The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 293

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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 293
293. Rune Selection Right
Upon seeing the reward, Ryu Min’s lips curved upward slightly.
‘Exactly what I needed. A rune selection right.’
It was an item that allowed me to choose a rune, but only from ten options.
Since I couldn’t preview the rune information beforehand, most would deliberate carefully. But I had no such need.
Through countless iterations, I already knew which rune was optimal.
‘No point in hesitation. Activate.’
The moment I used the item, the options materialized before me.
[Please select the rune of your choice from the following.]
└ 1. Rune of Persuasion
└ 2. Rune of Absorption
└ 3. Rune of the Black Knight
└ 4. Rune of Light Speed
…
…
└ 10. Rune of Truth
Unlike items, runes had no inherent rank.
Depending on circumstances, some runes proved superior while others fell short.
That’s likely why no official ranking system existed for them.
‘Yet it’s undeniable that certain runes are overwhelmingly superior.’
Take the Rune of Temporal Regression I obtained first—a perfect example.
Where could one find a rune better than that?
If ranked, it would transcend God-tier and reach Eternal-tier status.
‘By that standard, the rune I’m choosing now should be around God-tier.’
Ryu Min selected a rune with a faint smile.
[You have selected option 4: ‘Rune of Light Speed.’]
[The acquired rune automatically inscribes itself upon the player’s body!]
[Rune of Light Speed]
-Effect: Move at light speed for 3 seconds at will. Surrounding objects appear slowed during movement. Possesses a 1-hour cooldown upon use.
‘With this, I might actually stand against Artaros.’
Now that I’d ascended to divinity, I’d confirmed my runes worked even against gods.
Therefore, the Rune of Light Speed would prove invaluable against divine foes.
After all, it granted literal light-speed movement.
‘Though the lengthy cooldown means I’ll need to use it like a finishing move, three seconds of light-speed travel grants an enormous advantage.’
Three seconds seemed brief, but it wasn’t.
At light speed, it represented enough time to circle Earth twenty times over and return.
Naturally, this rune belonged on the essential eighteen-rune list required for maxed-out status.
The Rune of Growth from the max-level achievement reward was equally vital.
[Rune of Growth]
-Effect: Converts experience points gained after defeating enemies into stat points. One stat point accumulates per 100,000 experience points.
Moments ago, Ryu Min received experience points as a clear reward.
In numerical terms, it amounted to 6 million experience points.
However, since I was already at max level and the experience came from a clear reward rather than enemy defeats, I couldn’t convert it into stats.
‘That’s fine. I plan to wipe out all the monsters in Round 19 anyway.’
Round 19 offers abundant opportunities to hunt monsters.
Without the Rune of Growth, it would have been frustratingly wasteful.
‘Others will be thrilled with massive level gains, but I’m satisfied with just obtaining this one rune.’
Naturally, a single rune is far more valuable than the twenty stat points earned from raising ten levels.
Especially since the reward was a rune equivalent to a Godly-grade item—there’s nothing more to say.
‘Now, shall I choose the special reward?’
An immediate-use message appeared.
[You may select one of the following special rewards.]
[Please touch the reward you desire.]
└ 1. Temporary Skill – Evade Pursuit (Limited to Round 19)
└ 2. Infinite Material Pouch
└ 3. Information about Round 19
Based on the temporary skill, one could deduce that the next round involves a pursuit-related mission.
Of course, as Ryu Min who knew all the information, there was no need to speculate.
‘I don’t need Evade Pursuit right now. I can avoid any pursuit simply by transforming my appearance.’
Thus, Ryu Min chose option 2.
Obtaining materials would be more beneficial for him to craft Eternal items faster.
◀ ROUND 18 COMPLETE ▶
[Integrated Zone CA-EA001]
└Survivors: 143
[Your soul will transfer to your original dimension’s body shortly.]
[Round 19 begins at midnight on July 1st, 2023. We shall meet in the next round. Congratulations on your survival.]

* * *
[Huff, huff….]
Phlunikthos’s pupils trembled as he gasped for breath, darting back and forth.
Never in all his existence had he felt such panic.
‘I, a god… fleeing from a mere human….’
Of course, he was only treated as a god within the Demon King’s Castle—outside, he was merely one of the Demon Tribe.
Even his towering form had shrunk to human proportions.
‘My appearance doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’ve abandoned the Demon King’s Castle I’ve guarded for decades. To preserve my life!’
How pathetic—fleeing from a human like this.
Had any other demon witnessed it, they would have wept in despair.
Of course, Black Scythe had already cleared the area around the Demon King’s Castle, so there were no demons left to see.
‘This is humiliating. To be cornered by a mere human like this.’
But there was something even more bewildering than that.
A being who had no need to save him had done so anyway.
[Lord Artaros.]
Standing before Phlunikthos was an Angel in a pitiful, wretched state.
[That appearance… Ah, forgive me. What happened to you? Surely you didn’t suffer at the hands of that creature….]
Phlunikthos trailed off mid-question.
The murky glint in Artaros’s eyes was far from ordinary.
‘That bastard’s always been unpleasant.’
He cursed inwardly, though he could only swallow his words.
Artaros was a god of considerable renown among the divine.
He was spoken of as unmatched in combat, his skill and power beyond question.
Though Phlunikthos was known in the Demon Realm as his equal, that was far from the truth.
‘Compared to Artaros, my strength is but a drop in the ocean.’
That was why Phlunikthos dared not treat him carelessly.
He was merely slightly stronger than Michael, after all.
Had Artaros not just saved him from fumbling against Black Scythe?
Though I know not why.
Then Artaros, who had been silent, slowly opened his mouth.
[A formidable opponent. I intended to kill him, but I could not.]
[Y-you don’t mean to say you actually lost to a human…?]
[Not a human. A god now.]
Phlunikthos was startled by those words.
[W-what are you saying? That a human has been elevated to godhood?]
Artaros’s hazy eyes turned toward Phlunikthos.
As his head nodded up and down, Phlunikthos protested that it was impossible.
[That’s impossible. How could a human ever become a god….]
[And yet you witnessed it yourself?]
[….]
[Only a god could wound us. Yet that bastard tore right through us and backed me into a corner.]
[That, that is….]
Phlunikthos visibly startled.
Artaros had just admitted it himself.
Black Scythe had cornered him.
‘Does that mean that human’s power surpasses Artaros?’
If he was stronger than the one said to have no equal in combat, just how powerful was this human?
Though Phlunikthos was shocked, there was something far more startling to come.
[It seems someone has interfered with the System. Otherwise, something like this couldn’t possibly happen.]
[What? The System?]
The System was something only the specific gods who participated in its development could touch, even among the divine.
Phlunikthos realized the situation had grown far larger than expected, yet he still couldn’t answer his own question.
[Now that I think about it, why did you save me?]
[Are you unhappy that I did?]
[No. I’m truly grateful that you bought me time to escape. I nearly died by that human’s hand. How embarrassing that would have been.]
[He’s not human.]
[Ah, yes, I see. In any case, I’m fortunate not to have died by his hand, but I still don’t understand why you saved me….]
[I didn’t save you because I wanted to. An order came down from above.]
[From above… an order?]
As Artaros nodded, Phlunikthos pressed further.
Whose order had led to his salvation?
Then came an answer he never expected.
[What? That, that person?]
The reason for Phlunikthos’s shock was simple.
The god Artaros had mentioned was an enormous figure.
Not merely a great power, but one of the primordial gods who existed since the beginning.
[That person takes interest in such a trivial game?]
[It may seem like a trivial game to you, but much is at stake for the gods. Watch your words.]
[I, I apologize.]
Phlunikthos, suddenly rebuked, still couldn’t hide his astonishment.
A superior he never thought would know of him had ordered his life be spared….
[That person ordered you to protect someone like me, a mere half-god… I feel honored.]
[There was no order to save you.]
[What?]
[The order was simply to prevent that human called Black Scythe from running rampant any further.]
[Ah….]
Phlunikthos sighed, his expression falling.
[But you failed to carry out the order. Judging by how you’ve returned defeated by Black Scythe….]
[I learned much about him in that battle, so it wasn’t entirely without gain. And while I was pushed back, I didn’t lose.]
[You didn’t kill him, though?]
[Instead, I erased his memories and turned him into an idiot.]
[Ah, so you did fulfill the order? A man without memories wouldn’t dare show his face.]
[I wish that were the case….]
Artaros’s eyes descended like all-seeing eyes, gazing down at Black Scythe.
[Yet there he is, brazenly parading about as if to spite us. It seems his memories remain intact.]
[What? Ah….]
Phlunikthos also used his all-seeing ability to peer down at the Other World.
There, Black Scythe was in the midst of slaughtering his soldiers.
[That, that accursed human bastard daring to strike at my subordinates!]
[Not human. A god.]
Artaros spoke in a grave tone.
[From now on, we must treat and face him as such. You and I.]
[What? Me too?]
Phlunikthos asked back with a bewildered expression.
[Why would I…?]
[There was an order to spare no means or methods in executing the operation. By my judgment, you too must play a role in capturing Black Scythe. So you must aid me.]
[….]
[Should you refuse to help, I may have to report this to him.]
[Ah….]
‘How despicably coercive. That damned bastard.’
Phlunikthos couldn’t bring himself to curse aloud, only furrowing his brow, but his anger quickly dissipated.
Because an intriguing proposal had just left Artaros’s lips.
[Conversely, if you aid me, your merit will be reported to him. I’m sure you understand what that means.]
[Ah, ah…!]
Phlunikthos’s eyes gleamed.
This was an opportunity.
A chance to accumulate true merit and become a proper god—not a half-baked one.
[I understand perfectly. I shall assist with utmost sincerity! Do you have a strategy in mind…?]
[It’s too soon now, but if we prepare by Round 19, that would be ideal. That’s the optimal timing to strike at Black Scythe.]
With those words, Artaros smiled faintly for the first time.

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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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