Level: 14%]
[Current Contamination Level: 21%]
Visibility dropped to nothing in an instant.
Still, Sang Hyuk did not stop.
He wrapped his right hand around his left wrist more firmly.
‘Erase it all.’
Whooooom!
Black energy gathered in his right hand and surged outward, enveloping the entire Spirit Vein Ring.
The crimson stains that had covered the silver ring darkened rapidly and scattered into smoke.
[Current Contamination Level: 17%]
[Current Contamination Level: 9%]
[Current Contamination Level: 3%]
[Current Contamination Level: 0%]
Once the contamination cleared, the pure magical power mixed in the mist poured into the ring all at once.
Flash!
Blue light spreading from the Spirit Vein Ring illuminated the thick mist brightly.
The path ahead, hidden by the mist, revealed itself once more.
[Current Growth Progress: 31.4%]
Sang Hyuk ran straight along the revealed path.
The Corridor continued to pour out crimson mist, but all contamination that seeped into the Spirit Vein Ring was erased by the Extinction Technique.
The remaining pure magical power accumulated untouched within the silver ring.
[Current Growth Progress: 63.2%]
As the growth progress increased, the blue light at his wrist burned brighter.
The Spirit Vein Ring’s power to draw in magical energy grew stronger with it.
Before long, even the mist from the far end of the Corridor streamed in long flows toward Sang Hyuk’s wrist and was pulled in.
The mist the Corridor expelled could not contaminate the Spirit Vein Ring.
Instead, the Extinction Technique erased only the contamination, accelerating the Spirit Vein Ring’s growth.
“Re-checking the contamination level of the equipped artifact.”
[Current Contamination Level: 0%]
Even after the number zero percent appeared, the next announcement did not follow for some time.
Sang Hyuk paid no attention to the system’s silence and continued running.
Before long, a massive wall of mist blocking the end of the Corridor came into view.
Beyond the thick mist, the silhouette of the Stone Gate shimmered faintly.
[Distance Remaining to Corridor Endpoint: 30m]
It was the moment Sang Hyuk accelerated toward the Stone Gate.
Shhhhhiiiii!
The crimson mist flowing from the walls and floor was suddenly sucked into the fog barrier before the Stone Gate.
The barrier swelled in an instant, filling the entire Corridor.
Groooooaaaa!
The next moment, the bloated fog barrier collapsed like a massive wave and crashed down upon Sang Hyuk.
As the crimson mist swallowed him whole, his vision went black—he couldn’t see an inch ahead.
The Spirit Vein Ring drew in even the magical power within the mist that engulfed Sang Hyuk without hesitation.
So much contamination seeped in all at once that the speed of the Extinction Technique couldn’t keep up.
[Current Contamination Level: 19%]
[Current Contamination Level: 37%]
[Current Contamination Level: 58%]
More than half of the silver ring was covered with crimson stains.
Sang Hyuk pressed his right hand over the spreading marks and gripped the Spirit Vein Ring even harder.
The Stone Gate was hidden behind the thick mist.
But he still remembered clearly the direction he’d last confirmed it in.
Sang Hyuk took a step toward it.
‘This won’t be enough to stop me.’
He pulled up every last ounce of magical power he had left.
‘Extinction Technique.’
Whoooosh!
The black aura wrapping around the Spirit Vein Ring surged and enveloped his entire body.
The mist that filled the surroundings rapidly cleared wherever it touched the aura of the Extinction Technique.
The newly pressing contaminated magical power scattered into black smoke before it could reach Sang Hyuk.
After blocking the rushing contaminated power, Sang Hyuk pressed his palm firmly against the Spirit Vein Ring and concentrated the Extinction Technique even harder.
The crimson stains already seeping into the silver ring began to fade at a rapid pace.
[Current Contamination Level: 41%]
[Current Contamination Level: 18%]
[Current Contamination Level: 0%]
As the final stain disappeared, the Spirit Vein Ring shone with clear blue light once more.
The pure magical power absorbed from the surrounding mist during all this continued to accumulate within the ring.
[Current Growth Progress: 91.3%]
As the growth progress surged, the Spirit Vein Ring’s pull on the surrounding magical power grew even stronger.
The remaining mist in the Corridor rushed from all directions toward Sang Hyuk’s wrist.
The rushing mist touched the Extinction Technique wrapping his body first.
Each time, the contaminated magical power within the mist scattered into black smoke, and only the pure power was absorbed into the Spirit Vein Ring.
As the mist was drawn in, Sang Hyuk’s field of vision opened up rapidly.
At last, the path leading beyond it to the Stone Gate came into view.
With his right hand still wrapped around the Spirit Vein Ring, Sang Hyuk raced along the open path.
Twenty meters.
Ten meters.
Before he knew it, the Stone Gate was within reach.
The moment Sang Hyuk took his final step, even the mist remaining at the far end of the Corridor streamed toward his wrist in a long, flowing current.
Whoooosh!
The contaminated magical power mixed into the last mist touched the Extinction Technique and scattered into black smoke.
[Current Contamination Level: 0%]
[Current Growth Progress: 100%]
The blue light of the Spirit Vein Ring grew deeper still.
Sang Hyuk released his right hand from around the ring and brought it to the Stone Gate.
Thoom!
The firmly sealed Stone Gate opened wide on both sides.
As Sang Hyuk crossed the threshold, a new message appeared.
「You have reached the end of the Corridor.」
「Checking the status of your equipped artifact.」
[Target Artifact: Spirit Vein Ring]
[Current Contamination Level: 0%]
[Current Growth Progress: 100%]
[Stage 1 Growth Condition Met]
Once the status check was complete, the Clear Evaluation began.
「You have removed all contamination from the artifact.」
「You have absorbed all pure magical power from the Corridor.」
“You have achieved the complete clear conditions for the hidden trial.”
“You have completely cleared the hidden trial .”
[Clear Evaluation: SSS]
The moment the clear judgment ended, the Spirit Vein Ring on his wrist trembled violently.
“You have gathered all the magical power needed for growth.”
“The advances one stage.”
[Name: → ]
[Growth Stage: Stage 0 → Stage 1]
[Surrounding magical power absorption increases.]
[Magical power recovery speed rises.]
Hummmmm!
Blue light swirled fiercely around the silver ring.
After a moment, as the light faded, a single blue pattern had been inscribed inside the ring.
The faint magical power scattered around him gathered toward Sang Hyuk’s wrist faster than before.
Only then did Sang Hyuk release the Extinction Technique that had enveloped his body.
His magical power was nearly depleted from dispelling the final mist in the corridor.
Yet within a few steadying breaths, the consumed magical power returned noticeably.
The recovery speed was clearly faster than before the growth.
At this rate, he would be able to recover considerable magical power simply by catching his breath during combat.
Once he had confirmed the recovery speed, an additional reward notification appeared.
“Additional rewards for complete clear are being granted.”
Fwooosh!
A deep crimson crystal materialized above Sang Hyuk’s open right palm.
[Item Information]
[Name]
[Grade] Rare
[Classification] Crafting Material
[Effect]
– A crystal formed from condensed corrupted magical power.
Sang Hyuk examined the crystal briefly, then placed it in his inventory.
On top of enhancing the Spirit Vein Ring’s magical power recovery ability, he had obtained a new research material to bring back to Il-sung.
“All settlement for the hidden trial is complete.”
“You are returning to the Room of Choice on the 5th Floor.”
Fwooosh!
Blue light enveloped Sang Hyuk’s body.
The open Stone Gate and the long corridor sank into the light and vanished from view.
* * *
As the light cleared, Sang Hyuk stood once more before three doors.
[Test One: Test of Destruction]
[Test Two: Test of Protection]
[Test Three: Test of Survival]
“You have completed the hidden trial.”
“Please select one of the regular trials on the 5th Floor.”
The hidden trial was finished, but the 5th Floor clear remained.
The three doors awaited him in the same form as before.
Sang Hyuk’s gaze fixed on the first door.
At his wrist, the Spirit Vein Ring: Sprout, grown one stage, shed clear blue light.
He had already confirmed the recovery speed.
Now it was time to see if that power truly worked in actual combat.
Among the three tests, the Test of Destruction was the fastest to verify.
‘Test of Destruction.’
Sang Hyuk approached the first door and raised his hand.
“You have selected Test One: .”
The moment he chose, the door opened and red light poured out.
Fwooosh!
Red light flooded his vision, then quickly receded.
Sang Hyuk stood in the center of a circular arena paved with black stone.
Clank-clank-clank!
Twelve iron doors arranged along the high walls rose simultaneously.
Soldiers clad in silver armor and wielding large shields emerged one by one from the doors.
[Iron Armor Guardian Soldier]
[Lv.5]
[Test Objective: Defeat all Iron Armor Guardian Soldiers.]
[Time Limit: 10 minutes]
Twelve Iron Armor Guardian Soldiers stood in two rows of six.
As the front row locked their shields together, a silvery barrier unfurled, while the back row thrust long spears through the gaps between them.
Sang Hyuk glanced down at the Spirit Vein Ring: Sprout on his wrist.
The magical energy that had been nearly depleted when the hidden test ended had already recovered past the halfway mark.
‘Enough.’
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Iron Armor Guardian Soldiers advanced behind their shield wall.
Sang Hyuk raised black energy in his right hand and charged straight forward.
The moment the distance narrowed to three strides, Sang Hyuk thrust his palm toward the shield wall.
‘Extinction Technique.’
Shriek!
The instant his palm made contact, a black hole tore through the center of the silvery barrier.
The black energy spread left and right along the interlocked shields, sweeping through the entire front row.
Whoosh!
Shields and armor transformed into black sand all at once.
All six Iron Armor Guardian Soldiers in the front row crumbled without even managing to swing their weapons properly.
The wide application of the Extinction Technique had consumed a great deal of magical energy.
Immediately, the blue pattern on the Spirit Vein Ring: Sprout brightened.
Magical energy scattered across the arena surged toward his wrist, rapidly replenishing what had been depleted.
The remaining soldiers spread to either side and thrust their spears simultaneously.
Sang Hyuk pivoted on his right foot, turning his body.
His center of gravity remained steady even through the abrupt change of direction.
The Collapse Walker’s Boots were doing their job.
Sang Hyuk drove straight through the gap between the spear points.
‘Extinction Technique.’
Sang Hyuk swept his right hand across.
Blast!
The Extinction Technique fanned out in a semicircle, consuming spears and armor in one sweep.
Five Iron Armor Guardian Soldiers transformed into black sand and spilled across the floor.
The last soldier abandoned his shield and drew the great sword from his back.
As he brought the blade crashing down with both hands, Sang Hyuk reached toward the descending sword.
Crumble!
Before the great sword could touch his hand, it scattered into black sand.
Sang Hyuk stepped forward without pause and pressed his palm against the soldier’s chest.
Shriek!
The last soldier’s body crumbled to black sand, starting from his chest.
[Iron Armor Guardian Soldiers 12/12 Defeated]
[Time Elapsed: 01 minute 47 seconds]
「You have completed the 5th Floor regular test.」
[Clear Evaluation: SSS]
「Your level has increased.」
[Lv.5 → Lv.6]
As his level rose, magical energy surged through him once more, filling him completely.
Sang Hyuk examined the changes within himself, then looked down at the Spirit Vein Ring: Sprout.
It had performed exactly as he’d hoped in its first real trial.
‘I’m counting on you going forward.’
Sang Hyuk smiled faintly and tapped the silver ring gently with his finger.
Hum.
The blue pattern inside the ring brightened in response, as if answering him.
As the blue light faded, the settlement for clearing all of the 5th Floor began.
The record from the hidden test he’d completed earlier appeared first.
「The record of the first perfect clear of the 5th Floor hidden test has been verified.」
「A new record will be registered in the 5th Floor Hall of Honor.」
[Test: Corrupted Spirit Vein Corridor]
[Classification: Hidden Test]
[Achievement Record: First Perfect Clear]
[Clear Evaluation: SSS]
[Achiever Public Name: Undisclosed]
[Affiliated Nation: South Korea]
「Hall of Honor record rewards are reflected in your affiliated nation’s standing.」
[South Korea Achievement Points +500]
Sang Hyuk had chosen not to reveal his name this time either.
The Hall of Honor bore only one clear mark: his affiliation with South Korea.
His gaze dropped to the national achievement reward listed below.
With these five hundred points added, South Korea’s projected deficit would narrow by that same measure.
There was still a substantial shortfall to make up.
Yet with each run, he drew one step closer to his goal—ensuring not a single rift would open in South Korea this quarter.
A faint smile played at the corner of Sang Hyuk’s mouth as he studied the updated numbers.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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