After Regressing, I Gained the Power of the Demonic Dragon - Chapter 49

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

Episode 49
Immediately after Sang Hyuk emerged from his first Unexplored Battlefield.
A new record appeared at the very top of PlayerNet’s public leaderboard.
「The first complete conquest record of an <Unexplored Battlefield> has been registered.」
[South Korea / Lv.31 / Private]
[First <Unexplored Battlefield> – First Complete Conquest]
[Pioneer Evaluation: Perfect]
[Battlefield Name · Conquest Process · Acquired Rewards: Private]
Not a single detail about what had transpired inside the battlefield was revealed.
Yet the result alone—clearing a battlefield that only one person had ever entered on the very first attempt—was more than enough.
Players who spotted the new record rushed to post their responses.
[South Korea/Lv.31] BoardRefresh: BREAKING NEWS!! Unexplored Battlefield completely conquered! How long was he in there before clearing it already!?
[South Korea/Lv.33] NewbieGuardianCorps: I had a feeling, and sure enough. Every time—gets a Flawless rating right after entering an Unexplored evaluation. Insane ㄷㄷ
[South Korea/Lv.38] BathroomBeforeBossRoom: But everything’s private—the battlefield name, conquest process, rewards, all of it. What exactly did he get in there?
[South Korea/Lv.35] NightYogurtSpringYogurt: First entry with perfect conquest means the rewards aren’t ordinary. My bet’s on a new Power.
[South Korea/Lv.38] BathroomBeforeBossRoom: Where’s the Calculator? Come on, do the math for us.
[South Korea/Lv.30] FoolsCalculator: Beep-boop! I made a pact with myself not to run calculations in front of the Impossible Seat.
[South Korea/Lv.38] BathroomBeforeBossRoom: ㅋㅋㅋ Calculator’s officially given up. I’ve got a feeling he scored a Mythic-grade item??
[South Korea/Lv.33] NewbieGuardianCorps: Whatever it is, the moment he uses it in the next match, all hell breaks loose ㅋㅋ
[South Korea/Lv.47] InfiniteRecordPreservationSociety: We can’t know what he obtained, but… there’s no precedent to compare it to now. Even among the famous Celestial Seats, none of them set a record this fast during their rookie years.
[China/Lv.68] BeijingSwordmaster: There wasn’t. Even the Infinite didn’t climb as rapidly as the Impossible Seat is doing now during his early days.
[South Korea/Lv.38] BathroomBeforeBossRoom: Beijing Swordmaster showed up again ㄷㄷ What brings the Grandmaster of the Celestial Realm to show up without fail on every Impossible Seat post…?
[South Korea/Lv.35] NightYogurtSpringYogurt: At this rate, he appears here more often than on the Chinese boards ㅋㅋ
[China/Lv.68] BeijingSwordmaster: A formidable opponent I might cross blades with someday. There’s no reason not to observe.
[South Korea/Lv.33] NewbieGuardianCorps: The Grandmaster’s acknowledgment ㄷㄷ
The moment Beijing Swordmaster’s reply went up, the thread exploded.
Speculation poured in—everything from acquiring a new Power to obtaining Legendary-tier equipment, growth-type Artifacts, or even tickets to another special battlefield.
But with no information released about the rewards, no theory could be confirmed.
The more closed off the details remained, the more people’s curiosity swelled.
Barely a month ago.
The Impossible Seat had first made his name known by felling the Unbreakable Guardian of the tutorial—a boss no one else could conquer.
Even then, suspicion ran deep: perhaps he’d gotten lucky, or maybe his power only worked inside the tutorial.
But the Impossible Seat did not stop.
In solo climbing, he cleared all thirty floors from the first to the thirtieth with SSS ratings.
In the Iron Rookie League, he won all ten matches and never once missed MVP.
Finally, he entered an Unexplored Battlefield no one had yet opened and achieved a perfect conquest on his very first attempt.
Now people no longer asked whether the Impossible Seat would succeed next time.
Instead, they began to wonder what record he would set instead.
Every time the Impossible Seat’s record was updated, the game boards of each nation erupted, and the name South Korea spread with it.
From a nation once derided as perpetually last place had come the first player ever to completely conquer a battlefield no one had dared enter.
* * *
While PlayerNet churned with talk of the Impossible Seat.
The same record appeared in the operations office of the Korean Player Association’s National Strategy Division.
[South Korea / Lv.31 / Private]
[First <Unexplored Battlefield> – First Complete Conquest]
[Pioneer Evaluation: Perfect]
For a long moment, no one spoke.
“Well… a perfect conquest, no less.”
“He cleared an Unexplored Battlefield on his first entry?”
“The Impossible Seat… truly remarkable.”
“Not so long ago, I never would have dreamed a rookie like this would emerge from South Korea.”
Surprise and joy bloomed across the staff’s faces alike.
Some clenched their fists; others refreshed the record window again and again to verify.
Seo Jin Ho could not tear his gaze from the screen.
Thirty solo climbing runs with SSS ratings.
Ten consecutive victories in the Iron Rookie League.
And now, the conquest of the first Unexplored Battlefield—perfect.
The Impossible Seat had rewritten South Korea’s record once more.
“He really did it.”
A faint smile crossed Seo Jin Ho’s lips.
An alarm sounded repeatedly from one corner of the operations room.
Beep! Beep!
“Director.”
An employee hurried to pull up a new screen.
“Foreign intelligence firms’ activities have surged dramatically since the record was made public.”
The screen displayed contact attempts by overseas information brokers—organized by country—that domestic agencies and companies had reported to the Association.
Personal information of recently registered players.
A roster of domestic customers who had purchased high-grade equipment.
Data on Ilsung’s research personnel and affiliated contractors.
The requested information varied, but the purpose was singular.
To gather clues narrowing down the Impossible Seat’s real-world identity.
Information companies from China and Russia were submitting requests through multiple intermediaries, masking their origins.
Direct contact with domestic guild scouts and informants had been confirmed as well.
“This record—how much has activity increased since its release?”
“Significantly. China and Russia are the most aggressive players.”
“We’ve also filtered candidates mentioned repeatedly throughout the process.”
Another employee pulled up the list of candidates on the screen.
“Kim Sang Hyuk, the youngest of Ilsung, keeps appearing across multiple channels.”
Seo Jin Ho’s gaze fixed on the screen.
[Kim Sang Hyuk]
[Recent Conditional Trait Awakening]
[Ilsung Tower structural analysis and equipment field verification oversight]
[Primary liaison between the Impossible Seat and Ilsung]
“Why Kim Sang Hyuk?”
“His awakening timing aligns with the Impossible Seat’s emergence. Nearly all the materials and strategy records the Impossible Seat brought came to Ilsung’s Research Division through Kim Sang Hyuk.”
An analyst beside him added.
“However, only analysis work has been confirmed from Kim Sang Hyuk. There are no public combat records.”
“What’s the assessment from China and Russia?”
“Recently, inquiries about Ilsung’s contact networks and research personnel have increased rather than questions about Kim Sang Hyuk himself. They appear to view him as a liaison rather than the person in question.”
Seo Jin Ho gazed at Kim Sang Hyuk’s name for a moment, then closed the screen.
The Association itself had failed to uncover the Impossible Seat’s identity.
Candidates multiplied, but no one held decisive evidence.
“Very well. We cannot afford to turn the country upside down claiming we’ll expose the Impossible Seat’s identity.”
The employees looked toward Seo Jin Ho.
“What matters now isn’t finding him first. It’s preventing foreign powers from narrowing down his identity.”
Seo Jin Ho pointed to the screen showing overseas information requests.
“All external requests for domestic players’ personal information must be escalated to headquarters.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Don’t treat them as separate inquiries just because the company names differ. Investigate the possibility that China and Russia are using domestic guilds or informants as fronts.”
“Should we leak false information?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Seo Jin Ho shook his head firmly.
“Ensure no information that could narrow down the Impossible Seat’s identity leaves this office. Focus on blocking foreign powers from learning who he is.”
“Understood.”
“The Impossible Seat will decide for himself who to ally with.”
Seo Jin Ho’s gaze returned to the first complete strategy record.
“We cannot let another nation reach him first and force his hand.”
The employees rose as one and returned to their stations.
Information requests bound for foreign nations were blocked one by one, and restrictions on external sharing of domestic players’ personal data were implemented.
Even the Association had yet to learn the Impossible Seat’s true name.
China and Russia stood in the same position.
Yet the race to find him first had already begun.
* * *
Late at night.
When Sang Hyuk returned to the Ilsung Family Estate, a light still burned in the dining room within.
Kim Do Hyun sat alone at the table, waiting for Sang Hyuk.
A warm bowl of rice and soup sat prepared at the empty place, and Kim Do Hyun’s own meal remained untouched.
“You’re back.”
“Yes.”
Kim Do Hyun examined Sang Hyuk’s face and arms first.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, sir.”
“Then sit. Let’s eat first.”
As Sang Hyuk settled into the seat across from him, Kim Do Hyun turned off the monitor beside the dining table.
On the screen just before it went dark was the record for the first complete conquest of an Unexplored Battlefield.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
The two of them began eating in silence for a moment.
When Sang Hyuk had taken a few spoonfuls of broth, Kim Do Hyun spoke again.
“I won’t ask what you obtained inside.”
Sang Hyuk lifted his head without lowering his spoon.
“But outside the tower, be more careful than before. Those searching for the Impossible Seat’s identity are already expanding their investigation scope following this record.”
Kim Do Hyun briefly explained the inquiries that had come to Ilsung’s partner companies and information firms since the record was made public.
Requests asking whether there had been anyone recently awakened within Ilsung, and when Sang Hyuk entered and left the Research Division, had increased far more than before.
“Your cover as the Impossible Seat’s contact has helped you avoid suspicion until now.”
Kim Do Hyun’s eyes grew darker.
“Now that very position could become grounds for suspicion instead. What are you thinking of doing?”
Sang Hyuk did not answer at once.
Until now, he had been known as the contact linking the Impossible Seat and Ilsung.
If he suddenly disappeared from related work and records, it could instead arouse suspicion that he was hiding something.
“Please don’t erase my access records to the Research Division.”
“Why not?”
“If they’re gone, it’ll look even more suspicious. It’s better to stay as someone analyzing materials and inspecting equipment, just as before.”
Sang Hyuk paused to gather his thoughts, then continued.
“Instead, increase the number of visible contact points and analysts. Make it so I’m not the only one receiving data or moving through the Research Division.”
Kim Do Hyun nodded slowly.
“Anything else?”
“Please also watch over the Research Division where my sister works and the area around my family. They might approach through that angle to learn my identity.”
“Avoiding conspicuous security?”
“Yes. If security personnel suddenly increase, that becomes evidence too.”
Kim Do Hyun picked up the mobile terminal on the dining table and left brief instructions.
“I’ll leave your access records to the Research Division as they are. Since you’re handling material analysis and equipment inspection, there’s no reason to erase them.”
Kim Do Hyun left another instruction on the terminal.
“The original materials you provide will continue to be managed in the chairman’s office, and external contact and analysis work will be divided among multiple people.”
Setting down the terminal, Kim Do Hyun looked at Sang Hyuk.
“The Research Division where Seo Yoon works and the vehicles your family uses will be protected without drawing attention.”
“I’m grateful.”
“Focus on what you need to do in the tower. While you’re away, I’ll protect your family and Ilsung.”
Kim Do Hyun gestured toward the broth cooling in his bowl.
“So finish your meal.”
Sang Hyuk looked at his father for a moment.
Before regression, it was a face he could never see again no matter how much he longed for it.
But this time, he didn’t have to bear everything alone.
While he climbed the tower, his father was here to watch his back.
“Yes.”
Sang Hyuk picked up his spoon again.
As the warm broth went down his throat, the tension that had accumulated since entering the first Unexplored Battlefield finally began to ease.
* * *
After finishing his meal, Sang Hyuk clenched and unclenched his right hand several times.
The tremor in his right arm that had lingered even after destroying the City Predator’s Crystal Core had finally subsided completely.
There was no problem fighting in combat.
When he’d blocked the City Predator’s palm strike, his entire left arm had gone numb and pain had spread to his shoulder.
After destroying the Crystal Core and heart in succession, trembling had remained in his right arm.
The scales and skeleton hadn’t been damaged, but they hadn’t been able to withstand the impact and the recoil of Power itself.
That was more than enough grounds to decide what to reinforce.
“Select the target for use of the Power Enhancement Token.”
‘Scales of Apocalypse.’
[Using Power Enhancement Token.]
[Scales of Apocalypse enhanced to Stage 2.]
[Physical and magical damage reduction for both arms: 50% → 60%]
[Dragon Power output and activation speed increase when using both arms: 50% → 60%]
[Impact and recoil concentrated in one location now disperses across the scales.]
Black light flowed across Sang Hyuk’s both arms.
The scales that had been dormant beneath his skin surfaced briefly, now interlocking more densely than before.
The area of manifestation hadn’t expanded.
Instead, he could now disperse the concentrated force across both arms entirely.
Sang Hyuk withdrew his Power and opened the Channel League participation pass that had been issued that day.
[Held participation passes: 1/1]
[You may participate in the regular Channel League.]
Sang Hyuk opened the regular Channel menu.
[Current Level: Lv.31]
[Initial Tier: Bronze]
[Bronze Placement Rank: TBD]
[Your first match after entering the regular Channel will be a Placement Match.]
[Your initial Bronze ranking is determined by combining your Iron Rookie League final record and Placement Match results.]
[The regular Channel assigns opponents based on tier and recent record.]
[Level differences with your opponent are not adjusted.]
Regardless of what records were set in the Iron Rookie League, the first tier in the regular Channel was always Bronze.
Sang Hyuk was no exception.
That didn’t mean his accumulated achievements vanished entirely.
The better your final record, the higher your starting position within Bronze.
With a strong finish, you could approach the Silver promotion threshold without playing many matches.
Sang Hyuk’s Rookie League final record was 10 wins, 0 losses, with 10 consecutive MVPs.
A good result in the Placement Match would let him significantly shorten his time in Bronze.
To reach Legend and beyond—to the Celestial Seat itself—he had to pass through every stage on his own strength.
If he couldn’t skip stages, then the only option was to climb as fast as possible.
‘Participate.’
「Using Channel League participation pass.」
「Searching for Placement Match opponent in Eastern Bronze Channel.」
After a moment, the matching window stopped.
[South Korea / Lv.31 / Private]
VS
[Thailand / Lv.36 / Monsoon]
[Match Type: 1v1 Annihilation Match]
[Battlefield: <Broken Sky Bridge>]
[Monsoon’s regular Channel personal record]
[18 wins, 7 losses]
[<Broken Sky Bridge> record]
[6 wins, 0 losses]
Monsoon had fought six times on this battlefield and never lost once.
He was an archer who commanded the wind.
He wove wind into his arrows to heighten speed and impact, and he summoned gusts beneath his feet to widen the distance between himself and his opponents.
Even if an arrow was blocked, those caught without withstanding the wind’s shock would be driven backward.
The narrow stone bridge, broken in places, was the ideal battlefield for Monsoon.
All six opponents who faced him were knocked off the bridge without ever reaching him.
The moment the matching information was made public, reactions flooded PlayerNet.
[South Korea/Lv.31] RecordRefresh: Impossible Seat’s first regular match confirmed. Opponent Lv.36 with 6-0 on the Sky Bridge.
[South Korea/Lv.38] BathroomBeforeTheBossRoom: Five-level difference from the start. The regular Channel gives rookies quite a rough welcome.
[China/Lv.68] Beijing Swordmaster: No one’s gotten within 10 meters of Monsoon in six matches. For a swordsman who needs to close distance, this could be tricky.
Wind and longbow, a narrow and broken stone bridge.
It was a battlefield where every advantage lay with Monsoon.
Yet Sang Hyuk entered without hesitation.
Whoosh!
A fierce wind seized the black mask and clothes, dragging them backward.
Beneath Sang Hyuk’s feet lay a stone bridge less than three meters wide.
Below the bridge stretched an endless chasm shrouded in cloud.
Sections of the bridge were broken throughout, leaving gaps where footing had vanished.
Some hundred meters away on the opposite side stood a man holding a long bow.
Blue wind coiled around his bow and arms.
[Thailand / Lv.36 / Monsoon]
Monsoon nocked an arrow to the bowstring.
“I’ve watched all your rookie matches.”
His gaze drifted down to Sang Hyuk’s arms.
“Once you’re caught, it’s over.”
A blue wind wrapped around the arrowhead.
A confident smile played at the corner of Monsoon’s mouth.
“But here, you won’t even get close to me.”
[Time until match start: 00:03]
Sang Hyuk’s eyes swept across the broken bridge and the raging wind in quick assessment.
[00:01]
“The match begins.”
Monsoon’s first arrow left the bowstring.
In the same instant, Sang Hyuk kicked off the stone bridge.

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