Raided The God’S Warehouse [EN]: Chapter 411

415

“I’m glad I was watching from above! These guys always have a final trick up their sleeves, you know?”

It was no wonder Arcana hadn’t been seen in the thick of the battle. Instead of joining the fray, she was observing from a safe distance.

To the guild members who followed Seun’s command and directly confronted the Outer, it appeared as though she only showed up at the very end to steal the kill.

‘It was the right choice.’

Even if she had intervened earlier, the overall battle situation wouldn’t have drastically changed.

The guild members were handling the Outer well enough by coordinating their efforts.

If she had revealed herself sooner, it would have been nearly impossible to inflict a fatal wound on the Outer trying to escape at the last moment.

‘But it seems like she did inflict a fatal wound.’

The attack Arcana unleashed, empowered by Ruin, at the opportune moment.

It not only left a deep, long scar stretching from his chest to his abdomen, but the depth of the wound seemed significant, and the sheer volume of black liquid gushing out was alarming.

“Good job.”

“It was nothing! I just added the finishing touch.”

“Yoo Seo-ah, you too.”

“I’m glad it worked.”

In truth, Arcana delivered the slashing blow to the man’s chest, but it was Yoo Seo-ah’s ability that made the attack possible in the first place.

Immediately after Seun shattered the hardened Outer, Yoo Seo-ah, with wind-like speed, plunged her twin swords into the Outer that was still forming the man’s lower body and activated ‘Dominate’ [a skill that allows temporary control over an opponent].

Without that, the man would have likely disappeared before Arcana could even attack.

“Everyone did a great job.”

It wasn’t just them.

Seun was able to penetrate to the center and unleash his sword thanks to Kang Han-cheol’s raw strength, and the Outer couldn’t complete its transformation because all the guild members stepped up and played their part.

A victory for the Diablo Guild, not just Seun.

A victory that would never have been possible alone.

‘His escape attempt was probably largely influenced by the location.’

This place is inside a meteorite.

It was likely intended to store the Outer, which was processed into a round shape and placed deep within, but the man’s power would have been weakened inside the meteorite as well.

If so, how strong was the man originally? How immense would he have been if he had fully completed his transformation?

Fleeting thoughts crossed his mind, but he quickly shook them off.

The guild members, who should have been celebrating their victory, were instead looking at Seun with serious expressions.

“Are you still going to hide it?”

Kang Han-cheol stepped forward and asked, his voice firm.

He knew exactly what he was referring to.

The word the man used to describe Seun at the end: ‘Regressor.’

Although the guild members had harbored curiosity about Seun’s identity until now, they could no longer suppress their questions.

“Or, do you still not trust us?”

“N, no. Seun is just….”

“If you don’t trust us, it’s probably our fault. It means we haven’t earned your trust. Or, maybe we still seem like weaklings to you.”

Kang Han-cheol clenched his fist tightly, a mixture of emotions swirling within him.

It wasn’t resentment towards Seun, but rather frustration at his own perceived inadequacy.

Kang Han-cheol was that kind of man.

‘Should I tell them?’

So far, Yoo Seo-ah is the only one in the Diablo Guild who knows about the regression. He told Arcana too, but her situation is a bit different.

There were various reasons why Seun hadn’t openly discussed his regression.

Among them was the very lack of trust Kang Han-cheol had just pointed out.

But…….

“No.”

Seun shook his head, his gaze meeting each of theirs.

Even if that was true in the past, he genuinely trusts the Diablo Guild now.

He trusts his comrades.

“I’ll explain everything.”

Seun nodded, a sense of resolve washing over him.

The moment he reveals his regression, Seun will inevitably pull the Diablo Guild into the war against the Outer and involve them in the conflict with the Gods.

With their current abilities, he would essentially be throwing those who could otherwise live a peaceful life once they reach the next Shelter into a chaotic battlefield.

But he knew, deep down.

That keeping them in the dark now isn’t about protecting them from the fear of the future or the war with the Gods, but about Seun continuing to shut them out and keep his secrets.

“Let’s move to a safer location first.”

They deserved to know the truth.

Even if they are shocked and decide to leave after hearing this unbelievable story, he would understand and accept their decision.

All Seun can do now is trust his comrades and open up his heart.

Just as they were about to leave the meteorite, Arcana approached Seun and whispered softly, her voice laced with intrigue.

“Can you see this?”

A jet-black stigma [a magical mark or symbol] was faintly visible on her slightly raised thigh, its light fading.

He had heard that she had created a new stigma, but this was the first time he had actually seen it in person.

However, something felt off. The fact that the stigma was losing its light suggested that she had been using its power extensively…….

A chilling possibility flashed through Seun’s mind as he considered the implications.

“Could it be?”

“Maybe, he’s having quite a hard time?”

* * *

Cough!

Above the vast desert, a scene unfolded as if embroidered with gold by the setting sun.

Black water gushed from the chest of the man who had introduced himself as the Tyrant, quickly staining the sand.

No, the amount wasn’t merely enough to stain the sand; it was enough to create a small oasis in the arid landscape. The sheer volume of blood flowing out seemed impossible for a single man to contain.

“Kuh……. I really didn’t anticipate that final blow.”

A shield formed by hardening the Outer.

It was a hastily constructed defense to withstand the short travel time of less than five seconds, but its defensive capabilities were superior to most known minerals.

But that shield shattered in less than three seconds.

No, he could accept everything up to that point.

The real problem was the sudden surge of power that hardened his body and suppressed his will immediately after the Outer was broken.

“There was even someone who wielded the power of domination.”

That’s why he allowed the final blow to land.

Honestly, he could regenerate from an ordinary physical attack without much effort, but the final scythe slash was clearly imbued with the power of ‘Destruction.’

Thanks to that, he is still unable to heal the wound and continues to spew out black blood.

“The loss is greater than I initially calculated.”

The original purpose of his visit was reconnaissance.

He sensed that the scarecrow, which had proven useful in the previous loop, had been destroyed, and he grew concerned that an important key might have disappeared along with it.

And he found it.

The ‘Black Key,’ which had played a crucial role in the previous loop, being swallowed by a crimson wolf.

‘I wasn’t particularly concerned up to that point.’

However, that key is merely a remnant of the previous loop.

Now, through extensive research and learning, he has significantly enhanced the power of the Outer, making it far more potent than it was in the previous iteration.

There are countless ways to shatter the sky even without the Black Key, and its importance has diminished considerably now that the Outer has become overwhelmingly stronger.

The real problem is the owner of the wolf that swallowed the Black Key: the Regressor.

He initiated this battle to assess the Regressor’s power, which was exhibiting actions that far exceeded his expectations, and, if he was fortunate, to crush the sprout before it could fully mature.

“Even though the location wasn’t ideal and I wasn’t fully prepared for battle, the results exceeded my expectations by far.”

It’s dangerous.

He made a mistake in assuming that even as a Regressor, he wasn’t as significant as Chronos’ daughter [a powerful figure with time-related abilities].

He incorrectly assessed the danger rankings.

The true Regressor was not Chronos’ daughter, but that Demon God’s contractor.

“I need to accelerate the plan.”

It was also a mistake to become complacent while watching Chronos’ daughter struggle. Because of that, he became too relaxed and focused solely on learning while observing the future.

This loop cannot be compared to the previous one.

From this confrontation with the Regressor, he realized that it was time to fully commit to this loop.

“This is also the first time I’ve encountered this particular divinity. To think he would burden me with its remnants until the very end.”

The man looked down at the black energy rippling from his toes.

As he took a step forward, the sand trembled and his leg sank in as if he had stepped into quicksand.

A misfortune of epic proportions, akin to his foot finding quicksand instead of solid ground.

The man frowned and transformed his hand into a black sword, then severed his toes without hesitation.

Pooh-hat!

A tremendous amount of black liquid gushed out like a waterfall.

As a result, the oasis, which was previously just a small puddle, expanded into a pond larger than usual.

The black liquid’s uniquely thick texture made it difficult for it to be absorbed into the sand, creating an ominous atmosphere.

“It’s a waste, but I can’t afford to carry around elements that will hinder my future endeavors.”

It was undoubtedly a waste.

Even though he only severed his toes, the sight of the oasis filled with wriggling, suffering black liquid made it clear how significant the expenditure was.

But he couldn’t afford to salvage it.

The man didn’t know the exact nature of the ability contained within the black divinity, but he was certain that it would cling to his future actions and impede his progress.

“Then, I should begin soon.”

The man raised his head and spread his arms wide, embracing the sky.

Whether it was in response to his actions or a sudden shift in the weather, the clear desert sky abruptly darkened and the wind began to rage ominously.

The wind quickly whipped up the sand, transforming it into a massive, swirling sandstorm.

The second Shelter of the Tower, the sand city of Scavenger.

A great darkness began to stir there, casting a long shadow over its future.

* * *

“Regressor……?”

“Yes. To put it bluntly, I am a Regressor.”

Seun revealed everything, laying bare his secret.

Of course, he didn’t recount every single experience he had endured.

He carefully extracted the core information, such as the Tower’s impending destruction and Mammon’s treasure vault [a place of immense wealth and power], that he believed would be digestible for the guild members to understand.

Naturally, Yoo Seo-ah, who was already aware of this fact, was looking down at the floor, carefully observing the reactions of the others.

In contrast, Arcana was casually sipping wine while watching him with an amused expression.

“Wait a minute. Then, does that mean this place will be destroyed soon too?”

“Yes. The reason I’m fighting the Outer is to prevent that from happening. Of course, I can’t guarantee that I can stop them even if I eliminate all the Outer within this Shelter.”

“……”

“However, for now, this is the most meaningful course of action, and I believe it’s essential to strengthen our power to fight the Outer.”

Each time Seun finished speaking, a heavy silence descended upon the group.

It’s understandable.

For someone who hasn’t experienced regression firsthand, like Seun, it’s natural to dismiss someone as delusional if they suddenly claim to be a Regressor.

Seun recognized this and decided to patiently wait for them to process the information.

He doesn’t expect them to fully understand right away.

At least a week.

He plans to spend time in Death Hill, even if it means temporarily halting their climb, and wait for them to come to terms with Seun’s revelation.

If they ultimately can’t accept it, he has no intention of forcing them to continue on this path with him.

The path Seun is forging is one that ordinary players would never even consider.

His declaration of trying to prevent the destruction also implies that he must stand directly in the face of that destruction.

Then, surprisingly, the first one to break the silence was Park Jung-pil.

“H, hyungnim [term of respect for an older brother or male friend]. So. So, we…….”

What is he trying to say? If this were the Park Jung-pil of old, wouldn’t he be shouting accusations of lying or running away while declaring his intention to quit? Just as that thought crossed his mind…….

Park Jung-pil suddenly widened his eyes and leaned in close to Seun, his face animated.

“Doesn’t that mean we’re heroes!”

Seun wore an unusually blank expression at the unexpected response.