Chapter 168 – Coalition Battle (3)

Kei and the Regressor have withdrawn.

In the end, I shattered Kei’s plan and came out victorious against the Regressor.

Thanks to that, my body is a wreck.

The Regressor was absurdly strong. And why the hell does he have a healing ability on top of that?

In this world, a healer’s recovery is merely about restoring system numbers.

Even in the other world, true healers were extremely rare.

At best, they could only slightly accelerate natural healing.

In other words, he has healing abilities on par with Katrinne and martial prowess on par with me.

What an overpowered character.

To think the first thing he does after bringing out the Regressor is try to kill me.

That guy Kei must have really hated my guts.

His plan certainly came close to succeeding.

If that Regressor had truly intended to kill me.

I didn’t sense any killing intent from the Regressor.

He might just be the type to leave no presence and show no emotion.

But even when he allowed me to land a blow, even in the moment his body was being sliced apart, he held no killing intent.

Was he some kind of masochistic pervert who was actually enjoying it?

No, that can’t be it.

More than anything, the outfit the Regressor was wearing bothers me.

The design was slightly different, but it was definitely Justice Armor.

A few hypotheses form in my mind. But they’re so absurd that I shake my head.

A sense of unease lingers, but there’s something I have to do right now.

“Send a message to Katrinne.”

I relayed the words to Olivier.

-It’ll be too late by the time you get there….

Olivier said.

“Why?”

-The situation is bad. The difficulty is higher than the gates in other countries.

“What about our people?”

-They’re okay for now. But…

As long as they’re safe, that’s what matters.

Because I’m on my way.

-Sir Hero. Where are you trying to go in your injured state? It would be better to have your team retreat and get treatment….

The one who was so desperate to kill me in the past is now worrying about me.

I’ve already seen it once with Foresight.

It’s a situation where no one can retreat.

If I’m late, not only my comrades but many hunters and soldiers will die.

-Sir Hero. Don’t try to solve everything by yourself.

Hearing this from the one who tormented me so disgustingly as part of the Demon King’s army feels strange.

I have a trauma.

I fought for my ideals.

I ascended to a place everyone said was impossible to reach.

Many people followed me, and I walked the path of supremacy.

As a result, I became a king-like existence.

Having achieved my ideals, I looked back.

All that remained there were the corpses of my precious comrades.

Of course, I protected many people. But I failed to protect just as many.

That’s why I thought I had to become even stronger.

I preferred fighting alone rather than in large groups.

Because I alone possessed power comparable to an entire legion.

But was that truly the right choice?

You can’t do everything by yourself.

I know that.

I felt it once again during the battle in the other world.

If I hadn’t had the Salvation Knights left in my inventory, could I have killed Gamigin?

I probably could have killed her. But it would have been too late.

By the time I reached the castle, Gamigin would have already slaughtered everyone inside.

I don’t want them to die. I want to protect them.

This became an endless, repeating cycle.

What is the right thing to do?

While fighting the Regressor, I felt it once again.

The one choice I never made.

This time, I’ll try to become the person others wanted me to be.

I will become the pinnacle.

I recall the option I never chose, trying to look away from the days of gaining and losing countless people.

It was the first task.

To become so strong that no one can dare to look up to me, I must dominate today’s battle.

I checked my current Synchronization Rate.

-Current Synchronization Rate is 84%.

The Synchronization Rate rose while I was stopping Kei’s plan.

If I hadn’t stopped it, just how many people would have died?

My Synchronization Rate will probably rise above 90% after this battle.

Then, I’ll recover my Phase ability.

There’s a world of difference between me with Phase and me without it.

It’s like the kid collecting seven balls not being able to become a golden-haired warrior, or the straw-hat captain being unable to shift gears.

Isn’t it horrifying just to imagine?

-You have purchased a Dimensional Travel Stone.

-20 points have been consumed.

-Remaining points: 2,281.

I immediately used the Dimensional Travel Stone.

I held the dimensional stone, closed my eyes for a moment, and when I opened them, my surroundings had changed.

I had arrived at the Rania Estate.

The reason I came here is simple.

“Katrinne.”

[Katrinne: Mister? Why are you at the estate…?]

The distance from where I fought the Regressor to the location of the unprecedented gate is far.

It would take at least two hours even by car.

But with this method, which can be used once a day, I can travel in a single second.

Of course, the downside is that both Katrinne and I have to use our saved-up points.

I bought one more item from the still-open system shop window.

-You have purchased an Elixir.

-1,000 points have been consumed.

-Remaining points: 1,281.

I spent quite a lot of points, but I should be able to get a return on my investment.

“Summon.”

This is the only way to get to the battlefield in time.

A gate large enough for one person to enter was created.

I stepped into the newly created gate.

After just a few steps, I was in a space devoid of any light.

Soon, a bright door of light formed before me. As I opened it and stepped out, a battlefield reeking of blood unfolded before my eyes.

“Ugh…!”

The first thing I saw was a woman being choked by a giant, red-haired dokkaebi.

It was Seo Hyun-ji.

She was struggling. Her comrades who had tried to help were all collapsed on the ground, coughing up blood.

My vision turned red.

-It’s the leader of the dokkaebi, a quasi-boss-level Dueoksini! He won’t be easy….

Ignoring Olivier’s voice in my head, I charged forward.

The red dokkaebi saw me and flicked its finger.

A sound of something tearing through the air reached me.

I reached out my hand.

My HP neutralized the damage, nullifying the attack.

Seeing this, the Dueoksini flinched.

I threw a dagger.

The Dueoksini used Seo Hyun-ji as a shield to block the dagger.

I expected that. That’s why I coated the blade with mana.

The Dueoksini’s eyes widened when it saw me suddenly standing beside it.

I took out the only weapon in my inventory.

*Vwoooom-!*

The holy sword hummed, as if asking why it had been so long since I’d drawn it.

Feeling apologetic, I poured a generous amount of mana into it.

Despite being only half a holy sword, it fed on my mana and formed a golden blade.

*Swish!*

The holy sword I swung left a golden afterimage.

The Dueoksini could no longer choke Seo Hyun-ji.

Because it no longer had an arm.

I immediately caught Seo Hyun-ji.

Coughing and crying, Seo Hyun-ji looked up at me, her eyes widening in shock.

In my vision, I had held a dying Seo Hyun-ji, but this time is different.

“Wh-why are you…!”

“What, are you crying?”

“Wh-who’s crying…!”

“Don’t worry.”

I set Seo Hyun-ji down and stood up.

“I won’t just disappear on my own anymore.”

Oh. Seo Hyun-ji’s expression is amusing.

“Wh-what…. You remember everything….”

Seo Hyun-ji muttered to herself.

The Dueoksini, enraged at losing its arm, opened its mouth wide.

Who knows how long it’s been since it brushed its teeth; a jet-black energy shot straight towards me from its mouth.

I immediately cast the Soul Breaker skill on the holy sword.

The skill-enhanced holy sword sliced diagonally through the Dueoksini.

Its body was cut cleanly in two. Blood poured out as if from an endless fountain.

Through my experiences in the other world and here, I’ve realized it once again.

To protect my people, all I thought about was getting stronger.

Now, I will go further.

I will become a symbol.

“Mister!”

I saw Katrinne’s face.

Her somewhat weary eyes suggested she had used up a lot of mana.

Her eyes fluttered wearily as she looked at me.

“Boss!”

I saw the three foreign brothers; their shields and armor were sticky with monster flesh and blood.

The guys who were always busy running away from me were, for the first time, looking at me with incredibly happy faces.

Judging by their state, it seems they’ve earned their keep protecting their master.

Their armor was completely wrecked.

I drank the elixir, leaving not a single drop.

As soon as I drank it, I felt my mana and condition recovering instantly.

It was like having a terrible body ache and then feeling perfectly fine after taking a painkiller.

“Director…?”

Kim In-ho’s eyes widened at the sight of me.

He must have also been beaten by the Dueoksini, as his body was a mess.

People’s faces changed to expressions of relief. Was the situation so bad that their expressions could change so openly?

I looked around.

I could grasp the general situation.

The atmosphere was like something out of a horror folktale.

A swarm of monsters was closing in, surrounding the hunters.

Our formation, breached by the Dueoksini, could only stare blankly at the enemy tide surging towards them.

With that as my backdrop, I spoke leisurely.

“You’ve all worked hard.”

“…!”

Kim In-ho and Seo Hyun-ji didn’t answer.

Neither did anyone else.

The battle had raged for over an hour, resulting in many casualties, and even those still standing had reached their absolute limits.

Both the members of the newly merged Hwarang Guild and the original Hanul Guild members.

“Director…!”

“*Sob*, we did our best… but with just us….”

These grown adults suddenly started to cry.

It seems the training they’ve been doing wasn’t in vain.

Everyone has survived well.

“Now, I will clear a path.”

“…What?”

As if they didn’t understand me, a guild member asked again.

“Buff me.”

“Already on it.”

Katrinne’s buff settled over my body.

Good. I’m overflowing with power.

The soldiers and hunters, their morale at rock bottom, looked ready to flee at any moment.

In this situation, proper command was impossible, and an undisciplined army stood no chance against these unknown monsters.

I know exactly how to handle a situation like this.

I gripped the holy sword and poured a massive amount of mana into it.

Golden flames crackled to life, extending the blade.

Still not enough.

I poured in more mana. The blade shot out rigidly, extending over ten meters.

“Th-that’s…!”

My comrades stood mesmerized, captivated by the dazzling golden light they had never seen before.

What is morale?

The dictionary defines it as an unyielding spirit, filled with motivation and confidence.

The reason the morale of so many people has plummeted amidst this chaotic horde of monsters is obvious.

The enemy is overwhelmingly strong, and the psychology of defeat, the fear of death, paralyzes the body.

To those awaiting their deaths, it’s necessary to show them that the fight isn’t over yet.

I raised the greatly extended blade of the holy sword above my head.

Now over twenty meters long, the holy sword felt heavy.

But what’s heavier is the people behind me.

I readjusted my grip on the holy sword.

I could see naked, beast-like dokkaebi, covered in shaggy fur, rushing towards us with greedy eyes.

The dokkaebi I know from stories at least wore pants and coveted strange treasures.

These things aren’t dokkaebi!

I swung the holy sword, now swollen to its limit with mana.

Like a batter aiming for a home run.

*KWWWWAAAAA!*

I felt a heavy impact through my fingertips.

Putting strength into my waist, I half-turned and swung the blade in a wide arc.

A golden afterimage lingered in the air.

Where it passed, hundreds of dokkaebi, their lower bodies severed, floated for a moment before tumbling to the ground.

“Kkieeeek!”

“Kkeuheuk!”

The dokkaebi, not understanding what had just happened, screamed.

The dokkaebi won’t be looking for any old men with wens anymore.