After Regressing, I Gained the Power of the Demonic Dragon - Chapter 24

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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 24
The next day.
Crack!
Sang Hyuk’s right hand traced across the chest of an Iron Wood Soldier.
As the crimson core inside the armor scattered into black sand, the massive body crumpled forward without resistance.
Thud!
[Floor 11 Individual Trial: ]
[Iron Wood Soldiers Defeated: 29/30]
[Times Hit: 0]
[Combat Interruption Time: 0.00 seconds]
The trial required him to defeat the next soldier within three seconds of felling one in order to maintain a continuous defeat streak.
Sang Hyuk had used the Dragon Eye only on the first soldier to appear.
Wrists and knees.
The crimson core inside the armor.
Once he confirmed that every soldier had the same structure, there was no need to examine their weaknesses again.
Each time his right hand passed through, the Iron Wood Soldiers’ weapons and cores scattered into black sand, and Sang Hyuk rushed past the falling bodies toward his next opponent.
His feet never stopped moving as he felled twenty-nine soldiers.
Bang-bang-bang!
The iron door at the end of the barracks opened, and a giant twice the size of the previous soldiers stepped forward.
[Iron Wood Commander]
[Lv. 14]
As the creature hefted an enormous axe, a new display appeared.
[Continuous Defeat Streak Maintained: 02.41 seconds]
Sang Hyuk did not wait for the axe to fall.
Thud!
He kicked off the ground and closed the distance in a single breath.
The Iron Wood Commander brought the axe down in desperation, but—
‘Annihilation.’
Crack!
Black energy erased the axe blade and arm in one stroke, then bored straight through to the chest.
The crimson core inside the armor turned black.
Shatter!
The Iron Wood Commander’s massive body fell to its knees before Sang Hyuk.
[Iron Wood Soldiers Defeated: 30/30]
「Floor 11 Individual Trial completed.」
[Times Hit: 0]
[Combat Interruption Time: 0.00 seconds]
[Clear Time: 01:46]
[Clear Evaluation: SSS Rating]
「Your level has increased.」
[Lv. 11 → Lv. 12]
「Your Flawless Ascent consecutive record has been updated.」
[Individual Ascent SSS Rating: 11 consecutive times]
Sang Hyuk clenched and unclenched his right hand, checking his remaining Mana.
Despite having defeated thirty soldiers without pause, more than half remained.
Spirit Vein Circulation: Sprout drew ambient Mana to replenish what he’d spent, while Dragon Blood Circulation circulated Mana smoothly through his entire body after passing through his heart.
Because of this, he could sprint at full power while continuously unleashing Annihilation without any loss in speed or force.
‘Continuous combat is no trouble now.’
Sang Hyuk closed the status window.
* * *
At the same moment.
A new record appeared in the private observation chamber of Mu Geuk, the Second Seat in the United States.
[South Korea Undisclosed Player: 01:46]
[Second Seat Mu Geuk’s Rookie-Era Record: 01:50]
The attendant confirmed both records and made a report.
“The record is four seconds faster than the one you set during your rookie days, Second Seat.”
The difference was merely four seconds.
Yet this was the first time someone had surpassed a record Mu Geuk had left in the lower floors.
“They’ve beaten one of my records.”
There was no displeasure in Mu Geuk’s voice.
Instead, his gaze fixed on the detailed records beneath the clear time.
[Hits Taken: 0]
[Combat Interruptions: 0.00 seconds]
Against thirty Iron Sentinel guards, his attacks and movement had never once faltered.
He hadn’t abandoned defense to gain speed.
“This record wasn’t forced ahead unnaturally.”
The attendant added his opinion carefully.
“It’s possible this player’s abilities held an advantage in continuous breakthroughs.”
“That could be.”
Mu Geuk didn’t draw conclusions from the 11th floor record alone.
Instead, he pulled up all the records the hidden player had accumulated so far.
Two impossible achievements from the Tutorial.
First complete clear of the 5th floor hidden trial.
First complete clear of the Frozen Gorge.
Looking at only the publicly revealed results, there were no gaps.
Yet he couldn’t know what methods were used to clear them, or how much mana and equipment had been consumed in the process.
Mu Geuk didn’t believe perfect results came without any cost.
Every trial and battlefield he had walked through always demanded someone bear a burden, and he had always taken the heaviest share himself.
Was this player also paying a price that didn’t show in the records?
Or did they truly possess a solution he didn’t know?
To confirm that answer, he needed more information than what he had now.
“From next time, don’t send only reports saying they received the highest rating.”
The attendant straightened his posture.
“Include the trial type and evaluation criteria. Attach all the detailed records you can verify.”
“Understood.”
Mu Geuk stared at the Impossible Seat record remaining on the screen a moment longer.
He wasn’t merely curious how many more SSS ratings would follow.
He wanted to know what choices this player made in each trial, and what price they paid in the process.
From the next record onward, he intended to verify that entire process.
* * *
Three days passed.
Sang Hyuk climbed the tower every single day.
12th floor: Collapsing Stone Bridge.
As Sang Hyuk dashed forward, the stone bridges he had crossed crumbled in sequence behind him.
Guardian soldiers blocked the path ahead.
Sang Hyuk didn’t slow his pace.
He erased the knees of those blocking his way with Annihilation, and the guardian soldiers lost their balance and fell.
The moment the path opened, he slipped through in a single bound.
[Stops: 0]
[Hits Taken: 0]
[Clear Evaluation: SSS]
[Lv.12 → Lv.13]
[Flawless Ascent: 12 consecutive]
On the 13th floor, Twin Guardians, whenever one fell, the other revived its ally.
It was a trial requiring both cores to be destroyed simultaneously.
Sang Hyuk induced the two guardians to charge and made them collide with each other.
As he thrust his right hand between their pressing chests, Annihilation consumed both cores at once.
[Twin Guardians Simultaneous Breakthrough]
[Breakthrough Time Difference: 0.00 seconds]
[Clear Evaluation: SSS]
[Lv.13 → Lv.14]
[Flawless Ascent: 13 consecutive]
The 14th floor, Mana Depletion Chamber, continuously drained the mana of any player who entered.
Recovery stations scattered throughout could replenish consumed mana, but using them meant no SSS rating.
Sang Hyuk passed all three recovery stations.
Instead, Spirit Vein Circulation: Sprout drew in surrounding mana, while Dragon Blood Circulation rapidly circulated the new mana throughout his body.
Thanks to this, even after erasing the final gatekeeper with Annihilation, mana remained in abundance.
[Recovery Stations Used: 0]
[Remaining Mana: 42%]
[Clear Evaluation: SSS]
“Your level has increased.”
[Lv.14 → Lv.15]
“Your consecutive record for Flawless Ascent has been updated.”
[Personal Solo Clear SSS Rating: 14 consecutive]
[Until the 15th consecutive bonus: 1 more]
[Until Mu Geuk’s record of 20 consecutive: 6 more]
Consecutive breakthroughs.
Surging through collapsing terrain.
Simultaneous breakthroughs and mana control.
Over four days, the trial’s demands had shifted constantly.
Yet the results never wavered—not once.
Sang Hyuk opened the Iron Rookie League bulletin.
[Current channel season ends in: D-27]
Five more floors remained before he could enter the 20th floor.
At his current pace, he would reach Lv.20 and enter the Iron Rookie League with 22 days left before season’s end.
That was when an entirely different arena would open.
Not trials imposed by the Tower, but direct combat against players of the same level in the channel league.
It would be his first true stage to introduce himself to the world.
He would have to prove his strength there and climb higher still.
To lift South Korea—the weakest link in the Eastern channel—and lay the foundation to withstand the otherworldly monsters that would descend later.
Entering the channel league was the first step of that entire plan made manifest.
His personal solo clear record was now at a critical juncture.
If he maintained SSS through floor 19, Flawless Ascent would reach 19 consecutive.
If he cleared floor 20 solo with SSS as well, he would draw level with Mu Geuk’s 20 consecutive, and on floor 21 he would finally surpass that record.
The channel league’s first match and a record-breaking achievement.
Both goals now lay within reach.
‘Not much longer now.’
As Sang Hyuk was about to close the bulletin, a new alert appeared below.
“The Lv.15 Cooperative Battlefield has been opened.”
Having finished his solo climb, Sang Hyuk returned to reality before entering the Cooperative Battlefield.
* * *
That evening.
On Kim Do Hyun’s desk lay a spread of inquiries from external sources.
[Request to purchase list of recently awakened Conditional Awakeners]
[Request to confirm awakening status of Ilseong family players]
[Inquiry regarding purchase of Kim Sang Hyuk’s recent movements and research building access records]
Most came through partner companies and information brokers.
The source remained hidden, but the intent was unmistakable.
They were hunting for traces that led to the Impossible Seat.
“They haven’t singled you out as the Impossible Seat yet.”
Kim Do Hyun closed the inquiry list.
“But you’re definitely among their candidates. As your level rises, they’ll narrow the field.”
“The Association will make their move again, then.”
“Not just them.”
Kim Do Hyun’s eyes swept across the contact pathways organized on one side of the screen.
“Domestic guilds, corporations, and overseas information brokers are all searching for the same person.”
Sang Hyuk had already considered the possibility that China and Russia had already sent operatives.
Once more records accumulated, they wouldn’t stop at circling around and asking obliquely as they did now.
“Hiding indefinitely won’t hold forever.”
Kim Do Hyun pulled up new personnel documents on the screen.
[Kim Sang Hyuk]
[External Position: Tower Structural Analysis / Equipment Field Testing Verification]
[Source of Information: President’s Direct Private Cooperation Network]
“What if we simply made your actual work public as your official position?”
Sang Hyuk slowly reviewed the newly listed duties.
He had already been thinking along similar lines.
If he tried to erase all traces, the gaps themselves would invite suspicion.
Better to reveal a certain amount and create a public-facing identity that anyone could verify—that would be more effective at concealing the real truth.
His access to the research building and his Awakening history could all be explained as necessary to analyzing Tower materials and verifying equipment.
“Let’s do it that way.”
Kim Do Hyun nodded.
“We just need to route any remaining traces through this position.”
Officially, Ilseong would acquire the Tower’s records and materials through the chairman’s direct cooperation network, and Sang Hyuk would analyze the data he received to set research directions.
Once Kim Seo Yun and the research team implemented this into actual equipment, Sang Hyuk would verify real-world performance—a neat division of labor.
It was all work he was already doing.
The only thing they’d hide was that the player bringing materials and the person analyzing them were one and the same.
“When we reveal equipment going forward, we’ll keep records of Seo Yun’s and the research team’s design and manufacturing, along with your analysis and inspection logs.”
The more achievements Ilseong produced, the more Sang Hyuk would be known in reality not as an Impossible Seat, but as key personnel who discovered cutting-edge technology.
“In the Tower, keep climbing as an Impossible Seat just as you have been.”
Kim Do Hyun met his son’s eyes.
“In the real world, I’ll make sure you establish yourself as a completely separate person from that identity.”
“Understood.”
Sang Hyuk met his father’s gaze and nodded.
* * *
Back in his room, Sang Hyuk opened the Cooperative Battlefield information he’d set aside.
[Floor 15 Restricted Cooperative Battlefield]
[Battlefield Name: ]
[Standard Matching Size: 4 Players]
[Primary Objectives]
– Capture all four command strongholds.
– Hold all four captured command strongholds for 3 minutes.
– Upon success, the Central Command Monolith will enter a temporary stasis.
[Battlefield Information]
– Legion soldiers are classified as Demon Beasts.
– The Central Command Monolith controls legion soldiers through the aura of a mock commander.
– Legion soldiers knocked down while the Monolith is active will rise again.
– Stronghold capture status is maintained even if a player leaves their position.
– If legion soldiers recapture a stronghold, that stronghold’s capture status is revoked.
– Each captured command stronghold reduces the Central Command Monolith’s barrier output by 25%.
Sang Hyuk pulled up the video with the highest clear rate recorded on PlayerNet.
A participant with a recording-type ability had saved and shared footage of that battle.
The four in the video were top-tier super rookies assembled by major Eastern Channel guilds at the time for a perfect clear attempt.
All four were ranged-type players capable of defending strongholds while striking the center.
The moment the four captured one command stronghold each, the red barrier around the Central Command Monolith vanished.
[Command Stronghold Captured: 4/4]
[Hold Duration: 03:00]
[Central Command Monolith Barrier Disengaged.]
The instant the barrier fell, all four unleashed their attacks on the Central Command Monolith at once.
Boom-crash-crash!
Flames, arrows, and mana bolts rained down relentlessly on the Monolith.
But they couldn’t focus on offense alone.
Crack-crack-crack.
The fallen legion soldiers rose again and surged toward the four strongholds.
The players pushed back the soldiers in waves, seizing brief moments to barrage the center with attacks.
Their strategy was to balance stronghold defense with Monolith assault simultaneously.
But as time wore on, resurrected soldiers kept accumulating.
The windows for attacking the Monolith narrowed steadily.
[Hold Duration: 00:00]
「You have held all four command strongholds for 3 minutes.」
「The Central Command Monolith enters temporary stasis.」
「Basic clear conditions met.」
[Central Command Monolith Durability: 71%]
[Perfect Clear Condition: Unmet]
The video ended there.
Four players specialized in ranged firepower had poured attacks for three full minutes and hadn’t even dented 30% of the Monolith’s durability.
Many teams had challenged it since, but no one had yet managed to drop the durability below 70%.
Four players to hold the strongholds.
And one player to attack the Central Command Monolith alone.
The standard matching size was four, but the required roles demanded five.
That’s why players called this place a battlefield that needed a fifth member.
Along with the message that perfect clearance was essentially impossible.
Sang Hyuk checked the perfect clearance information displayed below the video.
[Current Perfect Clearance Record: None]
[Perfect Clearance Reward: 1 Authority Factor]
[Current Authority Factors Held: 1]
[Authority Factor Candidates Remaining Until Confirmation: 2]
If he obtained this reward, he would have two Authority Factors.
Only one more Authority Factor stood between him and confirmation of the next candidate.
Moreover, only after clearing the fifteenth-floor Cooperative Battlefield would his next solo ascent open.
Sang Hyuk recalled the 71% durability that remained in the Commander’s Stone by the time the video ended.
Any other player would have had no choice but to abandon perfect clearance before that number.
But Annihilation wasn’t an Authority that whittled away durability bit by bit.
The moment it touched the Commander’s Stone, it could erase that entire location outright.
The solution Sang Hyuk had conceived was simple.
Four people each seize one stronghold and dismantle the protective barrier.
The instant they do, Sang Hyuk abandons his own stronghold and rushes toward the center.
Even after he vacates his position, the barrier doesn’t regenerate until the legion soldiers recapture the stronghold.
In that brief window, destroying the Commander’s Stone with Annihilation first is all that matters.
‘We don’t need a fifth team member.’

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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
—————