The Regression of a Challenger-Level Player - Chapter 3

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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 3. It’s All About How You Use It
I examined my Status Window slowly.
▶Name: Shin Jae-ha
▶Level: 5
▶Rank: Under
▶Constitution: Strong Bone (B)
-Receive correction to physical stats.
▶Class: None
▶Position: Supporter
▶Strength: 7
▶Stamina: 6
▶Agility: 5
▶Magic Power: 6
▶Luck: 5
▶Skills Possessed
-Gravity Field (D)
▶Credits on Hand: 3,000
Compared to the moment before regression, it was sparse and meager, utterly underwhelming.
But the fact that my Magic Power stat wasn’t zero made my fists clench with sudden strength.
“Hgh…! Hgh-hgh-hgh!”
A smile kept leaking through my lips despite myself.
I pinched my cheek to check if this was a dream, but instead of waking, my mind only grew clearer.
And yet one question nagged at me.
“Regression? I’ve really gone back to the past?”
There was no ability or item in the Dimension system anywhere that could reverse time.
For such a miracle to be possible, you’d need at least a Dimension Cup Part One grand prize reward before you could even theorize its likelihood.
“Come to think of it, I think I heard something like a voice after I burst that tentacle thing….”
I tried to search my memory as far back as I could, but failed.
In the first place, I’d been in a state where I’d abandoned both consciousness and everything else, thinking I was dying.
‘The only thing that’s crystal clear.’
In that final moment.
I’d become the first-ever Challenger rank across all dimensions.
“After Grand Master, no promotion review or anything else popped up, so I’d half-given up. But to think the condition was actually attacking that tentacle bastard.”
It made sense now why no Challenger had ever emerged until then.
‘So is my regression connected to becoming a Challenger?’
That’s all I can theorize for now.
Since it’s uncharted territory no one’s ever set foot in, it’s not unreasonable for regression to be the reward.
“Well, if I reach Challenger again, I’ll find out.”
Reaching Challenger means you know.
It’s a joke those from before my regression would’ve scoffed at.
But I already have experience reaching Challenger.
“This time around… it’ll be easier.”
My Mana Circuit is still intact.
Of course, that’s still a distant prospect.
[▶Rank: Under]
Right now I’m Under Rank because I haven’t even taken the Placement Match, let alone reached Challenger.
“…Tsk.”
Come to think of it, it’s a relief that Soo-hyuk isn’t here right now.
If an Unranked player said they’d reach Challenger, he’d probably be holding his stomach laughing by now.
Clap!
I slapped my cheeks hard with both hands and faced reality.
Unlike before regression, I’m now just a trainee cast off by the team—a Level 5 player, nothing more.
‘To prepare for the Dimension Cup, I need at least the skills and career to be elected as a Dimension Representative.’
Fortunately, I still have considerable time before the Dimension Cup opens.
Enough time for a mere released trainee to become a Dimension Representative, let alone a national representative.
“So what do I need to do first? Two things?”
One is taking the Placement Match.
“Hmm… I’m still short on level to unlock Ranked Matches.”
Ranked Matches unlock at Level 10.
Unfortunately, I’ll have to postpone the Placement Match for now.
‘And the rest…’
Evolving my Constitution.
Right now, my Constitution is nothing to write home about.
▶Constitution: Strong Bone (B)
-Receives a modifier to physical stats.
Just a Constitution that grants a body slightly more durable and resilient than most.
Looking at this alone, the Warrior position would be fitting, but there’s a reason Sky Epic slotted me as a Supporter.
It’s because of my skill.
[Gravity Field](D)
▶Deploys a field where gravity intensifies centered on the user. (Required Stat: Magic Power 5)
A skill that creates a gravitational zone centered on oneself.
The required stat is Magic Power — the primary stat of Mages and Supporters.
That’s not for nothing that the coach said my Constitution and skill were completely mismatched.
“I thought the same thing at first. That my Constitution and skill pulled in totally different directions.”
Skills don’t come easy.
Because of that, it’s common for the Position to be decided based on the skill you gain at your first awakening.
But in my case, my Constitution and skill pointed in completely different directions, so the team struggled with how to use me.
‘The result of that was the Illegal Mana Circuit Expansion Surgery.’
Thinking about it again, my chest tightens.
Anyway, I found myself at a crossroads.
Whether to follow my Constitution and go Warrior.
Or follow my skill and go Mage or Supporter.
And my choice, then and now.
[Position switched from ‘Supporter’ to ‘Warrior’.]
Warrior.
“Once my Constitution evolves, this skill will pair with it beautifully.”
In fact, what put me on the Grand Master line — the strongest tier in the Dimension — was thanks to that combination of evolved Constitution and skill.
Right now this is only a D-rank skill, but skills evolve according to the user’s capability.
In this life, my Mana Circuit is still intact, so aiming for a level beyond what I had before regression wouldn’t be a bad idea.
“To accept a Constitution Evolution quest, I need at least 10 Stamina and Strength… Might as well do a General Match to level up.”
Channels divide into two main types.
General Matches and Ranked Matches.
A General Match is literally a casual game with nothing on the line, while a Ranked Match is the ‘real game’ where individual Rank is determined.
“Since we’re doing this anyway, might as well farm some varied stats.”
I licked my lips and activated the Channel.
I selected a Solo match.
Just as I was about to begin in earnest, my body hesitated.
“Oh, right.”
I almost started without a weapon.
My current Credit balance is 3,000.
“Tight.”
Credit is currency earned through Channels.
You can buy various items and resources with it, and in a world where players hold sway, it’s worth more than cash or any jewel.
Still, 3,000 isn’t much.
It’s barely enough to scrape together a decent weapon — chump change.
“Well, it’s an Under General Match, so I don’t need anything fancy.”
I rummaged through the shop and spotted something that looked serviceable enough.
[Crude Club](E)
▶A club hastily carved from wood. Its only advantage is that it’s sturdier than one would expect.
In the end, I bought the cheapest club of a decent size.
The moment the purchase went through, a massive club materialized before my eyes.
I grasped it and swung it a few times until I got the hang of it.
“For 300 Credits, really?”
Whoever came up with that pricing is clearly a thief through and through.
Not that there’s much I can do about it.
Being broke is a sin.
[Please set your Sensory Synchronization level.]
The final setting before the game truly begins.
“Sensory Synchronization, huh.”
It’s literally asking how closely the sensations I experience in the Channel after logging in should match those of reality.
Even if the Channel kept you from truly dying, ordinary people in this day and age couldn’t simply fight monsters while getting slashed to pieces all over their bodies.
‘At this point in time, 40% was about average.’
At that level, even if your arm got crushed, pain dropped to the point where you’d just let out a groan.
Even facing a grotesque monster, your body wouldn’t stiffen, and death left no lingering aftereffects.
The downside, though, was that the lower your Sensory Synchronization dropped, the duller your senses became.
“Naturally, I—”
I twisted my mouth upward and dragged the slider all the way to the maximum.
[100%]
[Warning! 100% Sensory Synchronization can trigger severe psychological shock!]
[Warning! 100% Sensory Synchronization may induce trauma or PTSD!]
I shoved the frantically blinking warning windows into the corner.
[Connecting to the Channel.]
[Prepare for the game!]
I officially started my first game.
***
[General Match – Solo]
[Genre: Hunting]
[Map: Goblin Forest]
[Objective: Hunt as many goblins as you can!]
[Time until start: 1 minute]
My vision sparkled, and a sharp sensation pulled at my lower belly.
I lifted my eyelids and the landscape transformed from my living room into a vast field and forest.
‘The Channel connection never got old, no matter how many times I did it.’
Right now, before the game officially began, the surroundings were blocked off by semi-transparent walls.
Pop! Whoosh!
As I glanced around for a moment, other players began materializing within the walled space.
“Whoa!”
“Geez, startled me…!”
Some of them, apparently doing this for the first time, were looking around at everything with wonder.
“Yaaawn.”
…….
There were also people who seemed to be using the General Match as a warm-up before Ranked Matches.
“Hmm?”
Several of them in particular had gear that stood out.
A male swordsman wearing a blade that gleamed with life and shoulder armor that looked at least C-rank.
Beside him stood a female mage decked out entirely in various artifacts.
‘Insane. Between the two of them, they must’ve spent hundreds of millions.’
The fact that people could wear that caliber of equipment in a General Match like this meant one thing.
‘Trainees. And promising ones at that.’
Sure enough, both of their chests bore the team’s logo proudly.
A logo shaped like lightning with massive thunderbird wings wrapping around it.
The mark of the MK Thunders, a mid-tier team in the first division.
“Look at those guys….”
“Whoa, they’re pro team trainees! That gear is insane.”
“I’m a Thunders fan… should I go get their autographs?”
Perhaps they felt the attention.
The shoulders of the two men and one woman lifted slightly.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Coddling them too much isn’t good either.”
Meanwhile, I was also drawing eyes.
“Is that person a beggar or something?”
“They don’t even have a single piece of armor.”
“Is that even a weapon? There was a log that looked exactly like that in the vacant lot in front of my house.”
The louder the murmurs grew, the tighter my jaw clenched.
Why did I have to listen to this?
Even if my appearance was nothing but a hoodie, jeans, and one big wooden club.
‘Hmm.’
Come to think of it, maybe I did deserve it.
“Look at that person… kehehehe!”
“Oh my… hehe!”
The MK Thunders duo took one look at me and burst out laughing.
If this game had been Survival instead of Hunting, I would’ve crushed those bastards first.
“…Phew.”
I steadied myself with a deep breath.
[All players have assembled.]
[Beginning the game!]
A flare burst overhead, and the translucent barrier vanished.
Through the tall grass, I could see the small heads of goblins.
“Let’s go!”
“Aaaaahhh!”
The other players surged forward into the grassy thicket, scattering magic and skills as they went.
Leading the charge were the two from MK Thunders, naturally.
“So it begins.”
I didn’t rush out immediately.
Instead, I let my shoulders drop.
Whooom…!
I focused on the mana writhing within me.
Still just a handful—a meager amount of mana.
‘Others would say you can’t do anything with so little mana.’
But I know better.
I know how to use mana with maximum efficiency.
For nearly my entire life, I’ve only worked with external mana that evaporates in an instant.
Fzzzzzzz!
Operating my own mana—the kind that doesn’t volatilize so easily—was almost trivially simple.
“It’s all about how you use it.”
I sent the mana gathered around my solar plexus flowing down into my lower body.
Knees, calves, ankles, and finally through to the soles of my feet and my toes.
Once I made the mana’s flow fluid,
‘I detonated it.’
As my legs kicked off the ground, they coiled like springs, and I exploded forward at a transcendent speed.
The output was barely believable for a mere 6 points of mana.
“?!”
The Thunders swordsman spun around at the sudden boom, and when he saw me, his eyes went wide as lanterns.
“Pardon me~.”
I tossed out the casual remark
and poured more force into my grip on the club, using speed and raw strength to
Crack!
swing at a goblin’s head.
The creature died without even a sound.
The sensation that traveled through my fingertips was like crushing a walnut shell.
[First Kill!]
[One Shot Kill!]
[You have defeated a monster in a single blow for the first time.]
[Kill Count +1]
[First Kill Bonus Count +1]

1. Shin Jae-ha (2 kills)
2. –
3. –
The system message bloomed across my vision.
Only one name appeared on the ranking.
Grin.
A satisfied smile spread across my lips unbidden.
I turned my gaze to the verdant swarm of dwarfish creatures filling the tall grass.
“Shall we start hunting in earnest?”
I licked my lips and savored the moment.
The Return of a Challenger-Rank Player
Author
: Ki Sa-hon
Date Created
: August 10, 2026
Publisher
: ACES Media Co., Ltd.
Editor
: ACES Media Editorial Team
Address
: 10F Urban Bench Building, 325 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Email
: [email protected]
※ This work is published by ACES Media Co., Ltd. in accordance with a contract with the copyright holder,
and its contents may not be used in any form or by any means without permission from the company and the author.
This e-book is a copyrighted work 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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