The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 288

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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 288
288. Phlunikthos
Crash—!
Phlunikthos slammed the armrest of his throne with brutal force.
The face that could have been called beautiful twisted into something demonic and grotesque.
[You pathetic insect of a human! How dare you speak to me in such a manner?]
Moments before, while sharing Baal’s vision, Phlunikthos had been forced to witness an infuriating scene.
-Demon Archduke, watch closely. See what happens when someone tries to stab me in the back.
The human called Black Scythe had severed Baal’s head without hesitation.
He had no idea how the human had discovered his betrayal.
He had no idea how the human had learned about sharing vision through subordinates.
None of that mattered to Phlunikthos now.
‘What matters is that this wretched human dared to throw down a gauntlet before me.’
To openly kill his own subordinate while hurling such provocative words.
This was nothing short of a challenge to divinity itself.
‘A creature lower than vermin dares to defy me?’
Even if the Demon King’s authority crumbled to dust, such a thing should never occur.
Of course, Phlunikthos was not the Demon King himself.
He was, in truth, a Demon Archduke who served the Demon King.
But with the Demon King’s throne vacant, he was effectively the Demon King.
He was the true master of the Demon Realm.
Was he not a god within the Demon King’s Castle?
If a human dared to insult such a magnificent being?
‘He must die. I will tear out his throat by the roots, extract his soul, cast it into eternal flames, and make him taste suffering without end.’
With that vow, Phlunikthos immediately shared vision with the battlefield’s commander.
It was Agaros, second in rank.
-I’ve summoned as many as I could… Should I call more?
-No. This is sufficient. Well done.
‘What? What is this fool doing?’
The moment he shared vision, Phlunikthos felt confusion wash over him.
Agaros was conversing with someone.
Who could possibly exist that the second-ranked demon would speak to in such a manner, other than himself?
The confusion lingered, but there was no time to resolve it.
A brilliant flash of light erupted, and nearly two thousand demons vanished without a trace.
After witnessing that impossible sight, Phlunikthos remained speechless for a long moment.
‘My… my precious subordinates…’
Then, through Agaros’s vision, he saw the human grinning wickedly.
It was Black Scythe.
-Now the numbers are about right. How does it feel, Phlunikthos? Experiencing some desperation now that your cherished forces are dead?
At those words, Phlunikthos’s mind snapped into sharp focus.
He had killed two thousand soldiers while expecting me to watch?
The meaning was unmistakable.
A threat.
Black Scythe was threatening me right now.
Showing me exactly what would happen if I dared to touch him.
[This… this… infuriating human wretch I could grind to dust…!]
Though Phlunikthos burned with rage, there was nothing he could do but watch.
The moment I left the Demon King’s Castle, my god-like power would vanish with it.
Even one as mighty as myself could fall to a creature’s attack outside these walls.
‘But I can’t just sit idle. I must kill that bastard immediately!’
I tried to use divine authority to send an urgent message to Agaros, but Black Scythe’s voice reached me first.
-Frustrated that you can’t do anything? Don’t bother struggling. I’ll come to you as you wish. So just sit tight in the Demon King’s Castle and wait.
With those words, my vision spun violently.
Agaros’s head had been severed.
[….]
Like Baal, my connection was cut off, and I must have worn a vacant expression.
Black Scythe’s words were simply too absurd to comprehend.
‘He’s coming here? Telling me to wait?’
The sheer ridiculousness made me laugh despite myself.
Was this mouse really saying it would walk into the tiger’s den of its own accord?
[An ignorant human drunk on empty bravado….]
I didn’t expect Black Scythe to actually come.
The moment he entered the Demon King’s Castle, he would be a rat in a trap.
No one could escape my domain without my permission.
‘He can enter as he pleases, but leaving is another matter. Fool.’
If he truly came on his own, there was no other word for it but idiocy.
So I didn’t believe him.
I thought it was mere bluffing.
Until I saw Black Scythe with my own eyes.
“Did you wait long?”
[….]
I looked down at the tiny human who barely reached my knees with utter bewilderment.
“Your reputation really took a hit after killing two thousand demons, huh? The gatekeepers came at me with everything they had when I arrived. That dog Cerberus too.”
[…So what did you do?]
“What else? Killed them all. You call yourself a god, so you should know, right? You’re supposed to monitor all your subordinates’ movements within the Demon King’s Castle, aren’t you? Or was that a lie? Your expression says it was.”
[…No, I’m simply… astonished. I never thought you’d actually come.]
My bewilderment was so profound that I felt no anger.
[Did you hit your head on the way here? Or were you always this unhinged? How can you be so composed standing before a great being?]
“Your self-esteem really is god-tier. Aren’t you embarrassed praising yourself like that?”
[You are arrogant. And foolish as well. Surely you haven’t forgotten who I am?]
“How could I forget? You bastard who wanted to kill me and use my body as material.”
For a fleeting moment, Phlunikthos’s eyebrows twitched.
In all my existence, I’ve never encountered a human so fearless.
[No need for lengthy words. Let me turn you into material now.]
The moment those words left his lips, the Demon Archduke moved his foot.
Boom—!
Had I been distracted for even an instant, I would have been crushed without question, but I evaded it with ease.
Yet that wasn’t the end, as the Demon Archduke’s other foot swept toward me.
Whoosh—!
Phlunikthos attempted a brutal kick but failed to connect.
[Hmph, you dodge like a fly, don’t you?]
“I’m not leisurely enough to take hits from such sluggish attacks.”
[So you’re getting cocky from playing around a bit? That won’t do.]
The Demon Archduke’s eyes blazed crimson.
In that instant, an invisible force constricted my body.
[It’s telekinesis rooted in divine power. It operates on an entirely different level than the telekinesis common Angels employ.]
“Interesting. The sensation is definitely different.”
As I continued muttering, seemingly unaware of the gravity of my situation, Phlunikthos sighed.
[Tch, you can’t even budge, yet you prattle on endlessly. I’ve grown weary of this amusement.]
Phlunikthos’s colossal hand descended over my head.
[Now turn to pulp.]
Kaboom—!
A deafening impact, as though an explosion had detonated, reverberated through the castle.
It should have been simple.
Reducing an immobilized opponent to a mangled corpse was child’s play.
As straightforward as driving a nail with a hammer.
Yet.
[…!]
Phlunikthos was shocked that even this simple task had failed.
“Divine power or whatever—it’s not that impressive.”
Phlunikthos’s palm pressed against the unfortunate floor.
And there I stood, defiantly perched atop the back of his hand.
[You bastard, when did you move? Did you use teleportation? No, more importantly—how did you break free from my telekinesis?]
“I just applied force and it came undone.”
[Don’t spout nonsense. Divine power cannot be broken by anyone. Not unless they’re a god themselves.]
“Then I suppose I’m a god.”
[Ridiculous!]
“If you don’t believe me, test it again.”
As if he’d already been thinking the same thing, Phlunikthos’s pupils gleamed with intent.
This time, he wouldn’t merely press down with his hand—he would compress me entirely with telekinesis.
Crunch, crunch, crunch—
An invisible force pressed down upon the human’s small frame.
But that was all it could do.
Phlunikthos’s vaunted telekinetic power was being overwhelmed by something far greater.
None other than Ryu Min’s raw strength.
“Is that all you’ve got? That’s it?”
[…How? How are you moving?]
“I told you already. I just put in the effort and it works.”
[Don’t be absurd. No matter how high your stats are, a mere human cannot resist divine power….]
As Ryu Min’s lips curled upward, Phlunikthos flinched.
[You, you’re not saying you’re a god, are you?]
“Did you drink on an empty stomach? What nonsense are you spouting?”
[Then, how could….]
“Want to know?”
Ryu Min sprang upward as he spoke.
“First, take a beating. Then I’ll think about whether to tell you or not.”
The elongated scythe plunged down like lightning.
The scythe aimed at the Demon Archduke’s head was ultimately blocked by an invisible barrier before it could connect.
Along with a tremendous roar.
Boom!
Cracks appeared.
Crackle, crackle, crackle—!
‘The, the barrier shattered in one blow?’
A panicked Phlunikthos shot to his feet.
This was no time to sit idly.
Somehow, his attacks were actually landing on him.
‘How can a mere human…?’
His pride was wounded, but this was no time for vanity.
A second attack was already coming through the gap in the shattered barrier.
Slash—!
[Ugh!]
His shoulder was cut while he was caught off guard.
Crimson blood flowed forth, accompanied by an unfamiliar pain.
The crimson blood was proof that his body had accepted divine power.
‘But why!?’
Normally, a human could not even leave a scratch on him.
Yet this one had torn his skin and made him bleed?
There was only one possibility.
‘He, he’s using the same divine power as me.’
There was no other explanation that made sense.
[You think you can do this to me?!]
“Hah.”
Phlunikthos conjured a whip of fire from the empty air.
It was the weapon [Branch of Incineration]—one he rarely had occasion to draw.
Whoooosh! Crack—! Crack—!
Each time that colossal whip struck the ground, searing flames erupted that could melt flesh itself.
[Come then! Insolent human! I shall incinerate your very soul this day!]
Phlunikthos’s thunderous roar shook the castle walls.

* * *
‘That bastard’s terrified.’
Watching the Demon Archduke brandish his whip in a frenzy, I allowed myself a thin smile.
By stepping back and observing the situation, the truth became evident.
The Demon Archduke was afraid.
‘A barrier that had never been breached before—shattered in a single blow. He has every reason to fear.’
I myself had not believed my attack would penetrate his defenses.
No matter how high my stats climbed, I remained merely a human bound by the System’s chains.
Humans could never defeat gods.
That was what I had believed.
Until I saw the reward.
【Soul Bond Quest】
└Eliminate the Seven Archangels
└Archangels Eliminated (7/7)
└Upon Success ▶ Deification Commencing
[You have completed the Soul Bond Quest.]
[As a reward for completing the Soul Bond Quest, ‘Deification’ shall commence.]
[Analyzing user’s soul….]
[Synchronizing resonance….]
[Converting soul’s essence to divine nature….]
[Progress 5%….]
[Progress 26%….]
[Progress 47%….]
[Progress 68%….]
[Progress 89%….]
[Progress 100%….]
[Deification conversion complete.]
[Divine power now dwells within your soul.]
[You may now stand as an equal to the gods.]
[A new Soul Bond Quest awaits.]

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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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