A Regressor's Bucket List Chapter 71

[The Holy Relic, ‘The Most Sacred Demonic Sword’ lets out a groan at the unbelievable situation.] [The Holy Relic, ‘The Most Sacred Demonic Sword’ stares at you bizarrely, stating this is a first in its life(?).] “…This is the real deal.” Using the Heavenly Demon's Reigning Step after so long, a smile unknowingly formed on my lips. Everything I had seen before was a fake Heavenly Demon's Reigning Step, a mere imitation without the Heavenly Demon's mana. This, a 'crowd-control skill' that directly exerted its power over a wide area, was the 'genuine article' I had learned and seen from that Cheong-yi kid. As was evident from the creator's reaction, it wasn't something just anyone could use. …I can’t say this anywhere, but thinking back on the days I struggled to learn this, it was so tough that I still tear up. Of course, for all that hardship, the effect was undeniable. With the activation of the Heavenly Demon's Reigning Step, the speed of the rapidly charging Deep Sea People decreased significantly. And when I added a stacking property through , the tide of battle, which had been drastically tipping towards the Deep Sea People, regained its balance. The Deep Sea People who had been madly pouring through the gaps were once again being dealt with to some extent. Of course, considering 'sustainability', it wasn't yet a situation I could call 'good', but it was definitely an improvement considering we had been on the verge of being swept away. …Besides, while this 'Little Heavenly Demon' trait was active, I could fight much more comfortably. Slice- As I cut down two Deep Sea People rushing at me with a single strike, Loxy's question flew at me as if she had been waiting. “…Is it over?” The object of her question wasn't clear, so I turned my head toward the sound and asked back. “Is what over?” As if fascinated by the horn on its forehead, a symbol of the 'Copper Head and Iron Brow', she was dodging an attack from a Deep Sea Person while keeping her eyes fixed on it. “That Demonic Cult reconstruction plan. From the looks of it, you’ve gotten stronger in various ways.” “……” “I was just thinking that once we deal with these things, our work here is more or less done.” I shook my head at her added question as she finished off another Deep Sea Person. Shake, shake- “It's true that it's almost over. But it's not completely finished yet.” “……?” “To be precise, it's because I've only set the stage.” As I said before. I had released the Little Heavenly Demon trait and demonstrated the Heavenly Demon's Reigning Step to regain control of the disadvantageous battle, but that wasn't the 'essential' reason. It was literally to 'demonstrate' it. As one could tell from the character 'Little' attached to the trait's name, no matter what shortcuts I took or how I imitated it, I could fundamentally never become the Heavenly Demon. That was a position for which the person was already decided from the start. My role ended here. Next up was. Ssk- “Here.” “……” “…Now it's your turn, Cheong-yi.” * * * “Here… Now it's your turn, Cheong-yi.” At U-jin's words, spoken so abruptly without context or explanation, Shim Cheong wore a bewildered expression. What on earth did he mean, 'her turn' had come? Though that was the thought that reflexively surfaced in her heart, Shim Cheong had no choice but to accept the hilt of the Demonic Sword. Partly because U-jin had passed it over as if tossing it, but the more fundamental reason lay elsewhere. ‘…….’ An unknown pull, originating from the depths of her, Shim Cheong's, own heart. A fundamental emotion. That is to say. Thump- ‘…….’ That simple stance U-jin had taken, holding the sword, and those brief words. Thump- The overwhelming power he had displayed along with it. Thump- She was mesmerized by the 'indescribable coolness' created by the combination of his attitude, accepting the situation as if it were natural. That was the reason she had helplessly accepted the sword from U-jin. Thump- Thump- Shim Cheong felt a sense of confusion at this unfamiliar feeling, 'as if her heart would explode,' which she was experiencing for the first time in her life. Her own reaction was proof of this. The moment U-jin had gripped the Demonic Sword and focused his mind, the compulsory force of 'Subordination' had been released, and she had regained control of her entire body from him. However, Shim Cheong, who had just moments ago desperately wanted to be free, couldn't move the body that had finally regained its freedom. …She could only stare blankly at U-jin. “Try it.” What on earth was he telling her to do? That thought momentarily crossed Shim Cheong's mind at U-jin's prodding murmur. But watching U-jin's back as he turned after those words, picking up a spiny bone from a deep-sea fish instead of the Demonic Sword to rejoin the battle, she found herself unknowingly raising the sword's hilt. Woooong- The reason was simple. Though she herself hadn't properly realized it. Shim Cheong's heart, captivated by his 'coolness,' had led to 'admiration' for U-jin. And the admiration that had settled in her subconscious manifested as an imitation of his actions. Ssk- Therefore, Shim Cheong, just as U-jin had demonstrated before. Stretched forward the hand holding the sword. “Release True Name.” Recalling his presence that had felt so overwhelming it was wondrous, she muttered, following U-jin's example. 『…Demonic Sword, Chiyou.』 “…Demonic Sword, Chiyou.” And with those words. The same black energy that had risen from U-jin began to slither up from Shim Cheong's hand, which now held the Demonic Sword. …However, there was one difference. If the energy that rose from U-jin's grasp had merely been enough to faintly wrap around his hand, the energy that rose from Shim Cheong's… No, the word 'rose' itself was inadequate to describe the phenomenon. Rather. The mass of energy that burst forth, as if vomiting something held back, powerfully enveloped her, to the point where it seemed it would not just surround but devour her. That wasn't all. Unlike U-jin, whose energy had merely circulated once where he stood, Shim Cheong's body, engulfed in the black energy, was rising into the air. And at that moment. Of course, it was not visible to Shim Cheong's eyes, which did not receive the benefits of the 'System'. But in its place, messages were frantically appearing before U-jin's eyes. Tiring-! [The Holy Relic, ‘The Most Sacred Demonic Sword’ feels as if the tables have turned.] [The Holy Relic, ‘The Most Sacred Demonic Sword’ beats its chest as it watches its descendant being played by some strange fellow.] [The Constellation, ‘Sword Saint’ senses the nostalgia of a certain hero who protected the ancient Murim from your subordinate, ‘Shim Cheong’.] [The Constellation, ‘Sword Saint’ lets out a groan at the phenomenon he is seeing for the first time in his life.] Tiring-! [The Holy Relic, ‘The Most Sacred Demonic Sword’ resonates madly with the mana of your subordinate, ‘Shim Cheong’.] [The release conditions for the Holy Relic, ‘The Most Sacred Demonic Sword’ are fully satisfied.] [A temporary change occurs in the Mana Circuit of your subordinate, ‘Shim Cheong’.] [She awakens the .] ■Heavenly Demon (★★★☆☆) [The Heavenly Demon can release the latent abilities of the 'Demonic Sword - Chiyou'.] [Heavenly Demon's Body: Can learn and use the Heavenly Demon's Divine Art.] [Copper Head and Iron Brow: The Heavenly Demon's head is harder than copper and iron.] The loud notifications from the system window subsided. Shim Cheong's body, which had risen into the sky, made a soft landing back on the ground. Every being on the battlefield stopped what they were doing and witnessed it. With dazed expressions, as if they were watching a god descend from the heavens. “……” Just like U-jin, Shim Cheong's appearance was unchanged, save for the horns that had sprouted on her forehead. Unlike U-jin, who had a single horn, the horns on Shim Cheong's forehead were in the shape of ram's horns, jutting out on both sides. Softly- “……” As she slowly descended and set foot on the ground, apart from her changed appearance, she exuded an atmosphere completely different from before. The most intuitive indicator of this was the look in her eyes. The feelings of confusion that had built up from leaving the cave and encountering so many new things had vanished as if washed away. Her eyes, as they scanned her surroundings, were simply indifferent. As if observing 'lesser beings'. Infinitely arrogant, and yet perfectly solitary. Was it her gaze, or was there another reason? Stealthily- The Deep Sea People that had been surrounding U-jin's party retreated, forming a circle with Shim Cheong at its center. In the silence that enveloped the area. Perhaps because the phenomenon was that hard to comprehend. Loxy asked U-jin. “…What is this?” It was a short question, but that single sentence she uttered contained many questions. It was a question about Shim Cheong, who had suddenly floated into the air and come down exuding a different aura. It was a question about why the Deep Sea People, who had been charging to kill them just moments before, were now retreating. And it was a question about the incomprehensible change itself. After a moment of pondering what would be an appropriate response, U-jin, perhaps finding it difficult to explain in a single word. Gave a long answer, with a distinctly different feeling than usual. “…The world knows the 'Demonic Cult' as a massive organization made up of the Heavenly Demon and its followers, but.” “……” “The reality is a bit different. The Demonic Cult is composed solely of the Heavenly Demon.” It was difficult to explain the true nature of the Demonic Cult in one go, but U-jin didn't bother to tack on lengthy explanations. Because the most fitting example was already unfolding before their eyes. “…Devour.” Crunch- “…Why are they……” At Shim Cheong's single muttered word, the first row of Deep Sea People that had been surrounding her turned around and began to attack their own kind. It wasn't just a momentary change. It was a change in the tide. The Deep Sea People who had turned on their kin formed a single group and began to surround Shim Cheong as if to escort her. “The Heavenly Demon ‘is’ the Demonic Cult.” “……” “…That's probably the sentence that best explains the Demonic Cult.” The transcendent skill possessed by the Holy Relic, . An absolute authority that can only be wielded by one who has ascended to become the 'Heavenly Demon'. [Patriarch of a Myriad Demons] The Innate Ability of the first Heavenly Demon, which exerted compulsory force on an entire 'bloodline' after consuming enough of their blood, was the cause of this unbelievable phenomenon of kin-slaying. Crunch- Kuaaak-! Soon, beyond the first row surrounding Shim Cheong, the second row of Deep Sea People also began to attack their own kind, and the charging hordes fell into disarray, sparking a chaotic melee. “No way……” “This very ability is why a ridiculous lie like the Righteous-Demonic War was believable.” “…How on earth.” “The previous Heavenly Demons who inherited the Demonic Sword must have led Magical Beasts like this, and in a chaotic battle where you couldn't distinguish friend from foe, it would have looked as if the Heavenly Demon was leading the Magical Beasts.” “How can such a broken-ass skill exist……” Watching Loxy mutter with a look of disbelief, U-jin let out a smirk. “…Accomplished.” After leisurely observing the chaotically entangled battlefield, he took a notebook from his pocket and murmured softly. Rustle- “Revival of the Demonic Cult.” [Bucket List#10] 『Rebuild the Demonic Cult.』 O