I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 293

293

Kkuaaaaa!

Even amidst the chaos, screams continued, each one accompanied by the visible form of a demon rising in the smoke high into the sky.

‘That son of a bitch.’

A curse escaped my lips involuntarily.

As the situation grew more dire, Lecceto seemed to be quite literally ‘dumping’ the people meant for sacrifice.

Of course, the Divine had no inherent obligation to save those being sacrificed. Thinking about it coldly, it was a strategic move on Lecceto’s part.

‘It would have been better if I hadn’t seen it or heard it… But now that I have, my heart is wavering.’

‘Just prevent it from leading to an even greater sacrifice. Let’s think simply. If I hadn’t come, all of these people would have died. Because I am here, there is a possibility of saving at least some.’

I decided to reframe my thinking.

Instead of lamenting that I couldn’t save everyone, I should focus on the fact that my presence offered a chance to save some.

“Come on, you bastards! Come on, you dogs of Lecceto!”

The Divine provoked the enemies.

“We acknowledge your skill. But we will clearly demonstrate the limits of that skill. Kill him.”

Mikasis responded to the Divine’s words with a gesture, and ten of the elite Lechnat Knights advanced.

“You have no fear!”

“We will show you the honor and pride of the Lechnat Knights!”

“For Lecceto-nim!”

“They’re so full of it.”

The Divine scoffed and charged towards the knights, who were shouting their battle cries as they rushed in.

It was a truly ‘no turning back’ battle, with everyone charging forward without hesitation.

Whoosh! Jee-ing!

At the start of the battle, all the knights activated their Aura Blades [weapons enhanced with concentrated magical energy].

But right then.

“What are you doing?”

The Divine had already arrived right in front of one of the knights.

It was a mistake on the knight’s part to underestimate the Transcendental Acceleration talent, even after hearing reports about it.

He likely thought it was comparable to Haste magic at best, but that was a grave miscalculation.

Thwack!

“Kuhuk?”

The Divine’s right arm, transformed into the Stellard Sword [a blade made from incredibly strong ore], tore through the knight’s armor and pierced his left heart.

Stellard ore was a precious material even in the Nas Continent.

While Mikasis and the knights wielded Stellard Swords, they couldn’t afford to make their armor from it.

The Divine had taken note of this and aimed for the most vulnerable spot.

Since they were both using Stellard Swords, there was no point in the Divine using Steel Enhancement either.

Even if he did, his body, transformed into steel, would be easily cut. He had to abandon the idea of taking a hit with his body from the start.

“…Die!”

Wooong!

“Eek!”

The attack was fierce.

Aura Blades were different from ordinary sword strikes, much faster and more erratic.

In other words, the actual path of the sword and the path of the Aura Blade didn’t perfectly align.

‘I have to conserve my talents. Mikasis and Lecceto must be aiming for me to reveal all my cards here.’

Distribution is necessary.

I have to give my all, but paradoxically, I shouldn’t use 100% of my power.

“Hap!”

“Haaap!”
The sight of nine Aura Blades flying in, not just one, was dazzling and terrifying.

Of course, that’s only when you look at it with your eyes; the burden you have to feel with your body was beyond imagination.

‘It’s okay. I can see everything.’

But I wasn’t flustered.

The transformed brain quickly identified each sword path and considered the possibility of sudden changes.

‘I am a perfect being.’

The Divine encouraged himself and confidently navigated the storm of Aura Blades.

“……?”

The knights’ reaction was one of bewilderment.

He’s just recklessly running through gaps that seem impossible, even to them?

It was such a reckless charge that they couldn’t help but think he was crazy and suicidal.

It felt like they were facing a problem they couldn’t solve no matter how hard they tried. They couldn’t understand.

“Huh?”

It was already too late when one of the knights, sensing something was wrong, tilted his head.

Saaack!

“Kueo!”

Because his head was gone.

The Divine didn’t stop.

Following that, another Aura Blade was being generated on the knights’ swords.

From now on, it was a fight of who would push harder without hesitation or backing down.

At that time.

Whooong!

A knight was seen using an Aura Blade that drew a vertical line, not a horizontal one.

‘This changes things.’

The Divine laughed inwardly.

Horizontal lines, that is, Aura Blades flying in the shape of a crescent moon, were difficult to deal with using the Liquefaction talent [ability to turn one’s body into a liquid state].

This is because the area hit is wide when the body is cut horizontally, so it takes time to recover. It means that a slight delay is needed to normalize.

But vertical lines, that is, attacks that fly in like a stab, could be allowed to ‘penetrate’ by utilizing liquefaction.

The thought process becomes simpler.

All I have to do is accept the attack with my body according to the direction it’s coming from.

“……?”

Was it because common sense kept being defied?

One of the knights flinched when he saw the Divine running straight at him without even flinching.

Until now, no one had ever seen an enemy respond to his attack like this.

The reason was simple.

With this kind of ‘honest’ movement path, you would definitely be penetrated by the Aura Blade and die or be seriously injured.

The next moment!

Thwack!

“Heh heh.”

The unique sound of flesh being pierced was heard. A smile appeared on the knight’s lips. It was a success after all.

But when the Aura Blade’s energy faded and the Divine’s figure became clear.

“No……?”

The knight doubted his eyes.

The wound that had been inflicted by the Aura Blade was nowhere to be seen, and the Divine was approaching closely.

He was even smiling!

He had never seen such a bright smile.

“This guy’s lost it too.”

Thwack!

“Kkeuheok!”

The knight died a miserable death in one blow.

In the first place, among the many possibilities.

He had never considered an enemy running straight at him even after being hit by an Aura Blade.

It was only natural since the Divine easily defies common sense.

The problem is that the price of failure is paid with one’s life.

“Is it seven? It won’t work with just you guys. Mikasis, it looks like it would be better for you to join in too? You don’t want to overdo it, so you’re sacrificing your subordinates’ lives first?”

“…….”

Having lost three knights in the blink of an eye, Mikasis’s expression, which had always seemed relaxed, darkened.

He had already unfolded his arms and was gripping his black greatsword.

Because a sense of tension was creeping in that he might have to enter the battle at any moment.

“You’re so full of yourself even after managing to take down only the most lacking guys.”

“Yeah, keep denying reality like that. The more you hesitate, the more lacking guys will increase.”

The Divine nodded at Mikasis’s predictable response and pushed off the ground again.

What he said just now was sincere.

It was truly a sight to behold, watching him act as if he were the final boss.

If he had thoroughly used the ten knights as shields to fight, he could have made me struggle a little more.

This is all a product of lack of experience and also unnecessary confidence.

He believes in his skills so much that he thinks it’s okay to take his time. It’s a complete miscalculation.

From the Divine’s point of view, knights who honestly respond with Aura Blades and shield defense were more manageable.

I was even thinking that it was fortunate that the ten of them weren’t 9-class black mages?

And after that.

The Divine continued to crush the enemies blocking his path, as he had done until now.

Mikasis never joined the battle, and the knights died blaming their leader.

* * *

At the same time.

“Keuha… Damn it, disgusting bastards.”

Nicholas was wiping away the streaks of blood that were blocking his eyes and running, and running again.

Behind him, the knights who had been breathing until just now had lost their lives and fallen.

He barely managed to shake off the pursuit, but in return, Nicholas suffered even more severe injuries.

The cool feeling felt below his stomach. It was most likely a penetrating wound. A sword wound that had torn the peritoneum [membrane lining the abdominal cavity].

Thanks to pouring in the last remaining healing potion, he prevented it from becoming a fatal wound that threatened his life.

With this, the means to promote the recovery of physical strength and body condition were completely exhausted.

“This way! Chase him!”

“……Damn it.”

He thought he had barely shaken off the pursuers, but new guys appeared.

Judging from the clanging metallic sound, there seemed to be at least ten or more of them.

In addition, judging from the dark energy emanating from them, they seemed to be more dangerous than the guys from before.

“Haa. Haa.”

Nicholas exhaled hot breaths and ran, looking only ahead.

No, there was nowhere else to escape but forward. Both sides were slopes of bedrock that people could not move on.

How long had he been running?

“Oh, come on……”

Nicholas burst out laughing in vain when he confirmed the reason why the road no longer continued.

It’s a dead end.

If he took even a little more step here, he would fall into an endless cliff.

It was something he had prepared for since he entered the mountains to avoid the enemies in the first place.

But when he faced the final situation, he felt resentful of the sky for no reason. There were no more chances for a comeback.

“…….”

Tudook.

Nicholas pulled out the pendant he was wearing around his neck.

It was an artifact he had as a last resort.

“Shin-hwa, you beat the boss in the Ayutra Dungeon and gave me this gemstone as a gift, right?”

He muttered words without an answer.

This, called the Ayutra Gemstone, was an artifact that could create an ‘Absolute Invincible Barrier.’

It was one-time use and the duration was only 30 minutes, but it was perfect for use in an emergency.

In the past, Shin-hwa and he had overcome life-threatening situations to catch the boss monster Ayutra, and he had obtained this from him.

In fact, because Nicholas was seriously injured and left the battle from the beginning.

Shin-hwa was in charge of almost 95% of the damage dealing. In fact, Shin-hwa had done the strategy.

But as soon as the strategy was over, Shin-hwa handed this gemstone to Nicholas.

Shin-hwa had only said one thing to Nicholas, who said he didn’t need it.

‘The insurance you think you don’t need is often the most useful in unexpected moments.’

At that time, he laughed and took it jokingly, but now that he thought about it, it was Shin-hwa’s foresight.

If he created an absolute invincible barrier with the power of this gemstone, he would be able to hold out for at least 30 minutes.

No one can cross this barrier, and it cannot be pushed away. Of course, Nicholas inside would be trapped as well.

“Damn Nicholas. Idiot. Son of a bitch. Moron. Dumbass. Haa! Shin-hwa, I’m really sorry. The dignity of a returner is bullshit. A guy who couldn’t even find a proper burial place is talking about dignity… It’s ridiculous, really.”

Nicholas poured out criticism of himself like a machine gun.

It was such a harsh criticism that he felt relieved after speaking. It was also a late regret.

“……I’ll try to hold on. One last time.”

Nicholas took out the gemstone.

He could already see the enemies gathering. The number was twice as many as expected.

In his current physical condition, he wouldn’t be able to last even 30 seconds.

So.

Kaching.

He activated the barrier right away.

[00:29:59]

30 minutes countdown.

This was the last time allowed to Nicholas and the time of fate that Shin-hwa would bear alone.