The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 147

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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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Episode 147
147
Ether had touched upon many aspects of the trial.
First and foremost, measuring Jin-woo’s control was the priority.
But there was one problem here.
Jin-woo’s control ability continued to grow.
Moreover, that growth was far from insignificant.
Growth that defied any predictable range.
In such cases, the issue became that the trial no longer matched his capabilities.
Therefore, Ether began to think.
What if I elevated his control to a level that couldn’t be predicted immediately?
Wouldn’t the problem solve itself?
So to make the trial more difficult, Ether set his control at a higher level.
Naturally, this trial wasn’t something that could be cleared simply by having superior control.
Various mechanisms were hidden within it, and the priority was to weaken Shadow by discovering and solving those mechanisms.
True to a trial of the God of War, one had to fight while considering multiple approaches.
But Jin-woo was overwhelmingly clearing the trial with control alone.
In other words, to match the creator’s intent here, even Jin-woo had to find it difficult.
That’s why I changed it to a level requiring even higher control.
So that he could clear it by finding the mechanisms and weakening Shadow.
But what if he clears it with control anyway?
Ether began to think that she would have to give rewards beyond imagination.
* * *
Jin-woo saw the message stating that he had fully grasped his control.
And upon seeing the message that the trial was beginning, he smiled.
Of course, the message didn’t end there.
[Player ‘Jin-woo’s control has been determined to be gradually growing.]
[Accordingly, Shadow’s control has been set to a level higher than Player ‘Jin-woo’s current level.]
[Additional compensation due to risk has been set very high.]
[Even if you fail in the second trial, the original trial’s rewards will be given as is.]
It was quite generous terms.
After all, it was absurd to suddenly intervene during gameplay and raise the difficulty.
Could I obtain rewards similar to when I obtained an Irregular?
Jin-woo waited for the second trial with such anticipation.
What kind of test would it be this time?
Shadow appearing was naturally a given.
Wouldn’t a new trial be added here?
While Jin-woo was thinking such thoughts.
Sure enough.
[The second trial is to select one of your existing skills and fight.]
[You do not automatically possess the skill you select for your Shadow.]
[The Shadow is generated immediately after you select the skill, so please be careful.]
This is quite the dilemma, actually.
There are plenty of powerful offensive skills to choose from.
But I can’t just pick any of those.
Jin-woo thought this through and let out a soft chuckle.
Truth be told, I already had a skill in mind.
Jin-woo selected it.
Well, I’m not sure what skill the Shadow will actually use.
But I figured this would be more than enough.
There are simply too many excellent skills available.
‘The fact that I can even choose skills attached to items is giving me chills.’
The range does expand further here.
But it’s already decided anyway.
Since these are my own skills, I know them better than anyone.
The moment Jin-woo selected the skill, the opposing Shadow appeared.
A Shadow with a grim visage.
What kind of personality would it have this time?
I was looking forward to finding out.
The Shadow spoke first.
[I will have my revenge from before.]
“Interesting.”
It seems the consciousness of the Shadow that died earlier was imprinted intact.
It learns just like I do?
This is quite entertaining in its own way.
Jin-woo gazed at the Shadow with that thought.
Then I could see an ominous aura beginning to manifest.
A sword-purple aura.
Watching it rise from its entire body, Jin-woo let out a soft laugh.
A skill impossible not to recognize.
‘Asir’s Curse.’
Choosing that skill was indeed the right call.
The MP consumption is steep, though.
But the utility more than justifies it.
While that skill is active, I take all the damage instead.
At minimum, one hundred seconds.
Possibly even longer.
Given my recovery rate.
Above all, my MP recovery speed is beyond imagination.
That creature should be able to endure that much.
Most importantly.
If his control had improved, his attacks would be considerably more vicious.
Jin-woo considered all these factors before watching him charge forward.
Then, smirking as if to provoke him, Jin-woo spoke.
“So, let’s see what kind of pathetic show you can put on.”
At Jin-woo’s provocation, he rushed forward with astonishing speed.
Watching this, Jin-woo could sense it.
‘He’s not just using his muscles—he’s leveraging the very strength of his bones?’
I hadn’t realized that.
It felt less like movement powered by muscle alone and more like his entire body working in concert.
Most impressively, the way he utilized MP was truly striking.
Now that I think about it, this place isn’t outside the game, is it?
There’s more than just muscle here, yet I’d been limiting myself to that alone.
Jin-woo reflected that he’d learned something valuable as Shadow appeared before him, dual blades raised to strike.
“Come again.”
What was that supposed to mean?
Shadow paid it no mind and swung his blades, but they cut through empty air.
Considering Shadow’s speed and reaction time, it should have been extremely difficult for Jin-woo to evade.
Even if he managed to dodge, he would inevitably have to accept the follow-up strike—a perfect, flawless blow.
Yet Shadow’s strike found only empty air.
Why?
Simple.
The skill Jin-woo had chosen was none other than Teleport.
Seeing Jin-woo vanish to a considerable distance, Shadow felt his mind reel for a moment.
Everything had changed overwhelmingly.
He’d chosen Asir’s Curse as his skill to prevent any counterattack, and his control had improved dramatically.
Yet Shadow had anticipated all of this and was laughing at him.
[Ah, aah.]
At this rate, his MP would be depleted first.
He had to close the distance somehow.
No matter how exceptional his MP recovery was, he couldn’t use Asir’s Curse indefinitely.
Eventually, there would be limits.
He needed to settle this quickly.
He had to find a way to prevent Teleport from being used.
But how?
Shadow was at a loss, but he couldn’t remain idle, so he charged toward Jin-woo with speed.
He closed the distance almost as if flying.
Yet at this display, Jin-woo merely smiled.
“Interesting.”
His eyes analyzed thoroughly, as if discovering yet another possibility.
Shadow felt fear.
Because Jin-woo, absorbing everything within his grasp, appeared like a monster itself.
Clearly, the monster was me.
But why?
Why did Jin-woo seem like the apex predator among all monsters?
Shadow began to succumb to terror.
[Ahhh! Aaaahhhhh!]
Shrieking, I lunged at Jin-woo with everything I had, desperate to kill him.
But there was no way I could catch up to his Blink.
And so I sank deeper into the swamp Jin-woo had created.
* * *
How much time had passed?
Jin-woo clicked his tongue and shook his head, looking at Shadow with obvious disdain.
He hadn’t bothered to keep track of time, but one thing was certain.
This had become far too tedious.
The moment he realized there was nothing left to learn.
Asir’s curse ended.
Now Shadow’s expression became one on the verge of tears.
Had it finally dawned on him that there was no way to win?
Using Blink, Jin-woo moved behind the now-boring Shadow and swung his blade without hesitation.
Shadow made no attempt to defend or evade.
With all will to fight extinguished, Shadow’s head was cleanly severed and rolled across the ground.
The same result as the first trial.
Jin-woo nodded at Shadow with gratitude.
“Still, I learned a great deal because of you.”
Jin-woo smiled faintly as he spoke.
Had there not been an extraordinary growth in control?
He had grown so tremendously that it seemed impossible to improve further at this very moment.
And as if to confirm that thought.
A message appeared.
[You have achieved victory against Shadow, who possesses control at the limit.]
[Your dominance is overwhelming.]
[Rewards cannot be calculated in a short timeframe.]
[Rewards will be determined after all trials are complete.]
[The final trial shall now commence.]
At Ether’s words, Jin-woo let out a dry chuckle.
The fact that Ether was immediately announcing the final trial meant even he believed there was nothing more to add.
Even Ether himself.
Sure enough, the final trial proved to be utterly uninspiring.
To be honest, the second trial had been more engaging than this.
The trial had ended so anticlimactically that Jin-woo finally understood the truth.
This wasn’t a trial meant to be cleared through control alone.
At the end, three Shadows had appeared and fought me, yet I achieved an overwhelming victory.
For some reason, all the Shadows seemed unaware of my existence.
The Shadow I’d encountered first never appeared again.
Well, that made sense.
In any case, what I realized from that tedious trial was this:
‘I need to use those torches?’
There were multiple mechanics at play.
Once I extinguished the torches that fueled the Shadows, I could see them grow fainter.
Their strength and stats visibly diminished.
I’d overlooked the mechanics because I thought of them as my own clones.
Normally, trials like this are meant to be won through straightforward one-on-one combat.
So everyone else must have struggled desperately to win, unable to clear it.
Barmondo probably faced the same situation.
But if one’s physical abilities were exceptional enough, there was no need to think strategically.
Look at me.
Clearing it through pure control, whether the mechanics existed or not.
‘Well, this is a bit embarrassing.’
Still, a reward was a reward.
As I pondered what kind of reward would be given, I wondered if something truly worthwhile awaited.
It was then that a message appeared.
A message materialized before me.
I hoped for something as good as an Irregular title.
Anticipating such rewards, I checked the message.
What I saw exceeded my expectations.
[All reward calculations have been completed.]
[Due to your Remarkable Achievement, all rewards have been raised to the current maximum threshold.]
[You have accomplished an Impossible Achievement.]
[The artificial intelligence, Ether, acknowledges you.]
[You have acquired the Irregular Title: ‘Ancient Emperor’.]
[You have acquired the Mythic Item: ‘Random Skill Book’.]
[You may select and acquire 3 skills from the God of War.]
[Your Combat Power increases by 100.]
[Your Magic Power increases by 200.]
[You have acquired the Mythic Item: ‘Pet Growth Elixir’.]
[You have acquired the Ancient Relic: ‘Ancient Emperor’s Token’.]
[From now on, you may acquire Quests related to Ancient Relics and the Ancient Emperor.]
[For your Magnificent Achievement, the artificial intelligence, Ether, sends you her praise.]
There were so many rewards, and every single one of them left my jaw hanging open.
Each and every one of these rewards was too significant to overlook.
Two Mythic items and three skill options related to the God of War?
My combat power increased by 100, and my mana surged by a staggering 200.
And on top of that.
‘What in the world is the Ancient Emperor?’
Even to Jin-woo, a regressor, it was unfamiliar.
But I had heard of ancient relics before.
All of them were items that transcended Legendary grade.
Before my regression, no Mythic items had ever appeared.
What existed instead were these ancient relics.
The problem was that I didn’t know how to obtain them.
So few possessed them that there was no information available.
But it appears here?
And things related to the Ancient Emperor at that.
I didn’t know what it was.
But one thing was certain.
‘This is jackpot.’

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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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