The Regressor Plays the Game Too Well - Chapter 57

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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 57
Episode 57
The Holy Spear?
I double-checked, wondering if I’d seen it correctly.
Yes.
I’d seen it right.
But why would the Holy Spear be in the Demon Realm…?
The question lingered.
Yet the conclusion was singular.
‘Who cares!’
Right now, only Jin-woo could obtain it!
What good would knowing do me anyway!
There must be some reason for it.
Perhaps the Holy Spear was a fatal weakness to the demons.
Had they somehow brought it here and sealed it away?
That reasoning made a certain kind of sense.
Come to think of it, according to the Pantheon lore, there was a war between the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm thousands of years ago.
It was just lore, so I could have easily overlooked it.
But since items sometimes originated from such settings, I’d memorized it just in case.
‘Thousands of years would certainly be the perfect timeframe for demons to forget.’
Even if demons had long lifespans according to the lore, it was only a few centuries.
By human standards, that would be several ages past.
It made sense that only mid-tier demons guarded the entrance.
Ah, perhaps according to the lore.
These demons might be creatures that fed on the aura emanating from the Holy Spear.
‘That would be plausible.’
So it was a spear of the lightning element then?
Usually, they were based on legends and mythology.
There were too many to even guess.
Even if it was called the Holy Spear, it was ultimately a god’s weapon.
A god of light? A god of thunder?
Too many possibilities to know.
Of course, I’d find out once I obtained it.
Gulp.
My mouth was watering.
But I was somewhat concerned.
‘The difficulty has been this high from the entrance itself.’
More than anything.
What those creatures had been muttering bothered me.
Hadn’t they mentioned something about a master?
It’s always the same—the stronger the enemies outside, the more absurdly powerful the one inside must be.
Predictable.
The problem is that this one is stronger than those.
‘Can I break through it?’
Honestly, I would’ve struggled with those creatures just now without Sylph’s Unbreakable.
And without Asir’s curse, I wouldn’t have been able to break through at all. Can I really handle the next one?
If I die here, my Survival First title up to level 100 disappears.
That would be such a waste.
I wanted to play it safe and wait a day before attempting it.
That way, Sylph’s Unbreakable would be off cooldown.
But the problem is, I can’t do that.
‘The map disappeared.’
The map that guided me through the dungeon had vanished—that was the issue.
Usually, when you leave a place like Lightning Gorge, the effect that revealed the dungeon’s location disappears.
Waiting here has the same problem.
Sometimes, the location markers fade away as time passes.
An hour or two won’t make them vanish, but waiting a full day? That’s another story.
That’s why the usual advice was to enter immediately upon discovery.
They were commonly called Ruins.
Dungeons with just one exceptionally valuable item.
Usually, instead of being swarming with monsters, they’re guarded by a single Guardian.
Or there’s a Protector as the boss.
Given how they’ve sealed off the entrance here like this,
it’s safe to assume this is a Ruin.
‘Since this is where the Holy Spear is sealed, it’s definitely a Ruin.’
So I couldn’t wait more than a day, nor could I leave and come back later.
The only option was to clear it within the limited time I had.
Ruins essentially operate under time constraints.
If I hadn’t known, I would’ve just lost the Holy Spear.
Enter the Hidden Dungeon, survive a day inside, then reach the Boss Room?
Jin-woo shook his head.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t considered it.
But that’s also impossible.
‘Ruins are typically too difficult to survive in by just waiting.’
A Ruin essentially has only one Boss Room.
Which means combat is likely the moment you enter.
Survival by waiting is practically impossible.
Every option was blocked.
I really should have saved Sylph’s Unbreakable.
My judgment call was clearly a mistake.
It stung, but what could I do?
I had to find the best course of action in this situation.
I had to find the best course of action in this situation.
‘The ruins are all notoriously difficult, or so I’ve heard.’
Well, there’s the Unconscious Evasion attached to the Red Hero’s Cloak.
Of course, I’d have to wait for Asir’s Curse cooldown.
I needed to wait for skills that could block attacks as much as possible.
Even for ruins, an hour should be manageable.
Without Asir’s Curse in a situation like this?
That was basically a death sentence.
‘Asir’s Curse is a semi-ultimate skill anyway.’
Verdant’s Unbreakable would do its job perfectly.
Anxious as I was, I had multiple elements and cards in my hand.
I decided to wait for the cooldown before entering.
A wise decision.
And expanding my hand as much as possible was important too.
As I said this, I pulled out a Hero-grade Random Skill Book I’d obtained from defeating the Twin Demons.
I’d only just acquired a skill recently.
And now I was getting another one.
‘My luck is absolutely insane.’
Well, considering my abilities, it was only natural.
Effort and fortune go hand in hand.
But I didn’t have high expectations.
Hadn’t I just obtained a Unique skill not long ago?
Thanks to that, maintaining Berserker had become easier.
To think another skill of that caliber would drop here?
That would be pushing my luck.
Of course,
‘Even if I’m pushing it, I hope something good comes out.’
With that hope, I immediately used the Random Skill Book.
A message window appeared instantly.
[Use Hero Item ‘Random Skill Book’?]
‘Yes.’
Please! Please!
As I thought this,
a message appeared immediately.
Oh! Was it coming?
Was it coming!?
[Congratulations! You have acquired the Hero+ skill ‘Tumult of the Dead’!]
Damn.
Suddenly, what was—
‘This is a necromancer skill.’
I checked my skill window.
Sure enough.
『Clamor of the Dead』
*Grade: Hero+
*Level: 1
→Collect souls when directly defeating monsters.
→Maximum souls collectible per level: ×20
→Summon collected souls to raise undead soldiers.
→MP Cost: 100 per undead soldier summoned
→Cooldown: 1 hour
*Cooldown applies only when undead soldiers are raised
[Currently stored undead—0]
‘Damn.’
A completely useless skill for now.
It might be fun to use later.
But right now it’s worthless.
My excitement deflated.
I guess I got my hopes up for nothing.
Tch.
So Jin-woo sat down in front of the hidden dungeon to rest.
This wasn’t the time to let disappointment get to me.
I needed to focus completely.
Review my cards one more time.
Get myself into peak combat condition.
‘Damn, what a waste.’
Still, the stray thoughts wouldn’t completely disappear.
* * *
Everyone held their breath, eyes fixed on the massive screen displaying Jin-woo’s battle.
User management and everything else was forgotten—all attention locked on his footage.
Even Lee Yeon, watching this scene unfold, had nothing to say.
The monitor room filled only with the sound of nervous swallowing.
When Jin-woo finally pushed past the last curse from Asir—the ten-minute skill seal penalty from the Wrathful Demon Sword—everyone trembled.
A godly move!
And when Jin-woo finally captured the twin lightning demons, the entire development team erupted in thunderous cheers.
“Woooow!”
“Insane! He actually did it!”
“Isn’t that supposed to require a party of five level 120+ demon lords to clear!?”
“He cleared it at level 45 just like that?”
“He’s lost it!”
“Yes, yes! I knew he could do it!”
“We’re basically getting an early preview of Jin-woo’s broadcast!?”
“Wow! Employee benefits!”
Were these people insane?
Lee Yeon shot her employees a cold glare for a moment.
Well, she supposed it was understandable.
Honestly, hadn’t she herself been watching with bated breath?
His skill was genuinely impressive, after all.
He utilized what he had so effectively.
He seemed to know exactly what was needed in each moment, and what wasn’t.
There was a certainty to how he employed his abilities.
It was undeniably impressive.
“Still, I don’t think he’ll succeed this time.”
Moon Sang-chul, standing nearby, carefully opened his mouth.
Until just moments ago, Moon Sang-chul had also been watching with excitement.
But from an objective standpoint, there was no way around it.
Lee Yeon nodded, understanding what Moon Sang-chul meant.
Indeed, that was certainly the case.
“With Jin-woo’s current abilities, it’s impossible. As long as he’s wielding the Demon Sword.”
She could have criticized him for his confidence, given how many times he’d been wrong before.
But this time was different. This time it was real.
There was a system-designed mechanic in place from the start.
It was a mechanic that required at least five or more Demon King-class users to break through.
A formidable guardian.
It possessed an incredibly powerful passive that nullified the Demon Sword’s abilities.
It was the natural predator of Demon King-class users.
Jin-woo was no exception.
After all, Gram’s effects were no joke either.
‘If that suddenly disappeared, he’d be caught off guard.’
More than that.
“Exactly. The Guardian of the Holy Spear isn’t a monster to be hunted.”
“It’s a test.”
It wasn’t just some mob to be beaten down.
Hadn’t Jin-woo been defeating enemies like that all along?
Lee Yeon wasn’t the type to think in the same patterns!
There was a reason for her conviction.
‘Structurally, he can’t clear it right now!’
To bypass the mechanic and clear it, Jin-woo would need to be at least level 70.
And that was being conservative with the estimate.
By the original calculations, Jin-woo should have surpassed level 100 as well.
I thought I could clear it alone.
Well, but given how bizarre the displays have been.
In any case, I must pass the trial of the Guardian—the Demon King’s natural enemy, neither demon nor monster.
Even with the Emerald Indestructibility.
It’s impossible.
Since passing the trial is the gimmick itself, invincibility skills are useless.
“This time it’s really! Absolutely impossible! The Demon King’s natural enemy! The Demon Sword’s natural enemy! How could you defeat the Guardian!”
“Hehehehe, you speak the truth!”
“Ehehehe! Exactly, exactly!”
While Lee Yeon and Moon Sang-chul were laughing heartily.
The Secretary pondered.
‘If it’s the natural enemy of Demon King-class beings, then it’s not necessarily the natural enemy of Jin-woo the player, is it?’
He wielded the Demon Sword, but Jin-woo was a Godslayer after all.
Sure, having the Demon Sword’s power sealed would be a significant blow.
But even so, Jin-woo had many cards in his hand.
Above all, he wasn’t a Demon King to begin with.
Wouldn’t something different happen?
The Secretary thought this way.
But she couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud.
* * *
“Phew, shall I go now?”
I confirmed that Asir’s Curse and Berserker’s cooldowns had reset.
I also checked all the other cooldowns that had come back.
I meticulously verified every single skill.
Preparation so thorough it could be called flawless.
I wondered if I could give any more than my full power right now.
With my mind settled calmly, I placed my hand on the entrance to the hidden dungeon.
And the message appeared.
[Do you wish to enter the Hidden Dungeon ‘Cave of Sealed Holy Spear’?]
*Warning—Recommended level is 120 or higher for a 5-person party.
*Your current level makes clearing this extremely unlikely.
[Will you enter anyway?]
An additional warning message had been added.
Still, I nodded.
“Yes.”
I had already made my resolve.
A First-Clear title without dying up to level 100?
No matter how good it was, it couldn’t compare to the Holy Spear.
Of course, I’d love to obtain both.
The value of the Holy Spear wasn’t so low that I’d abandon introspection without even attempting it once because of the First Title.
Jin-woo steeled himself and gave his answer.
The system confirmed it and transported Jin-woo.
Whoosh.
A sensation like teleportation washed over me, and the place I arrived at was—
Like a temple of magnificent grandeur.
No, it was a temple itself.
Azure lightning prowled from all directions, and the temple’s numerous pillars contained that very lightning.
Likewise, everything around me radiated blue light.
It evoked a sense of majesty and mystery.
Standing amidst it all was a single woman.
Flash!
Her eyes blazed with azure brilliance as she soared through the air.
Anyone could sense that she possessed overwhelming power.
Like a divine messenger herself.
Gulp.
Twin lightning demon?
The aura was incomparable to any mere intermediate-rank demon.
If I even grazed one attack, I’d just die outright, wouldn’t I?
No system message had appeared yet, but I could discern the purpose of this dungeon.
Defeat a monster like that?
Impossible.
She truly looks like a divine messenger—could I even stand against her at my current level?
No, it’s impossible.
I’d need to be at least level 300 to even hold my ground.
What am I even talking about defeating her for?
‘This must be a trial.’
Isn’t that the characteristic of hidden dungeons like this—or rather, ruins?
Sometimes the boss monster simply appears and you fight it.
But often you must clear a trial imposed by the ruin itself to obtain the artifact.
Alright then, bring it on.
Whatever trial awaits, I’ll overcome it!
Jin-woo steeled his resolve.
I was preparing to give my absolute best right at that very moment.
When a message appeared.
Finally, it begins?
That’s what I thought, but it was entirely different.
[You have satisfied the specific conditions.]
[Guardian Ruin acknowledges you.]
What does that mean?
You’re acknowledging me?
Just like that?
What kind of message is this supposed to be?
Even with my eyes wide open, I couldn’t make sense of it.
【I have been waiting for someone like you.】
And then the Guardian approached.
What in the world is happening here?
Is she trying to lower my guard before attacking?
No, the atmosphere didn’t feel like that at all.
What on earth is going on?
The Guardian’s expression was kind and benevolent.
Yet there was something sorrowful about her.
‘Is… is this real?’
While I continued to doubt internally.
The Guardian knelt on one knee before me and bowed her head as she spoke.
【God of War, I beseech you—please allow me to fulfill my purpose here.】
Then she raised both hands.
“Huh? Huh?!”
A spear gleaming with golden and azure light materialized.
It looked as though she were offering it to me.
No—she really was offering it.
What kind of situation is this?
I came prepared for battle, steeling myself for a desperate fight.
What… what is this?
As I stood bewildered, the Guardian Ruin continued.
【Even the departed Radiance would have gladly entrusted this spear to you. Please, accept it without hesitation.】
Moved by the earnestness in her words, I found myself grasping the spear.
Could this be a trap?
That thought vanished completely when I saw the message that followed.
[You have acquired the Legendary Growth Item: Brionac, the Holy Spear of Radiance.】
“What the—?”

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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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