A Regressor's Bucket List Chapter 70

[The Holy Relic, 'The Most Sacred Demonic Sword', resonates violently with your mana.] [A portion of the release conditions for the Holy Relic, 'The Most Sacred Demonic Sword', has been satisfied.] [The Trait blossoms.] Along with the message that appeared, a black aura erupted from the Demonic Sword, traveled up my wrist, and coiled around my entire body. Unlike the grand effect, there was no significant change in my appearance. However. …The only difference was a small horn, formed from the aura, now resting in the center of my forehead as if it had always been there. Woooong— The brimming energy filled me with an extraordinary sense of exhilaration. [The Holy Relic, 'The Most Sacred Demon Sword,' is speechless at the unexpected appearance of its true name.] [The Holy Relic, 'The Most Sacred Demon Sword,' does not understand the current situation.] [The Holy Relic, 'The Most Sacred Demon Sword,' asks you for the source of your information.] Having never hidden my name, I didn't know what it felt like to have a carefully concealed name exposed. But judging by the messages, it didn't seem to be a pleasant feeling. The successive messages from the Demonic Sword, 'Chiyou,' went beyond mere questioning incomprehension and were tinged with utter astonishment. It seemed to have anticipated that absorbing that guy Cheong-yi's mana might fulfill the first condition. But its reaction showed it hadn't dreamed that I would know its true name. Well, of course. Not that I had any intention of answering it. "...Well now. How on earth could I have known?" [The Constellation, 'Sword Saint,' lets out a groan at the unexpected power emanating from you.] [The Constellation, 'Sword Saint,' recalls a certain hero who protected Murim in the distant past.] [The Constellation, 'Sword Saint,' is bewildered by the broken link of causality.] The Constellation directing(?) the battle was just as clueless about the situation. As a direct party to and the one responsible for the battlefield, the 'Sword Saint' must have been focusing on the current situation more than anyone, but unless he could enter my mind, even he wouldn't know that I had regressed. He must have found it impossible to comprehend how I could use the power of the 'Heavenly Demon'. The only one who seemed to have a rough idea of the circumstances was that girl Loxy, who was glancing at me with an 'and what is it this time' look while dodging the attacks of the Deep Sea People. ‘…….’ ■ Lesser Heavenly Demon (★★☆☆☆) [The Lesser Heavenly Demon can partially release the latent abilities of the 'Demonic Sword - Chiyou'.] [Heavenly Demon's Body: The Lesser Heavenly Demon can partially learn and use the Heavenly Demon's Divine Art.] [Copper Head, Iron Forehead: The Lesser Heavenly Demon's head is as hard as copper and iron.] [Warning! This Trait is applied temporarily.] For me, this Trait held its own special meaning. If I had enough time, I would have liked the leisure to appreciate this Trait I hadn't seen in a while and indulge in some reminiscence. But that seemed impossible. - Kuaaargh! - ...This way! We have an injured person. The moment I stepped away, the number of Deep Sea People slipping past to the rear was increasing exponentially. ‘…First things first.’ [ is activated.] [Activation of the Mana Circuit is detected.] [Analyzing the Mana Circuit's pattern…….] Immediately activating my Mana Circuit, I lifted my right foot without delay and took a stance. Ssk— I clasped my hands behind my back. I envisioned an image of supreme arrogance, where all of creation lay beneath my feet. Indifferently, endlessly indifferently. “…….” 『Am I doing it right like this?』 『No, that's not it. Narrow your stance and step more lightly.』 『…Like this, then?』 『Not like that! I told you, you don't put your physical weight into it, but you press down firmly with the sole of your foot, giving it weight! Like this, with the feeling of stomping on Mount Tai.』 Step— …With the feeling of stomping on Mount Tai. [ is forcibly implemented.] * * * "...Dammit." Shhk— A curse laden with emotion escaped Namgung Soso's lips as she sliced a Deep Sea creature's torso in half. It wasn't thrown to offend anyone, nor was it a light, habitual curse. It was simply an expression of rage at the reality of being thrown into this ridiculous situation, and at her own powerless self, unable to exert any strength within it. ‘…….’ She cut down the enemy before her, again, and again, and again. Despite that, the Deep Sea People were still pouring out like mad. No, to say 'still' was an understatement; the number of remaining Deep Sea People vastly surpassed the number she had cut down. Objectively speaking, the expression 'it's just the beginning' was more appropriate. ...What was actually running out was her, Namgung Soso's, mana. At first, she had definitely thought it was manageable. U-jin, true to his word to 'just block the ones that slip through,' had blocked the initial assault of the Deep Sea People almost perfectly. All she and the members of the New Demonic Cult had to do was gang up on the one or two that slipped through. Hunting as a group against a single target was what the New Demonic Cult was most confident in, and it was the hunting method they had the most experience with. Because of that, up to that point, she had truly thought, 'We might be able to block them on our own.' If that situation had just continued, it seemed possible to actually fend off the horde of Deep Sea People. The problem started after that. The number of Deep Sea People slipping through one by one began to increase, and the number of New Demonic Cult members assigned to each one began to decrease. Then, from the moment U-jin took the sword from his companion's hand and began preparing something, the numbers swelled to the point where several Deep Sea People were swarming a single New Demonic Cult member. So many Deep Sea People began to push forward that it was hard to use the expression 'slipping through' anymore. Of course, she couldn't blame U-jin for it. In the first place, the fact that just three people had perfectly blocked the initial wave was already nonsensical. It would be as ridiculous as yelling at someone who showed up with an umbrella on a rainy day for not being able to stop the rain. Therefore, Namgung Soso didn't feel any anger toward U-jin. Instead. A somewhat incomprehensible emotion did well up in her chest. ‘…Please.’ What took the place of anger in Namgung Soso's heart was none other than 'expectation'. She was hoping that U-jin, who had stopped fighting, would cause 'something inexplicable' to happen and turn this despair-filled situation around. And that expectation of hers. Jjeojeok— …soon became reality. “……!!!” The one light step U-jin took. With that incredibly light step, the ground cracked, and with a deafening roar, the heavens and earth shook. “This is…….” It wasn't difficult to recognize what it was the moment she saw it. It was clearly the footwork of the Heavenly Demon's Divine Art that she herself had unconsciously activated during her previous duel with U-jin, the 'Heavenly Demon's Reigning Steps'. …However, there was such a stark difference between the one she had used and U-jin's that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were qualitatively 'completely different things'. ‘…….’ The weight of the air changed. This wasn't just a figurative expression meaning a 'change in atmosphere'. A heavy pressure actually pressed down on the heads of the Deep Sea People within a certain radius, forcing their heads to bow low. The effect of the pressure was immediate. “Cult Leader! The Deep Sea People's movement speed is…!” The speed of the Deep Sea People who had been breaking through the triangular formation's encirclement created by U-jin and his party had noticeably slowed. It didn't end there. A second wave, like an aftershock following an earthquake, emanated from U-jin's foot, which was still on the ground. That wave, layered on as if 'stacked', added even more to the already intense pressure weighing down from the air. Of course, this didn't completely block the Deep Sea People's assault. Although the Reigning Steps exerted a crushing force, the Deep Sea People were still moving toward Shandong. But that second effect reduced the movement speed and combat intensity of the tide of Deep Sea People by more than half. That alone was enough to give the members of the New Demonic Cult, who had been breathless, a little room to breathe. - Cult Leader! At this rate, I think we have a chance!!! - Bwaaaaargh!! - Die, you fish bastards!! …Indeed, the combatants themselves were vying to express their confidence. “This is the real…….” Was it because she had now witnessed the true power of the 'Heavenly Demon's Reigning Steps', which she had only glimpsed in the secret manual? A flame resembling hope and passion now flickered in Namgung Soso's eyes as she looked at U-jin. “…If only I could learn that.” She was someone who had keenly felt her own weakness in the current battle. She had given up her title as a 1-star Hero, returned to her hometown, and built her own faction. She thought that with this much, she could control the events happening on the Shandong Peninsula. That even without the support of Constellations and The Order, if she just tried a little, she could do anything. But what was the result? ‘…….’ She was this powerless. Compared to U-jin, who had turned the tide of battle and instilled hope in the New Demonic Cult members that this impossible task might be achievable, she, who had secretly prided herself on being the cult leader and a former 1-star Hero, felt so ashamed she wanted to find a hole to crawl into and hide. That's why she desperately needed that technique. ‘…At least 2-stars (★★☆☆☆).’ Because she was certain. The 'real Heavenly Demon's Reigning Steps' that U-jin had displayed would correspond to at least a 2-star rank or higher in The Order's skill rating system. Her reason for thinking so was simple. “…A Crowd Control Skill.” An area-of-effect skill that induces status ailments on multiple targets, a Crowd Control Skill, exerted such a powerful influence that it could overturn a disadvantageous battle situation like the one just now in an instant. As such, it wasn't a common skill that could be learned just anywhere. Naturally, they were welcomed everywhere. Crucially, all the crowd control skills she had encountered in her numerous Wars against Demons had been rated 2-stars or higher. The effect of the 'Heavenly Demon's Reigning Steps' U-jin had just shown was not at all inferior to those. No, in fact, it had such a wide range and powerful effect that she was certain it was above average among all crowd control skills. ‘…I have to learn it.’ Vowing that she must learn that technique to protect the Shandong Peninsula with her own strength in the future, she revised the perception of U-jin she held in her mind. From 'an extraordinary Hero candidate of unknown identity'. To 'a 2-star Hero hiding his identity (#CouldBe3Star #ProspectiveMaster #OrNot)'.