After Regressing, I Gained the Power of the Demonic Dragon - Chapter 55

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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 55
Whoosh!
As the light faded, two massive fortresses materialized before them.
Behind Sang Hyuk stood the South Korean fortress with its blue banner, while across the battlefield the Chinese fortress flew its crimson flag.
Between the two fortresses lay three roads.
The Central Road connected the two fortresses in a straight line, while the Upper Road and Lower Road curved around the rocky hills in wide arcs.
From the Central Road, connecting passages branched off to both the Upper Road and the Lower Road.
At the midpoint of each path stood a towering Defensive Tower.
[5v5 National Siege War: Three Roads Fortress]
[Victory Condition]
– Destroy the enemy fortress’s Heart of Fortress first.
[Battlefield Rules]
– The Defensive Tower’s shield deactivates only when allied Siege Troops enter its attack range.
– Destroy a Defensive Tower on one path, and that path’s Castle Gate opens.
[30 seconds until match start]
At Sang Hyuk’s side stood four other South Korean players.
[South Korea / Lv.44 / Cheol Geom]
[South Korea / Lv.41 / Wind Archer]
[South Korea / Lv.42 / Dawn Star]
[South Korea / Lv.43 / Turn Back]
Cheol Geom held a large rectangular shield that covered most of his body.
Gray protective armor bearing a small guild insignia was layered over his chest and shoulders.
It was sample equipment distributed by the guild for field use.
This was Cheol Geom’s first time using it in an actual battle.
Wind Archer gripped a longbow, while Dawn Star held a staff studded with blue gems.
Turn Back carried a short dagger in each hand.
The four exchanged glances, then turned their attention to Sang Hyuk.
[South Korea / Lv.38 / Unrevealed]
Turn Back’s eyes flickered between Sang Hyuk’s black mask and his participant information.
“Wait. Don’t tell me.”
Cheol Geom spoke first.
“Are you Sang Hyuk?”
“That’s right.”
Wind Archer stared at him with widened eyes.
“Wow. I heard you got promoted to Silver tier, but I never thought I’d meet you like this, right away.”
Dawn Star’s expression brightened as well.
“Our team luck today is absolutely on fire.”
Then Turn Back jerked his chin toward the opposite side.
“Unfortunately, our battlefield luck is shot. That’s Huangheyinqu over there.”
Five figures already stood before the Chinese fortress, weapons drawn.
[China / Lv.46 / Ten Thousand Li Wall]
[China / Lv.45 / Behind You]
[China / Lv.44 / Snow Plum Blossom]
[China / Lv.43 / Thousand Li Piercing]
[China / Lv.42 / Single Medicine Cost]
Ten Thousand Li Wall stood in the front row, wielding a round shield and a longsword.
Behind him were ranged Behind You with twin daggers, Snow Plum Blossom with a blue staff, Thousand Li Piercing with a longbow, and Single Medicine Cost with a crimson staff.
They had balanced roles—defense, mobility, control, ranged damage, and support.
Turn Back lowered his voice.
“Those five have run this battlefield thirteen times already. Their record is eleven wins, two losses.”
Huangheyinqu was a fixed team that had been coordinating on this battlefield continuously.
With both strong team composition and practiced synchronization, they were no easy opponent for a random squad.
Sang Hyuk glanced toward Huangheyinqu, then turned to his teammates.
“Has anyone here entered this battlefield before?”
Cheol Geom held up two fingers.
“Twice. Both times with random teams, and both times we lost.”
Turn Back raised his hand, still gripping one dagger.
“Once for me. I was following the enemy’s movements, our routes got tangled, and we just got pushed back.”
Sang Hyuk surveyed each of the three roads in turn.
The most critical point was the center.
The distance between the two fortresses was the shortest, and using the connecting roads allowed quick reinforcement from both the Upper and Lower Roads.
So typically two or three players contested for control of the Central Road first.
Rarely, a team would commit a single player to hold the center.
While that one held off two or three opponents, the remaining four would gain a numerical advantage on both side routes—an unconventional strategy.
The danger came if the enemy massed all five players down the center and pressed forward.
The moment the lone defender fell, the shortest path to the fortress lay open.
Because of this, stationing two or three players at the center had become the standard doctrine.
Cheol Geom looked toward Sang Hyuk.
“How shall we arrange our forces? Should we station three players at the center, by the book?”
Sang Hyuk did not answer immediately.
Huangheyinqu had both solid strength and was accustomed to coordinating across all three routes with practiced rhythm.
If they divided their forces by standard tactics, this randomly assembled team would inevitably find themselves at a disadvantage.
‘Then···.’
If matching them symmetrically was difficult, they should break the mold themselves.
If Sang Hyuk held the center alone, he could send the remaining four—two to the Upper Road and two to the Lower Road.
If Huangheyinqu deployed two or three at the center as usual, their side would have the numerical edge on both flanks.
Even if Huangheyinqu spotted this arrangement and massed all five at the center, it mattered little.
While Sang Hyuk pinned them down there, the Upper and Lower Roads would lie empty.
All he needed to do was hold the line in the center.
He was more than capable of that.
Sang Hyuk spoke.
“I’ll take the center.”
Sang Hyuk pointed toward the Upper Road.
“Cheol Geom and Dawn Star—Upper Road.”
He moved his hand toward the Lower Road.
“Wind Archer and Turn Back—you take the Lower Road.”
Turn Back’s brow furrowed.
“Wait. You’re holding the center alone?”
“That’s right.”
“If you just tie down two or three of them for us, we’ll be fine. We can overwhelm them with numbers on both flanks.”
Turn Back pointed toward Huangheyinqu standing at the end of the Central Road.
“The problem is they’ll catch on to this deployment in seconds. When five of them start pouring toward the center, they’ll arrive far faster than we can reinforce you.”
His voice dropped lower.
“Once the line breaks, the Central Road becomes a highway straight to the fortress.”
Cheol Geom added his concern, expression grave.
“They’re all over level forty. Ten Thousand Li Wall is eight levels higher than you.”
Yet Sang Hyuk’s face remained unchanged.
“If five come, all the better.”
All four blinked simultaneously.
“Pardon?”
“If I pin all of them down in the center, the Upper and Lower Roads stay empty.”
Turn Back’s mouth fell half-open.
“Are you actually planning to go in alone and count on that?”
“Yes.”
Sang Hyuk took a step toward the Central Road.
“Don’t come to the center until I call. Don’t chase anyone who breaks through—push the Siege Troops forward and take out the Defensive Tower.”
For a moment, no one replied.
Turn Back let out a hollow laugh.
“Wow, you’re really going to do this···.”
Dawn Star gripped her staff and made up her mind first.
“I’ll trust you and go. We’re at a disadvantage either way if we fight by the book.”
Cheol Geom let out a low groan.
“Ungh. Even for you, this won’t be easy···.”
He gripped his shield’s handle firmly.
“Understood. Let’s try it. We’ll push the Upper Road as quickly as possible.”
Wind Archer nocked an arrow on his bowstring.
“Then we’d better hurry on the Lower Road too. I’ll guard the Siege Troops.”
Turn Back looked between the three in turn, then exhaled a long sigh.
“You’re all really going to do this.”
He adjusted his grip on both daggers.
“Ah, forget it. Since you said today’s team luck is amazing, let’s trust it all the way through.”
Then he turned to Sang Hyuk with firm resolve.
“But if things get dangerous, you must call us immediately.”
“Got it.”
[5 seconds until match start]
The five players moved toward the entrances of their assigned routes.
[3]
[2]
[1]
「The match begins.」
Whooooom!
The magic circles in front of both fortresses blazed to life simultaneously.
Siege troops in blue and red armor poured forth down three separate paths.
[The first wave of siege troops is advancing.]
Huangheyinqu scattered instantly.
Ten Thousand Li Wall and Snow Plum Blossom headed down the Central Road.
Behind You moved toward the Upper Road, while Thousand Li Piercing and Single Medicine Cost headed for the Lower Road.
As Ten Thousand Li Wall entered the Central Road, he narrowed his eyes at the lone figure of Sang Hyuk approaching him.
“Black Mask. Level thirty-eight.”
Snow Plum Blossom confirmed Sang Hyuk’s participation information as well.
“Impossible Left.”
“But he’s standing alone in the center.”
The two recognized South Korea’s formation at once.
The strategy was to have Sang Hyuk hold the center solo while pushing both flanks with two players each.
The same assessment echoed in the PlayerNet spectator chat.
[South Korea/Lv.36] RulesManDailySpring: Impossible Left is standing alone in the center! This is that superplay strategy where one person blocks two or three enemies, creating 2-on-1 advantages on both sides.
[South Korea/Lv.33] NewbieProtectors: If that one person is Impossible Left, doesn’t it seem worth attempting?
[China/Lv.35] DongpoSixDemons: The counter is simple. All five go center and take him down first, it’s over.
[South Korea/Lv.38] ToiletBeforeBossDoor: Even for Impossible Left, this looks pretty rough. If they’d stationed one more person in the center, it would’ve been much safer.
[South Korea/Lv.52] WujiShadowWatcher: The enemy are all level forty or higher, and Ten Thousand Li Wall is eight levels above him. Did he put too much faith in his own strength after that winning streak?
[South Korea/Lv.48] TodayAlsoUpLimit: He is Impossible Left, but… if all five come at once, will he really be okay?
While opinions flew across PlayerNet, Ten Thousand Li Wall issued a terse command to his teammates on the Upper and Lower Roads.
“Everyone to center.”
Single Medicine Cost’s voice crackled through the team channel.
“We’re abandoning both flanks?”
“Bring him down first. Push through the center—it’s the shortest route—and finish it.”
Behind You pivoted at the Upper Road junction.
“So he thinks he can hold center against all of us alone. He’s seriously underestimating us.”
“Talk later. Regroup.”
Huangheyinqu’s movements shifted in an instant.
The three players from the Upper and Lower Roads sprinted down the path leading to center.
As the feared scenario unfolded before them, the PlayerNet chat erupted again.
[South Korea/Lv.42] SojuWithRiceBowl: Here it comes! All five Huangheyinqu members converging on center!
[South Korea/Lv.36] RulesManDailySpring: Look at that convergence speed. Korea’s team won’t even have time to respond before they’re all grouped up. This is why fixed guilds are terrifying.
[South Korea/Lv.35] NightYangganSpringYanggan: Two in front of Impossible Left, three more coming from the junction. He’s really about to face five-on-one?
[South Korea/Lv.38] ToiletBeforeBossDoor: Once center falls, it’s a straight line to the fortress. There’s no time for reinforcements.
[South Korea/Lv.48] TodayAlsoUpLimit: If Ten Thousand Li Wall pushes while the other four dump firepower, even Impossible Left is in danger.
[South Korea/Lv.33] ImpossibleLeftDevotee: They all conveniently grouped up for him. Saved Impossible Left the trouble of hunting them down.
At that same moment, Wind Archer, heading down the Lower Road, spotted Huangheyinqu’s shift.
“The two coming down the Lower Road are breaking off to center!”
Cheol Geom’s voice came through from the Upper Road.
“The one here has changed direction too. What do we do? Should I come now?”
“No. Don’t come.”
Sang Hyuk’s reply was clipped.
Turn Back cut in desperately.
“Aah, all five are really coming! Is this right? We’re really pushing like this?”
“Yeah. Keep going.”
Silence settled across the team channel.
Then Dawn Star called out with fierce conviction.
“I believe in you! You said it’d be even better if all five came!”
She leveled her staff at the red siege troops.
“Then this is even better! Let’s leave Central to Sang Hyuk and we’ll push both flanks ourselves!”
Cheol Geom let out a low groan.
“Mmm… Even if I head down now, we’ll still fall behind.”
He glanced back at Central one last time, his unease evident.
Then he raised his shield and burst into the Upper Road.
“We’ve come this far—all we can do is trust him. I’ll punch through the Upper first.”
Turn Back still couldn’t tear his eyes from Central.
“Ugh… I prepared myself, but now that they’re all converging on the Center, I’m second-guessing everything.”
Wind Archer nocked an arrow, urging them onward.
“We’ve made the call. Any delay just makes it harder on Sang Hyuk.”
“Fine, I don’t know anymore! Let’s just push the Lower Road!”
Turn Back gripped his twin daggers and charged forward.
“I’ll handle their siege troops!”
Wind Archer released the bowstring.
Twang!
The arrow flew through a red siege trooper’s helmet.
The four of them did not turn toward Central.
Only Dawn Star’s expression showed absolute faith that Sang Hyuk would find a way to pull through.
The other three were resolved to topple the Defensive Towers while he held the line.
Meanwhile, all five members of Huangheyinqu had converged on Central Road.
Ten Thousand Li Wall stood at the front, shield raised.
Behind You circled to Sang Hyuk’s rear, while Snow Plum Blossom and Thousand Li Piercing spread to the flanks.
Single Medicine Cost raised his crimson staff, and strengthening light wrapped around all four of them.
Ten Thousand Li Wall shouted.
“No stalling! We end him now and break through Central!”
With that cry, Ten Thousand Li Wall stamped the ground.
Boom!
Mana concentrated before the shield exploded, sweeping across Central Road.
Sang Hyuk drew power surging from the Heart of the Apocalypse Demon Dragon up through both arms.
Crack-crack-crack!
Black scales rose from his fingertips to his shoulders.
As Sang Hyuk absorbed the shockwave with his left arm, Snow Plum Blossom sent a wave of cold creeping across the ground beneath him.
Sang Hyuk twisted right to dodge the freezing stone, and Thousand Li Piercing fired an arrow at his ribs as if waiting for exactly that moment.
Twang!
Clang!
Sang Hyuk batted the arrow away with his right arm, and Behind You’s twin daggers immediately targeted his neck and flank in perfect unison.
Scrape-clang-clang!
Both blades were stopped by the black scales.
Sang Hyuk spun and swung, but Behind You had already withdrawn.
Ten Thousand Li Wall filled that gap at once.
Boom!
The round shield crashed against Sang Hyuk’s left arm again.
His feet skidded backward across the stone floor.
The five attackers left no opening.
The moment one withdrew, the next moved in, and wherever Sang Hyuk tried to escape, cold or arrows were already waiting.
The spectator chat scrolled rapidly upward.
[China/Lv.35] DongPa_Six_Demons: This is Huangheyinqu. Watch that five-man coordination.
[South Korea/Lv.42] SojuWithRice: Sang Hyuk keeps getting pushed back too? Even just holding on is a superplay at this rate.
[South Korea/Lv.33] NewbieBrigade: Push both sides faster! We need to break at least one tower before Central falls!
Not just the spectators but Ten Thousand Li Wall himself assessed that Sang Hyuk had no room for a counterattack.
He immediately issued new orders to his team.
“Everyone—close the gap.”
Huangheyinqu tightened their encirclement step by step.
As the five-man spacing narrowed, Sang Hyuk’s avenues of escape vanished.
They believed they had completely trapped him.
But to Sang Hyuk, it was as if they had voluntarily gathered in one place.
Sang Hyuk stopped retreating.
His eyes darkened to a deep crimson.
‘Demon Dragon’s Eye.’
All five of them came into view at once.
Ten Thousand Li Wall was already upon him, just out of arm’s reach.
Behind You was circling from the rear, waiting for an opening.
Even Thousand Li Piercing and Single Medicine Cost, standing farthest back, fell within the effective range of the new Black Art Record.
‘They’ve all stepped into the trap.’
Ten Thousand Li Wall surged forward again, shield first.
This time, Sang Hyuk didn’t retreat. Instead, he seized the shield’s edge with his right hand.
Crack!
Ten Thousand Li Wall’s charging body lurched to a halt.
“What?”
Ten Thousand Li Wall had never imagined that Sang Hyuk could simply grab the shield and arrest his momentum.
He gritted his teeth and poured more force into the shield.
But Sang Hyuk’s right arm didn’t budge an inch.
The opponent was eight levels below him.
Yet here he was, catching a shield driven with all his strength in a single hand.
The certainty that had flooded through him moments before—that he was crushing this man—began to crack.
“Do something! Attack!”
The instant Ten Thousand Li Wall cried out in desperation, Sang Hyuk extended his left hand downward.
Thump!
The Heart of the Apocalypse Demon Dragon pulsed with savage force.
A new skill name from the Black Art Record blazed crimson in his mind’s eye.
‘Vein of Corruption.’
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
A crimson aura spread outward from beneath Sang Hyuk’s feet, seeping into the cracks of the broken stone.
The energy rippled instantly in all directions, engulfing the ground beneath Ten Thousand Li Wall, Behind You, and Snow Plum Blossom.
Even Thousand Li Piercing and Single Medicine Cost, standing at the farthest remove, could not escape its reach.
[Vein of Corruption unfolds.]
[Corruption accumulated targets: 5]
Black spots bloomed across the skin and armor of all five members of Huangheyinqu.
For the first time, the seamless coordination that had bound them together moments before began to fracture.

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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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