“Suddenly all the old memories are coming back. The one I killed back then was really huge.”
The thing in front of me was about 15m tall.
Compared to the one I had killed before regressing, it wasn’t even one-fiftieth of its size.
“The problem is, my current level isn’t even one ten-thousandth of what it was back then.”
Normally, it was a monster I wouldn’t even think of trying to kill.
But if it was me, it might be possible.
<Graaaaaaah!!>
“Okay, okay. So noisy just because I didn’t pay you any attention for a bit.”
No sooner had it let out a roar.
Than I immediately sprinted straight at it.
TAP-TAP-TAP—
Weightless movement.
As I charged, crushing the ground underfoot, it raised its arm.
WHOOOOOOOSH—!!
In that instant, a bone arm split the air.
Wind pressure strong enough to make my whole body tremble bore down from above.
“Hey, this is a bit—”
CRASH—!
I quickly stopped my legs and drove the greatsword into the ground.
I lowered my body as much as possible and curled it up as tightly as possible.
And the moment its arm struck the ground.
KABOOOM!!
A huge mound of dirt exploded like a storm.
Stone powder and dust covered the area, and I held on tight with both hands so the strength in my arms wouldn’t give out.
As I shrugged off the dust with my shoulder, the moment my vision cleared again.
Swish—
I raised my head and confirmed that its arm was still embedded in the ground.
‘Now—’
SHLICK—
Immediately pulling out the greatsword, I climbed onto its right hand.
THUP— THUP— TAP—!
Following the slanted arm bone, I ran swiftly along the radius.
Belatedly, as if it had noticed my presence, it turned its head to check my position.
<Graaaah!!>
“10 stats into Mana!”
[Mana: 1→11]
[Your Mana stat has reached the required threshold.]
[You acquire the E-rank Active Skill Mana.]
Something burst out from within me.
My heart went thump, and in time with that sound, a hot current flowed through my blood vessels.
Mana seeped into my body.
“Eclipse!”
Shaaa—
An ember-like light flashed from the tip of the sword, and soon the surroundings sank into dimness, as if the sun were being swallowed.
In an instant, the entire atmosphere became muffled.
As if night had fallen in broad daylight, the interior of the Tower sank into silence.
Red patterns slowly bloomed across the surface of the sword.
As if alive, they intertwined, resonating outward, boom, boom, like a heartbeat, making the surroundings vibrate.
At that moment, a single ray of golden flame leaked out from beyond the darkness covering the sun.
KRRRK—!
Golden radiance burst through the black veil and wrapped around the rim of the blade.
The surface blazed as if melting, and from within it, orange flames erupted explosively, as though the sun were rising once more.
It was like a solar eruption tearing through the rim of an eclipse and spilling out.
[Eclipse’s unique skill ‘Authority of the Sun’ activates.]
Creak— Creak—
My muscles swelled like flames, and my veins blazed.
A fragment of the sun, radiance itself.
The light tore through my vision, the heat choked even my breath, and every one of my senses converged on that single sword.
[Duration: 8 seconds]
“Haaa—”
Catching my breath, I twisted my body lightly and stepped forward.
THUD!
As the sword soared above my head, a golden halo burst out, tearing through the pitch-black darkness.
The sight was like a fireball that had torn through the night sky and come pouring down.
“Haaaaaat!!”
CRASH——!!
The moment the blade fell, the world turned upside down.
KABOOOOOM!!
As the light flowing from the tip of the sword exploded and split the air, the surroundings were overlaid with dense darkness and dazzling gold at the same time.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM—!
For an instant, a silence fell as if everything had been swallowed, and then a ring of light spread outward like a wave.
That circle of flame wrapped around in all directions, pushing back the black veil.
Heaven and earth shook as if the world itself were being torn apart.
WHOOOOSH—
Within it, the trajectory the blade left behind was like a fireball boring into the darkness.
CRAAACK!
The cut surface of the giant skull turned red and split apart.
Beyond that crack.
A foreign purple light flashed where the brain should have been.
A crystal.
Its core.
‘Tch! That last strike didn’t reach the core? This damn weak body!’
[Duration: 1 second]
Before my body could even react, my hands made the decision on their own.
I flipped Eclipse into a reverse grip, twisted my waist and shoulders, and gathered all the strength I had left into a single point.
My wrist snapped out like a final spring.
CRASH—!
The blade flew, tearing through the air.
The red patterns scattered like sparks along its trajectory, and the jet-black blade shot straight toward the purple core.
[Duration: 0 seconds]
[The duration of Authority of the Sun has ended.]
In that instant, along with the sound of metal striking crystal.
CRUNCH!
The purple light flashed, and the crystal shattered to pieces.
Fragments burst in all directions like fireworks, the light quickly went out, and the giant skeleton’s body collapsed.
“Khuk!”
Strength drained out of my body.
I didn’t even have the energy to retrieve the sword.
Just like that.
I plummeted to the ground along with the pile of bones.
WHOOOOSH—
“Done.”
[Tutorial Clear]
[Hidden Condition Achieved]
[You have killed all hostile monsters.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
[You have leveled up.]
Along with the System’s messages, a thin membrane formed.
Thanks to this membrane, it seemed I wouldn’t end up trapped under the pile of bones.
“Ugh…, I’m exhausted.”
I could no longer feel the mana that had been flowing in my heart.
If my Mana stat had been even one point short, the chain would’ve broken off midway.
“Not investing in Mana first was a stroke of genius.”
It felt like every muscle in my body was tearing.
Now that the tension had eased, it was hard to even twitch a finger.
“Anyway, this is insane. It seems even tougher than the 5th floor right now. Was this even made to be cleared?”
[Calculating rewards.]
[The reward grade increases due to an unbelievable achievement.]
“Wonder what I’ll get as a reward. Probably at least Heroic Grade.”
In the Tower, aside from the assigned missions, there existed a separate way to clear,
the so-called Hidden Clear.
‘Clear rewards vary depending on the mission’s difficulty.’
Chaos Difficulty.
On top of that, if it was a Hidden Clear, the reward would be beyond imagination.
“Oh, right. Eclipse.”
Rattle—
When I dug through the collapsed pile of bones, I found a greatsword dyed completely jet-black.
[Eclipse is currently in its dormant period.]
[Cooldown: 17 years 11 months——]
“By then, I’d be holding ten Legendary Grade weapons.”
Swish—
The moment I put Eclipse into my inventory, the long-awaited reward was granted.
[Settlement complete.]
[The standard reward will be granted.]
[E-rank Passive Skill ‘Lesser Regeneration’ has been granted.]
[Rare Grade item Skeleton Giant’s Mana Stone has been granted.]
“Lesser Regeneration on the 1st floor?”
When this skill first became known, every player said the same thing.
-Fucking trash skill!
‘It is a fucking trash skill.’
However, in the distant future, the ‘Lesser Regeneration’ skill would be rediscovered and gain attention thanks to a certain genius player.
‘Not to me, though.’
Because that genius player—
Is me.
‘There are two main reasons people look down on this skill.’
First, its performance and rank-up speed were truly hopeless.
How bad? Even worse than getting treated at a hospital.
‘Second is when you acquire it.’
Normally, Lesser Regeneration could be obtained in the section from the 20th floor and up.
But under the Tower’s basic system, a high Vitality stat also increased recovery.
That was where the problem arose.
Thanks to the recovery from stats, Lesser Regeneration’s proficiency rose at an even more hopeless rate.
Since minor injuries were already covered by basic recovery, they didn’t raise the skill’s proficiency.
Then what about taking deep, life-threatening injuries?
‘You’d rather buy potions made by alchemists or pay a low-level healer for treatment.’
Players always wanted to climb the Tower in peak condition. They couldn’t stand recovering slowly.
Then wait around to raise proficiency? No player would risk their life for an inefficient skill.
“But if you get it early and slowly build up proficiency… you can solve both problems at once. Above all….”
Lesser Regeneration was a passive skill.
In other words, it was always active.
‘As long as the conditions are met, I can raise its proficiency 24 hours a day.’
Without consuming anything at all.
That way, I wouldn’t necessarily have to risk my life getting hurt.
Even a tiny scratch on the body counted as an injury.
‘Then the proficiency keeps rising until the wound fully heals.’
On top of that, once its proficiency was filled and it ranked up, it became a skill that could even regenerate severed body parts.
“Well, if you get stabbed by a demon sword, there’s no hope.”
It wasn’t as if demon swords were common.
And there was no way one would ever end up in that bastard’s hands again.
[The reward for the Hidden Clear will be granted.]
Tap—
“This is—”
A black gem dropped onto my palm.
[Rankless Weapon ‘Black Moon Engraving’ has been granted.]
“…You’re giving me this, all of a sudden?”
***
In absolute darkness, where not even air existed.
Fwaaa—
As time passed, lights of nine colors formed pillars and began to shine.
“It seems everyone has arrived on time.”
[Astron questions the empty seat.]
“He is in seclusion to turn the Tower’s eyes away.”
“I mean, why he’d go as far as devoting himself like that, I’ll never know.”
[Astron expresses regret.]
“It is already in the past. That is not the reason we have gathered today, is it?”
“The Tower suspects a connection between him and us. Is there a countermeasure for this?”
Then the red light answered in an angry voice.
“It would’ve been right to reveal it in the 999th run after all! What are you going to do now?!”
As if in agreement, Purple spoke up.
“This matter is the same. A Regression Perk? What do you intend by carelessly handing over something like that?”
[Astron says that it will be fine, since the Tower’s eyes have been covered.]
“Astron, we do not have much time left now.”
“We cannot erase the Tower’s memory any further. If you use any more power, you may be annihilated.”
[Astron requests that you look at the screen.]
Zzzing—
On the screen, a single player undergoing the Tutorial could be seen.
Seo Kang-yul.
He was the reason they had gathered here today.
“Hoh— He runs around quite well with that body.”
“Hmph! How utterly arrogant. Waiting for the enemy to appear.”
“That one seems to have a different personality every time I see him. Has he not gone mad, unable to endure the regressions?”
Just as differing opinions were flying back and forth.
KABOOOM!!
The player smashed the Skeleton Giant’s head to pieces.
And afterward, he even wore a composed expression, as if it were only natural.
Everyone’s expectations had been overturned.
“Astron, did you not say he is currently on the 1st floor? How could he possibly use such a technique….”
[Astron affirms.]
“Insane! Shattering something made to be absolutely unbeatable like that.”
“I can understand why the Tower is suspicious. Unleashing a strike of that caliber on a mere 1st floor.”
“His swordsmanship is impressive every time I see it. So much so that I would like to cross blades with him.”
“So, you surely did not call us here just to show us this. What is the main point?”
DING—
[Astron predicts that this will probably be the last time.]
“It cannot be helped. Two seats were sacrificed in the previous run to send him back. We cannot demand any more sacrifices here.”
“When we came to Earth, there were over a hundred of us, and now only nine seats remain. How lamentable.”
[Astron is certain that this time will be different.]
[Astron wishes to borrow your power.]
[A vote will be held.]
After a brief silence, Blue spoke first.
“I am in favor. This humble one wishes to believe in that child, after all.”
“Blue. Have you finally lost your mind?”
“Crimson, were you not the first to recognize that child’s talent?”
“Kuh!”
“Besides, did you not see that strike just now? None of us here can deny that skill.”
“If he’s holding a Legendary Grade weapon, he’d better manage at least that much.”
“The weapon merely strengthened the child’s lacking physical abilities. In terms of technique, it was nearly perfect.”
Following Blue, Green spoke up.
“No matter how fine a weapon one obtains, it cannot match superior technique. Crimson, you know that better than anyone, do you not?”
“Tch!”
[Astron awaits Crimson’s answer.]
“Hoo— Astron. If this fails, it won’t just end with your annihilation. The Tower would wipe out all of us and then some. Do you really think that bastard can pull it off?”
[Astron affirms vehemently.]
Astron was certain.
That he could shatter the Tower for them.
“Tch! Fine, I’m in favor too.”
[The vote ends unanimously.]
Blue spoke toward the player on the screen.
Though he surely could not hear it, Blue spoke in an earnest voice.
“Child. The fate of everyone here now rests upon you. I pray that you reach the end of the Tower and fulfill our long-held wish.”