The Regression of a Challenger-Level Player - Chapter 11

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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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Chapter 11. I’ll Take the Finishing Blow (1)
“I’ll cover the rear, so don’t worry about it—just swing that blade!”
“Understood!”
The swordsman, having received Shin Jae-ha’s order, wielded his blade with vigor.
The eighth room already.
As dungeons grew deeper, their difficulty rose—by rights, a party that had struggled in the fourth room should have collapsed by now.
“The ghouls are rushing forward recklessly. Signs of additional spawns. Stay alert and act accordingly.”
“Mage, concentrate your fire to the right! Supporter, I need a Strength Enhancement Buff!”
“Something big’s coming! Jump simultaneously when I signal!”
Instead, their clearing speed only accelerated.
Like separate instruments that had been playing out of tune, now finding harmony and creating music that was pleasing to the ear.
“Krahaha! It’s great not having to worry about anything!”
“This side’s all clear!”
The creaky members began to synchronize, and synergy started to form.
Of course, everyone was feeling this change, and the cause was obvious.
“Now for the finish!”
A level 6 Warrior.
Shin Jae-ha’s near-perfect directing.
—No, wait…
—The orders are so clean… Is he a pro player?
—The Underground Prison is that easy?
Those watching this scene through Teya’s broadcast couldn’t help but gasp in admiration.
At first, they’d laughed it off as ‘luck’ or ‘he’s seen it somewhere before, so he mimics it well.’
But it stacked up—three times, four times, five times—until there was no choice but to accept it.
—At that level, shouldn’t he be a current coach?
—How is he only level 6?!
—…I’d want career counseling from him.
—Hyung, I think we need to get this embedded in our heads.
That this level 6 taking on the leadership role wasn’t just stubbornness.
And the person who understood Shin Jae-ha’s real skill better than anyone here was none other than.
‘Insane… yeah….’
Teya.
He skimmed the rising chat reactions and felt shock bloom inside.
‘What the hell is this guy really?!’
According to the rumors floating around, he’d received love calls from Eclipse, a KPL Division 1 team, and they were discussing things quite positively.
Because of that, he’d actually met famous players and head coaches working there, exchanged conversations a few times, and even received feedback on his play.
‘But this guy wasn’t like them.’
Of course, they possessed keen insight, but Shin Jae-ha was on a different level entirely.
A sense that seemed to pierce through everything about you. And at the same time, he appeared to be seeing the entire battlefield without missing a single detail.
“Three ghouls preparing an ambush on the left! Intercept them with the Dagger!”
His body moved and acted according to the order.
And then.
Thwack-thwack-thwack!
“Shriek!”
“Ugh!”
“Kehegehek…!”
The best result came every time.
“…….”
He hated to admit it.
Hated it terribly, viscerally.
‘I’m… waiting for his orders.’
Shin Jae-ha was superior to him.
No—perhaps to anyone in the KPL.
***
[Rooms Cleared: 8]
After confirming the number had risen, I let the tension drain from my shoulders.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
I rubbed my slightly sore arms with a small nod.
To be honest, I’m still not entirely satisfied even now.
‘Better than the start, at least.’
Isn’t this at least cooperation now?
Teams aren’t supposed to work like “10+10+10=30”.
‘Even at minimum, it should be 40. Typically, you’re looking at around 60.’
Otherwise, there’s no point in forming a team and fighting together.
But before I took command, this team was operating at 25.
In other words, they were undermining each other — the worst possible state.
‘Easy to mistake. When something feels difficult alone, it seems effortless with others.’
But that’s only because someone who managed 10 solo suddenly hits 25 in a team.
Overall, total power decreases.
That’s why you need a good coach or leader.
Someone standing in the middle, drafting strategy and assigning positions so teammates can actually help each other.
A guidepost the team can trust and follow forward.
Professional teams don’t hire expensive coaches for nothing.
“What’s this, already done?”
The Archer clicked his tongue.
After doing nothing but tank work up front, he’d been thrilled to finally deal damage, practically flying around the field.
Now whenever a Ghoul spawned, he was the first to charge in, sword swinging.
“Thank you for your hard work!”
The Mage laughed brightly.
Her mana seemed to have recovered reasonably well — her complexion had returned, and her hands no longer trembled.
True, she was in the Supporter position and kept having to sprint, sweat beading on her forehead, but it beat the mana depletion state from before.
“Good work.”
The Supporter remained expressionless.
Ever since we’d entered the Underground Prison, she’d worn the same face.
‘Strange. I feel like I’ve seen her face somewhere before…’
A nagging sense of déjà vu lingered, but nothing concrete came to mind, so I let it pass.
“The eighth room already! I can’t believe it!”
“Tell me about it. Since the fifth room, not a scratch on any of us! Ha-ha!”
The two of them chattered away merrily, then suddenly fell silent.
Both pairs of eyes turned toward one person at once.
…….
Teya.
Our former leader had just returned after recovering the Dagger he’d thrown.
“Wow, you’re fast. At this rate, I’m losing face here.”
“Wouldn’t it have been even more shameful if I’d held back deliberately?”
“Ha! That’s true too!”
He smiled faintly.
With half his face hidden, his expression was hard to read.
“Well… I suppose it’s time for the vote now.”
With each of us leading the team through four rooms, the voting was all that remained.
Nothing left to do but cast our ballots.
‘In pure skill, of course I’m ahead.’
But the world doesn’t work that conveniently.
If competent people got promoted and virtuous people got fairly rewarded, there’d be no conflict in the world.
‘No matter how much skill I’ve proven. I’m just a Level 6 Warrior with nothing to my name, while he’s a streamer with credibility and rumors of recruitment offers from Division One teams.’
It’s like asking someone to choose between a hardworking new employee and the boss’s grandson.
I was about to leave the rest to their conscience, steadying my breath, when—
“But… I get a vote too, right?”
Teya suddenly raised his hand.
“I do get voting rights, yes?”
“…Sorry?”
“You said the leader is chosen by team votes. I’m a team member, so I should have voting rights for fairness!”
It was such an unexpected thing to say that I faltered.
True, a candidate does have voting rights.
Though ninety percent of the time they just vote for themselves, which defeats the purpose.
“Then I’ll cast my vote first.”
In a moment when everyone had just been eyeing each other nervously, the first ballot was cast by—
“My vote goes to Shin Jae-ha!”
Him.
And it was for me, not himself.
“Te, Teya?!”
“Honestly, if you pick me here, that’s just lacking conscience, isn’t it? I can at least tell objectively who performed better.”
Teya shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
“I lost, sir.”
A remarkably clean admission.
Before I knew it, a hollow laugh escaped me.
“I also think it would be better for player Shin Jae-ha to take on the leadership role.”
It was the Supporter who spoke next, surprisingly.
She fixed me with a clear, steady gaze.
“I’d like to see more of that skill of yours.”
So she could speak at length when she chose to.
Blinking in genuine wonder, I watched as two more voices came in rapid succession.
“Then… I’ll also…!”
“One vote for the level 6 fellow here.”
That left only me.
“Then I’ll cast my vote for myself.”
Naturally, I voted for myself.
“Unanimous!”
“Ugh— should’ve known better than to promise all the Clear equipment like that….”
The birth of an extraordinary combination: a party with an average level above 20, led by a level 6 player.
“Thank you for your trust, everyone.”
I let out a soft chuckle and slung the club over my shoulder.
“So, as promised. I’ll make sure we Clear this dungeon.”
Just thinking about the rewards waiting at the end of this run had my mouth watering like a waterfall.
***
[Rooms Cleared: 11]
.
.
.
[Rooms Cleared: 15]
.
.
.
[Rooms Cleared: 18]
From the moment I took full command as leader.
We surged forward without a single stumble.
‘The Underground Prison is shunned because its patterns are brutal and traps run rampant.’
But if you’ve mastered nearly everything the dungeon has to offer, like I have now, it becomes easier than other dungeons instead.
It’s like how a five-year-old could solve a difficult exam paper if you just laid the answer sheet in front of them and let them copy.
“This trap requires all team members to move simultaneously. If even one person slips up, monsters will pour in from all sides, so be careful.”
“Don’t touch that Treasure Chest. The moment you open it, the trap activates. Just smash it instead—that’s the Clear condition.”
“This one… just stick close behind me and follow. Step on any other platform and it’s over, so keep your wits sharp.”
Since I had all the answers memorized for every trap pattern that appeared, each one was nothing more than a breather.
And so, pressing forward.
[Rooms Cleared: 20]
We finally Cleared twenty rooms.
[You have reached the deepest layer of the Underground Prison!]
[The next room is a ‘Boss Battle.’]
[Prepare and check your equipment thoroughly.]
“Twenty rooms… this isn’t a dream, is it…?”
“My personal record was only nine…!”
The Archer and Mage bounced on their heels, faces alight with emotion.
Anyone watching would think we’d already Cleared the whole dungeon.
“We haven’t even started the Boss Battle yet. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
Right now, reaching this point is an achievement in itself because the Underground Prison’s strategy guide isn’t widely known.
Later on, once people learn the strategies, most will be able to come this far without much trouble.
‘But the reason the Underground Prison is still called vicious.’
Is because this boss is brutally, viciously difficult.
“A Boss Battle… will we be alright, sir?”
“What are you worried about?”
“Actually, I’ve seen it on a broadcast before. The Underground Prison boss fight. When an American pro team became the first to reach the boss stage there, they streamed it.”
Teya scratched his head as he spoke.
“With our current setup, I don’t think we can break through that ridiculous defense.”
“Oh! I saw that too.”
“I watched it as well. It was all anyone talked about for a while.”
Now that I thought about it carefully, I remembered watching that live broadcast before the regression too.
As a result, I recalled how that video sparked a massive campaign publicizing just how difficult the Underground Prison boss fight truly was.
‘There’s so much to keep track of, and the boss monster’s defense is absolutely insane.’
The known strategy now is to concentrate all damage into one point and somehow force through that defense.
Otherwise, attacks simply won’t land.
“Will we be enough, Jae-ha?”
“No.”
“…What?”
“Of course we’re insufficient. Among our classes, only the Mage can deliver burst damage, but it’s practically impossible due to her mana pool. We can’t break through that defense.”
“Um… uh…”
At my blunt confession, everyone’s eyes trembled as if an earthquake had struck.
“Which is why you all need to execute exactly what I tell you to do.”
Obviously. Crumpling attacks together to forcibly smash through a defense isn’t the orthodox strategy.
“If a shield is thick, you simply remove the shield.”
What I’m about to teach you
is the orthodox strategy for clearing Underground Prison Floor 131.
The method to defeat this dungeon’s boss—
[The Confined One, Minotaur]
is what lies ahead.
Challenger Grade Player’s Regression
Author
: Ki Sa-hon
Publication Date
: August 10, 2026
Publisher
: Acesmedia Co., Ltd.
Editor
: Acesmedia Editorial Team
Address
: 10F Urban Bench Building, 325 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Email
: [email protected]
※ This work is published by Acesmedia Co., Ltd. under contract with the copyright holder.
Without permission from the company and author, the contents may not be used in any form or by any means.
This ebook is protected by copyright law, and unauthorized reproduction or copying may result in legal liability.
UCI
: G720:N+A129-20260730114

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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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