The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player - Chapter 4

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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 4
4. Round 1 Begins
[Random Rune Fragment]
-Classification: Consumable
-Grade: Unique
-Effect: Acquire a random rune.
-Usage Restriction: Level 1 or below
-Description: An event item created to provide to players. Do not save it for later—use it now, as you cannot use it after leveling up.
[As you can see, the Random Rune Fragment is a one-time item. It can only be used at Level 1, and it’s the only item distributed at the start.]
The people stare at Angel with curious eyes.
Only Ryu Min, a seasoned veteran in every sense, maintains an expressionless face.
‘They still don’t understand what anything is. Not how to use items, not what runes are.’
Runes are consumable items you occasionally obtain whenever you defeat monsters or complete Quests.
‘In game terms, they’re a kind of passive skill.’
When you use a rune, it inscribes itself upon your body and grants you the corresponding ability.
Of course, the more you have, the better.
There’s no limit to how many runes you can acquire.
‘If you can get many, that is.’
The drop rate for runes was on par with Unique items, making them difficult to obtain.
‘The reality is that most people don’t even get 10 across all 20 rounds.’
But that was only for ordinary people.
‘In my final return, I had 30 runes.’
With a job that was the only class of its kind and so many runes besides, I could become overwhelmingly powerful.
Though I was reduced to nothing in front of the boss chamber without ever displaying my full strength.
‘This time must be different. Since this is my final chance, I must grow more overwhelmingly than any previous attempt.’
Not 30 runes, but 50, 100, or more.
I must acquire them madly and become uniquely powerful.
[You can use an item by holding it in your hand and saying ‘use’ in your mind.]
As Angel explains the method, the runes in everyone’s hands disappear one by one.
‘Use.’
Ryu Min uses his as well, and the rune fragment shatters with a faint crackle.
[You have used the Random Rune Fragment.]
[Congratulations! The ‘Rune of Temporal Reversal’ has appeared!]
[The acquired rune automatically inscribes itself upon the player’s body!]
The rune inscribes itself, yet Ryu Min’s face shows not a trace of anticipation.
I already know what message will appear moments from now.
[Remnants of this rune linger within the player’s soul.]
[Inscription has failed due to the rune’s properties.]
Inscription failure.
An expected outcome.
If I could engrave a new rune, I could achieve infinite regression.
‘I knew it wasn’t possible, but I still regret it. Thinking this is truly my final regression….’
When I first regressed and used the rune fragment, I had wondered.
Perhaps I might obtain a different rune.
But that wasn’t the case.
‘I tried using it with time delays, tried using it just before leveling up….’
However I approached it, the result remained identical.
As if predetermined, only the rune of temporal reversal manifested.
‘That’s why the engraving failed repeatedly.’
Unlike others, I was in a situation where engraving was impossible, yet I didn’t consider it a loss.
After all, the experience and knowledge from ninety-nine regressions remained with me intact.
But then something unexpected occurred.
[Through the remnants of the rune engraved upon your soul, it is confirmed that you are the 100th temporal reversal user.]
[You have obtained the title ‘Last Temporal Reversal User’.]
‘What? A title?’
The engraving had failed, yet I obtained a title instead.
Since this was my first experience with such a situation, a brief moment of bewilderment crossed my face.
‘Is this a title granted only on the 100th regression?’
It appeared the system had recognized my final regression through the accumulated rune remnants as described.
A new title was registered in the title slot that had previously displayed ‘None’.
When I lightly touched the title, an information window materialized.
[Title – Last Temporal Reversal User]
-Acquisition Condition: Obtain the rune of temporal reversal for the 100th time.
-Effect: Upon death, you may remain in a spectral state at that location for 1 minute. You can resurrect at your desired timing with all health fully restored. This is a one-time ability; upon resurrection, the title disappears.
‘Resurrection?’
Initially, I didn’t understand the difference between titles and runes.
Both functioned like passive skills after all.
But now I understood.
Titles were a superior concept to runes.
‘Their effects are correspondingly better than runes, and they’re far harder to obtain.’
I had obtained such a title in place of a rune.
It was undoubtedly a gain.
Moreover, unlike runes, titles could be displayed beneath my nickname if I wished.
In other words, I could reveal it before others and flaunt my existence.
‘Though I’d prefer to keep the title “Last Temporal Reversal User” hidden.’
Of course, the ability would still apply even if I didn’t publicize the title, so there was no problem.
‘Resurrection, no less. I’ve obtained something extraordinary.’
Even after a hundred regressions, I had never heard of or seen a title with resurrection ability.
‘The Priest class can use resurrection skills, certainly….’
But I had never encountered it through runes or items.
Moreover, it restores all health, making it a superior ability compared to the standard resurrection skill that only recovers 30% health.
‘Though the title disappears once I resurrect, what does that matter?’
In this dead-end situation where I can no longer regress, resurrection is a blessing in disguise.
[Has everyone inscribed their runes?]
People nodded at Angel’s words.
Some wore delighted expressions, as if they’d obtained favorable runes, while others frowned.
[I see fortune and misfortune are mixed. Whether you received excellent runes or pathetic ones, accept the results. That’s simply your human luck. Kekekeke.]
Her laughter grated on the ears, yet no one dared voice complaints before Angel.
Her first impression had been far too overwhelming.
[Now that rune inscription is complete, shall we begin the real fun?]
As Angel spread her wings in signal, messages materialized simultaneously before everyone’s eyes.
◀ ROUND 1 ▶
【Quest】
└Eliminate 100 goblins per person
[All Regions]
└Participants: 1,801,029,290
└Completers: 0/900,514,645
[ESKS45-5 Region]
└Participants: 10,286
└Completers: 0/5,143
“Eliminate 100 goblins?”
“Those goblins from video games?”
“What does ‘this region’ mean? Are they talking about where we are?”
As people who’d read the quest murmured among themselves, Angel nodded.
[Yes, those goblins you know. ESKS45-5 refers to the group you belong to.]
Angel suddenly wore a meaningful smile.
[Since it’s Round 1, I’ve prepared something easy. You can return to Earth if you simply eliminate just 100 goblins. Quite simple, isn’t it?]
‘Whether it’s easy or not, you only know after experiencing it.’
Yet amusingly, few thought like Ryu Min.
“Aren’t goblins incredibly weak monsters?”
“Right. They appear as common enemies in games.”
“It’s not as bad as I thought?”
“I was worried it’d be insanely difficult.”
Finding it less daunting than their fears, people regained their composure.
‘If they underestimate it like that, they’re in for a rude awakening.’
For Ryu Min, who knew goblin strength firsthand, it was a situation to shake his head at.
[You all seem quite confident? Then shall we skip further explanation and jump straight into action? Kyohohoho!]
Angel fluttered her wings with evident delight.
Whoooosh—
Whoooosh—
Beyond the Grassland, elementary school-sized monsters began to emerge.
They were goblins—the very creatures I had seen in novels and games.
“What are those? Goblins?”
“Haha, it really does feel like we’ve stepped into a game, doesn’t it?”
Despite the monsters’ appearance, the people were not particularly frightened.
They were distant, and more importantly, goblins that reached only to one’s waist seemed as harmless as watching children.
Had their newfound composure emboldened them?
Eventually, someone even began to deny reality itself.
“Could this be a dream? A lucid dream, as they call it?”
“Did virtual reality games from novels already become commercialized? Are we unknowingly kidnapped and being tested?”
“Oh? That actually makes sense?”
As the situation continued to unfold like a game, their grip on reality—and their judgment—grew increasingly muddled.
They even found the composure to question Angel, who had seemed so terrifying before.
“Angel! Won’t you give us weapons or something? They’re carrying weapons.”
[Weapons?]
The goblins visible ahead were all wielding short swords or clubs.
Seeing this, Angel’s expression twisted into a sneer directed at the humans.
[There’s no such thing. Catch them with your bare fists or don’t—figure it out yourselves. Oh, one more thing to add.]
Whoooosh—
Whoosh—
“Huh?”
[The goblins haven’t all been summoned yet.]
Twice as many goblins as before began pouring forth from beyond the Grassland.
To the naked eye, the green creatures now filled their entire field of vision, outnumbering the humans.
[So far, fifty thousand goblins have been summoned.]
“F-fifty thousand?”
[Ten thousand humans versus fifty thousand goblins. Manageable, don’t you think?]
As the overwhelming numbers gathered—more than five times their own—the people finally began to tense.
[So then, humans and goblins? Fight each other to the death.]
Whether the goblins understood Angel’s words or not, they charged forward with a shriek.
“Kyaaaah!”
The people in the front ranks faltered as the horde of goblins rushed toward them recklessly.
Seeing armed monsters actually charging at them, fear was inevitable.
‘Even a dog charging at you is frightening enough, so a monster wielding a blade….’
Ryu Min, understanding the people’s sentiment, nodded and stepped forward.
At this sudden action, all eyes turned toward Ryu Min.
“Look at that person.”
“Walking forward alone?”
Ryu Min paid no mind to the murmurs behind him and waited for the goblins to draw near.
This was not simply a desire for attention.
‘I need to demonstrate my presence clearly before these people.’
First impressions matter.
To keep troublesome nuisances from swarming around me, I need to show my strength here.
‘Especially catching Angel’s attention is crucial.’
For that, a bit of performance is necessary.
“Hey, look out!”
“Over there! If you get too close, it’s dan….”
The people who were about to shout a warning fell silent.
Thwack!
A clean back kick struck the charging goblin’s face with perfect precision.
“Kiiieee….”
The hook-nosed goblin grimaced only briefly at its broken nose.
Crack—
Ryu Min seized its head with both hands and wrenched it around.
Crunch—
Leaving behind the dying goblin with its tongue lolling out and that sickening sound, I rose to my feet.
The short blade it had been holding now in my grip.
Thunk—thunk!
The dagger plunged into and withdrew from the neck and back of a nearby goblin.
Before that goblin even collapsed, my body moved like lightning toward the next target.
Thunk—thwack!
The sound of air escaping from the chests of two goblins.
In mere moments, four goblins lay dead.
The fluid, economical movements evoked a seasoned killer.
“Kiiieeeek!”
Another goblin charged in fury, but my dagger was faster.
Thunk-thunk! Thunk-thunk!
Green blood sprayed in all directions, yet I continued wielding the blade without hesitation.
A massacre, pure and simple.
The overwhelming display left the onlookers gaping in stunned silence.

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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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