The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 334

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

The Maxed-Out Player’s 100th Return – Episode 334
334. The Seventh Heavenly Demon War
The moment the message vanished, the location shifted.
The vast Grassland I’d seen in Round 1.
A place distinctly different from Round 18, which had Hell as its backdrop.
‘So I’m fighting the final round here?’
As I surveyed my surroundings alone.
Whooooosh—
A colossal gate opened with the sound of a horn, and winged Combat Angels stepped onto the Grassland.
The players were entering.
‘How many are there in total?’
Angels poured endlessly from the gate like a tidal wave.
Each one, bearing solemn expressions and heavy armor, had already filled the surrounding space completely.
Even that vast Grassland seemed cramped.
‘I’d estimate roughly 100,000.’
My estimate was precise.
[In a moment, the war will begin: Celestial Tribe 100,921 members (+1 Player) VS Demon Tribe 283,078 members.]
[The faction whose forces are reduced to 10% or below first will be considered defeated.]
[Then, after a 10-minute waiting period, we shall commence the Seventh Heavenly Demon War.]
100,000 versus 280,000.
Even a kindergartener could predict the victor based on numbers alone, but what mattered wasn’t quantity—it was quality.
With sufficient skill, one could overcome a hundred enemies. That’s how this realm works.
Victory is determined by how many elite soldiers one commands.
‘But objectively speaking, the Celestial Tribe has virtually no chance of winning.’
Now that the Seven Archangels were dead, the Celestial Tribe could only field a few dozen Grade-1 Angels of any real caliber.
‘The other Divine Beings probably don’t know. The rule is that internal affairs aren’t disclosed before war begins.’
Only higher-ranking Divine Beings like Chaos and Artaros, or those directly involved like Nemesis and Moros, would know. The rest remain ignorant.
If word spread that the Archangels were dead, it would cause an uproar.
‘So they’ve hidden the information thoroughly. About me as well.’
There was a high probability they didn’t know I’d defeated Phlunikthos and become the Demon King.
Becoming the Demon King didn’t automatically send notifications to all Divine Beings.
‘Rather, the custom here is for the Demon King himself to contact other Divine Beings to announce his ascension, isn’t it?’
It was easy to understand why such a custom existed.
There was nothing to lose by gaining the favor of Divine Beings.
But I hadn’t bothered informing them.
I didn’t know how to contact them anyway, and there was no point in giving unnecessary information.
‘They probably don’t even realize the Demon King’s position has changed.’
They likely assumed Phlunikthos had simply gone silent.
‘It looks like they’ve all arrived on that side too.’
Countless silhouettes were visible along the distant horizon.
Two hundred eighty thousand Demon Tribe soldiers swarmed like insects, waiting for the war to begin.
‘In comparison, we are….’
Pathetic.
A hundred thousand was a considerable force, but it seemed insufficient against our enemy.
It showed in every face.
Expressions devoid of confidence, shoulders slumped in defeat, eyes gleaming with fear.
Even the Celestial Tribe saw no chance of victory in this battle.
The reason was simple—they had no commander to speak of.
‘Though the Demon Tribe faces the same problem.’
Currently, Sitri was the only commander on the Demon Tribe’s side.
John Delgado had slaughtered all the others to make them his summons.
If the Celestial Tribe knew this fact, they might feel less intimidated, but the truth remained—they had no commander.
-What do we do? Can we win this war?
-We don’t have anyone who could be called a commander, do we?
-All seven of the Archangels are dead….
-This is all because of that damned human bastard.
Looking around, I sensed hostile glances and bitter thoughts directed at me.
The fact that I had killed the Archangels was no secret.
Every angel worth knowing now understood it.
‘I understand. If you had killed my comrades, I would look at you the same way.’
They didn’t refrain from attacking me because I was strong, nor because I was the only mercenary participating in this battlefield.
They simply couldn’t kill me.
They knew I was protected by the party system.
So despite knowing I was their enemy, they suppressed their anger and waited for the war to begin.
It was more advantageous to use the enemy’s strength to lead the war to victory than to waste energy on meaningless emotions.
‘Though their faces hardly radiate confidence in victory.’
The angels, who had been watching the opposing Demon Tribe with worry etched across their features, turned their heads at a sound from behind.
Then they stepped aside with hostile eyes, as if looking upon an enemy.
To let Ryu Min pass through.
Thump— thump—
Ryu Min advanced through the parting sea of Celestial Tribe soldiers, like the Red Sea splitting.
He stopped at the front and swept his gaze across them like a commander surveying his troops.
“All hundred thousand of you here, listen.”
Everyone frowned at Ryu Min’s presumptuous words of command, but only for a moment.
A title that Ryu Min had kept hidden above his head was revealed.
[Title ‘Ruler of Heaven’ has been set to public.]
[Player ‘Black Scythe’ is promoted to Archangel.]
[All Celestial Tribe members recognize the player as an Archangel.]
The moment I revealed this title, which granted status equal to an Archangel, the light in the Celestial Tribe’s eyes transformed.
From resentful gazes to eyes filled with admiration.
Ryu Min noticed the shift and lifted one corner of his mouth into a smirk.
“From now on, I’m your commander.”

* * *
The Hall of Gods, decorated like a VVIP viewing gallery.
Unexpected chaos had descended upon it.
[What’s happening? Where are the Archangels on the Celestial Tribe’s side?]
[Really, they’re not there? I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find them.]
[The Seven Archangels who won during the Fifth Heavenly Demon War are nowhere to be found?]
[No! How is this possible!]
[What happened while we weren’t looking?]
A dozen Divine Beings who had wagered on the Celestial Tribe clutched their heads in despair.
The screens showed reliable Combat Angels, but the Archangels were nowhere to be seen.
Even with divine sight scanning every inch, the result was the same.
It felt like trusting an axe only to have it fall on their own feet.
[Could it be they haven’t deployed yet?]
[From what I can see, the summoning is already complete. Those hundred thousand soldiers are the entire force.]
[And there’s one human mercenary added to the mix.]
[That human mercenary is irrelevant! What matters is that the Archangels, the core of our forces, are missing!]
[They wouldn’t deliberately sit out, so what on earth happened?]
[Could the Archangels have been assassinated beforehand?]
[That’s impossible. How would the Demon Tribe infiltrate the Heavenly Realm?]
[Daphne is right. Isn’t it the rule that neither side interferes before war?]
[Then how could the Demon Tribe possibly kill the Archangels in advance?]
[I have no idea either.]
They had been killed by a human, not the Demon Tribe, but the Divine Beings couldn’t even imagine such a thing.
[Regardless, the situation looks grim. Without the Archangels, there’s no chance of victory.]
[Exactly. We’re already outnumbered, and the enemy has seventy-two Demon Nobility.]
[This war is completely lost. The Celestial Tribe’s defeat is certain.]
[Damn it! Don’t speak such inauspicious words! I’ve wagered all my Terra on this match!]
[Ugh, I didn’t bet just because the odds were high….]
[Sigh….]
Sighs echoed throughout the hall, and the Divine Beings’ expressions darkened rapidly.
Looking at the power disparity, defeat seemed certain to anyone, but they didn’t know.
The Demon Tribe was essentially without their core forces either, and the Celestial Tribe had Black Scythe—a one-man army.
[There’s nothing we can do but hope the Goddess of Victory favors the Celestial Tribe.]
[By the way, if there are no Archangels, who’s commanding?]
[That’s what I’m wondering… huh?]
One Divine Being stared at the screen with wide eyes.
A human was standing before the Archangels, acting as their commander.
[What is that human? Has he lost his mind?]
[Is he really claiming there are no Archangels?]
[How dare a mere Mercenary speak such nonsense!]
I was indignant at the absurd situation, but the truly astounding turn came next.
The Combat Angels cheered at the human’s words and began following him like a commander.
[What, what are they doing?]
[Are they really cheering for a human?]
[Have they all lost their minds together?]
As the war horn sounded and battle commenced, one hundred thousand Combat Angels took flight across the Plain with Ryu Min at their head.
The sight of countless angels flying in perfect formation was truly magnificent.
For the Divine Beings who had witnessed the Heavenly Demon War countless times, it was nothing new.
Yet still, they could only stare in disbelief.
At a single human standing at the vanguard like a commander, his black wings spread wide as he soared forward.

* * *
When I killed the Seven Archangels and obtained the title of Ruler of Heaven, I didn’t know how to use it.
The description said I would become equal to an Archangel, but I had no idea where to apply such power.
‘If Rubahi hadn’t taught me, I might never have known.’
Had I not learned how to apply the title and that I could command through it, the Combat Angels would never have followed me like fledglings.
‘I need to command them and end the Heavenly Demon War as quickly as possible to seize the Wish Stone.’
According to Rubahi, the moment the Demon Tribe’s numbers drop to ten percent or below, the Heavenly Demon War ends and the Wish Stone appears before my eyes.
At that moment, the Wish Stone is briefly exposed, and if another being reaches it first and touches it—
‘The Wish Stone recognizes that being as its target and grants their desire.’
This was the method Michael had planned to use me to become a Divine Being.
To seize the Wish Stone in that brief window and fulfill his own wish.
‘To think he was plotting something so audacious. Well, it’s fortunate you’re dead, Michael.’
Now that Michael, that troublesome obstacle, was gone, I only needed to reduce the Demon Tribe’s numbers to claim the Wish Stone.
Once that happened, I could proceed with the plan I had arranged with Rubahi.
Just then, the Demon Tribe forces approaching from ahead drew their bat wings and entered striking distance.
“Shall I stretch my muscles a bit?”
The demons rushing forward with fierce momentum suddenly halted when they saw me.
[W-wait! Hold on, everyone! Stop!]
[That, that is—?]
[Isn’t that the Demon King?]
The Demon Tribe members who belatedly recognized me froze in mid-air, but regardless, their fate was already sealed.
‘Disappear.’
My scythe took on a colossal form and cleaved through the void.
Hundreds of demons turned to ash and vanished in an instant.
“All of you, accept death quietly.”
Before my words even finished, the Celestial Tribe and Demon Tribe collided in the sky.
[Uwaaaaa!]
[Kill them all!]
Yet the Demon Tribe offered no resistance.
Moments before, the Demon King had issued a command through his authority—they could not resist.
Shlooooorp—
Schlorp—!
One-sided slaughter had begun.
Only the corpses of demons rained down upon the earth.
Ryu Min joined in, swinging his massive scythe to thin their ranks.
Cutting down enemies who could not fight back was remarkably easy.
‘I must hurry and reduce their numbers before Chaos arrives….’
But my hopes proved futile as the sky tore open, and those familiar eyes looked down upon me.
[Pathetic. Did you truly believe you could flee and escape me?]
As expected, Chaos had appeared.

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