The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 277

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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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The Maxed-Out Player’s 100th Return – Episode 277
277. Cooperation
Nemesis, the goddess of retribution, stood with her hands clasped respectfully before her, her head bowed.
The way she nervously gnawed at her lower lip was an expression rarely seen from her in recent times.
[Nemesis.]
[Y-yes, yes!]
At the deep, resonant voice, Nemesis flinched and lifted her head.
[How goes the task I assigned you?]
[W-well, that is… it’s still…]
[You still haven’t brought me Black Scythe?]
[My sincerest apologies. But please, do not worry. Michael has descended, so good news should arrive shortly…]
[I seem to recall hearing similar words before. You said Gabriel and Raphael would handle it and bring good tidings promptly.]
[B-but this time will be different. The first-ranked Archangel has personally taken action…]
[Nemesis.]
The voice carried a weight as profound as the abyss itself.
[Can you guarantee that even Michael will not fall?]
[O-of course. Of course…]
[Can you take responsibility for that?]
[…]
Nemesis fell silent.
To answer that question would require her to accept her own annihilation.
[I knew you couldn’t answer.]
[…]
[It’s clear this will fail as well. Should I send Artaros instead?]
[N-no, there’s no need for that. I will surely bring this to completion on my own…]
[You just keep spouting promises you can’t keep.]
[…]
[You know better than anyone what became of those gods who spoke empty words before me, don’t you, Nemesis?]
[Y-yes. Yes, I do…]
Nemesis trembled with fear.
She had witnessed firsthand what happened to those who defied the God of Destruction’s will.
[If you understand, then spare me meaningless excuses. What matters to me is results alone. Surely you grasp how much energy rides on the outcome of this war?]
[Y-yes, yes.]
[Go and bring me results. The only way to prevent Phlunikthos from entering the war is to hand over Black Scythe.]
[I will bring you good news without fail.]
[This time, I hope it’s more than mere words.]
With those words, the connection severed, and Nemesis exhaled sharply.
Only now could she breathe freely.
[If the Celestial Tribe fails to achieve victory in this seventh Heavenly Demon War, we will lose much.]
Not only would she face the resentment of countless gods who had wagered on the Celestial Tribe’s victory, but her very existence might be annihilated.
After all, it was I who first believed in the potential of the Celestial Tribe and drew in the other gods.
‘Foolish Michael! Why did you go and use the Demon’s Revival Grimoire on your own!’
In truth, it had happened under my own approval, but Nemesis had no room for self-reproach.
If I couldn’t hand over Black Scythe to Phlunikthos immediately, this war would end in total defeat and I would cease to exist.
‘The fate of the gods rests on Michael.’
Nemesis remembered.
Michael’s brilliant performance during the Fifth Celestial Demon War, where he had slaughtered the demons and achieved the only victory.
Hadn’t he even earned the epithet of God of War at that time?
‘But every other war ended in defeat.’
Out of six total wars, the Celestial Tribe had won only once, in the Fifth.
However, because they had achieved victory without human mercenaries, it was a meaningful war that glimpsed at possibility.
‘Though we lost again in the Sixth, this Seventh Celestial Demon War will be different.’
With such hope, I had been making my pitch and drawing in multiple gods to bet on the Celestial Tribe.
Among them, I had even brought the great power known as the God of Destruction to our side in our recent conversation.
That is why everything hinges on this Seventh Celestial Demon War.
‘Surely we won’t fall to Black Scythe again this time?’
We had already lost Gabriel and countless Archangels.
If I lost Michael as well, even if I surrendered Black Scythe, there would be no chance of victory in the coming Seventh Celestial Demon War.
‘How long has it been since Michael descended? Why is there no word? Wait, could it be?’
At the ominous thought that suddenly struck me, Nemesis’s face went pale.
[No, no, this cannot be.]
Hoping the ill premonition would not become reality, I hastily exercised divine authority.
The power to gaze down upon all things.
‘What? What?’
Soon Nemesis was thrown into confusion.
I could not find Michael’s presence in the Other World.
‘No, he’s gone. He’s gone…!’
Had the ill premonition become reality after all?
A signal came to Nemesis, who stood in stunned despair.
And I understood.
That my worry had been unfounded.
[Nemesis. This is Michael. I have brought Black Scythe as you commanded.]
Upon reading that message, Nemesis could not help but snap to attention.
‘Where? Where!’
Hastily tracking Michael’s location, Nemesis’s face brightened.
‘He’s come to the Heavenly Realm! And with Black Scythe!’
To take in that joyous reality with my own eyes, Nemesis tore through space.
Riiiiip—
And with but a single step, I could stand before Michael.
[Oh, Nemesis.]
Beside Michael, who bowed his head, stood Black Scythe—a prisoner bound entirely in chains of light.
[So this is Black Scythe.]
[Yes, it is.]
[Tear him to shreds! How dare he disturb the order of the Heavenly Realm! This worthless vermin!]
How many times had I been consumed with anxiety over this insignificant insect?
Though curses spilled forth in my fury, Black Scythe’s expression remained utterly unmoved.
[If I had my way, I’d cast him into the Insect Prison and leave him to be devoured by the worms for all eternity, but such is not possible.]
Nemesis turned away, as though unable to bear the sight any longer.
[Michael!]
[Yes.]
[Contact Phlunikthos at once. Tell him I’m handing over this creature—more worthless than an insect.]
[I shall carry out your orders immediately.]
Nemesis shot Black Scythe a look that could kill, then tore through space and vanished.

* * *
Clink—clink—
With each step, the chains clinked against one another.
“How much farther must we walk?”
[Stop complaining. Just a bit more.]
“Time is running out.”
[I know, I know.]
Michael, still grumbling, recalled the conversation with Ryu Min from thirty minutes ago.
-I’ll let you live. How about this instead?
-What do you mean?
-You said you were requesting reinforcements. Call the Combat Angels. About seventy-five of them?
-Why would you want me to call my subordinates?
-To kill them all.
-What benefit is there in killing them?
-That’s none of your concern.
-So you’ll spare my life if I sacrifice my subordinates? That’s outrageous.
-Why? Don’t like it? Then die right here.
-Do you take me for a fool? If I was going to die, I’d have done so long ago.
-Before, I didn’t kill you because I needed information. But now it’s different. I’ve extracted everything worth knowing.
-…You’re despicable.
-Better than being called a vermin, at least. So what’ll it be? Die? Or call your subordinates?
-I’d rather die than sacrifice my subordinates. If I can’t bring you to the Heavenly Realm, I’m a dead man anyway.
-Hmm… you won’t cooperate. I need this method to build stacks, but…
-What are you muttering about? Just kill me already.
-What if I told you there’s a way for you to survive? Would you cooperate then?
-The only way for me to survive is to bring you to the Heavenly Realm.
—Take me with you, then.
—What?
—Take me to the Heavenly Realm.
—…Are you serious?
—You said you had to hand me over to that Demon Archduke Phlunikthos. That way you can prevent the war from breaking out early and appease the gods’ wrath, right?
—Uh? Uh, uh….
—Then take me. To the Heavenly Realm. Well, I’m not actually planning to get caught—I’m just going to pretend.
—Pretend?
—Once you subdue Black Scythe and bring me to the Heavenly Realm, your job is essentially done, isn’t it? Right?
—Y, yes, that’s right.
—Then bring me before the god and show me. After that, no matter what I do, the gods won’t be able to hold you responsible anymore.
—Wh, what are you planning to do?
—I’m going to escape. And kill some Combat Angels in the process.
—Escape? How?
—It’s simple. You pretend to take me to Phlunikthos while passing through where the Combat Angels are stationed. Then I’ll break free from the restraints, kill the Combat Angels, and flee to the Other World. As long as I return within an hour, my player status won’t be revoked, right?
—Well, that’s true, but….
—What? Are you worried about being blamed for losing Black Scythe on the way?
—I won’t deny it.
—Still, you’re the only Archangel—surely you can kill me? If you just claim you let your guard down and I slipped away, they won’t say anything more. After all, you’ve already accomplished the order to bring me to the Heavenly Realm.
—….
—This way, I get to kill the Combat Angels as I please, and you get to keep your life. It’s a win-win for both of us, isn’t it?
—It certainly sounds like a plausible strategy. But….
—But?
—What if I break my promise and sell you out to the god instead? What will you do then? No matter how strong you are, you’d be nothing but a newborn pup before a god.
—So you’re saying you’d snitch on me right in front of the god. Well, that’s fine. The moment you betray me, I’ll cut your throat right there. And while I’m at it, I might as well fight the god too.
—Challenge a god…? Are you in your right mind?
—That’s why I’m telling you not to betray me. Unless you want to die.
—….
—Besides, you need to keep me alive until Round 20 so you can achieve your desire to become a god.
—H, how did you…?
—I know everything. So don’t even think about betraying me. From now on, we’re comrades in the same boat.
‘Comrades? Me and that human?’
Michael finished his recollection and glanced sideways at Black Scythe.
Even after facing the god just moments ago, his expression remained composed.
Not a trace of tension in sight.
‘Does he know I won’t betray him?’
I don’t know how he discovered my desire, but he’s certainly a formidable one.
Absolutely not someone to dismiss as merely human.
“When do we arrive at where your subordinates are? We need to return within twenty minutes.”
[Over there. We just need to pass by the Training Grounds.]
Michael decided to trust him.
After all, cooperating with him was the only way to save his life immediately.
[Huh? Michael?]
[It’s Michael!]
[Wait, really? Where? Where?]
At Michael’s appearance, the Combat Angels who had been training reacted with excitement as if they’d spotted a celebrity.
Some stood awkwardly, overwhelmed with awe, while others gazed at him with eyes full of reverence.
Unaware that the idol they’d revered their entire lives had just sold them out to Black Scythe.
[They’re Grade 5 Combat Angels. There should be around 100 of them.]
“Thanks.”
Ryu Min stopped walking and dispelled the chains that had bound his body.
The chains were never Michael’s to begin with—they were chains Ryu Min had created using the runes of the chains themselves.
[So you’re letting me live now, as promised?]
“Of course. Naturally.”
Ryu Min struck Michael’s abdomen before his words had even finished.
Crack—!
Michael flew off somewhere, losing consciousness without even a scream.
“For now, anyway.”
Ryu Min smiled wickedly, his gaze sweeping across the bewildered Combat Angels.
His eyes gleamed like those of a predator eyeing its prey.

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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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