354 - Regressor of the Fallen Family

Chapter 354 Upon dying unjustly, I found myself awoken in my childhood once more. I initially thought it was a dream, but it wasn't. A spontaneous cheer erupted from me. In this second life, my objectives could not remain the same. It was essential not only to protect myself but also my family and tribe. Logan's hands trembled with a resonant shiver, deeply moved by the narrative, more compelling than any other. Fortunately, I had my past experiences to rely on. From a young age, the youth honed his martial skills based on his past life's knowledge. He believed the city had fallen because there was no warrior strong enough to stop the orc shaman. Retracing a path once walked was not difficult, and in the process, he organized the rough emergence and development of his force into a more systematic form and shared it with others. Even at a young age, he became a force surpassing most wizards, drawing many who sought to learn from him. However, unlike him, ordinary humans, even wizards, struggled to understand the essence of the force. Despite simplified teachings, most failed to grasp the foundational concepts. Ultimately, the efficiently structured training method he devised could only be applied to himself. The youth was disheartened. In the end, he could only resort to imposing the same life-risking, brute-force training his father had done onto his disciples. Fortunately, the sheer number of trainees meant some rare individuals began to awaken to the force. These well-trained warriors grew to rival the lizardmen and orc warriors, who wielded inherent magic. While doing so, he alone faced numerous trials, broke past his limits, and continued to grow. There came a point when he felt confident not only against orc shamans but also against grand shamans, prompting him to take action. Thus, many years passed. The youth eventually defeated sporadic threats from other species' territories and unified all the human clans nearby into a grand city. This city, the most formidable in the region, came to be known as the hope of humanity. The city he established garnered such a name, and the youth was called the "Great Champion," an overwhelmingly grandiose title. With this recognition, human warriors, scattered since the era of the Magic Sage, began to focus on him. Renowned fighters, known as high priests or sorcerers from other factions, proposed alliances with him. The youth didn't refuse. Faced with the challenges from other species, usurpation attempts, and monstrous threats, he no longer wished to witness the sacrifices of his kin, as he had seen in both past and present lives. Thus, the "Alliance" was born. The goal seemed easier than anticipated. The Alliance gradually incorporated human tribes from central continents, swelling into a formidable force. With more humans united, provocations from monsters and other species lessened. Neither the youth nor the Alliance leaders realized the extent of the internal human problems until it became dire. Engaged in expanding their domain while fighting against other races and monsters, they never anticipated such significant issues would arise internally. When the Alliance leaders, including the youth and sorcerers, delved into the incidents, they swiftly identified the culprit. “Haa...” Logan sighed heavily as he concentrated on the manuscript. To encounter this name again here... It wasn't merely abnormal. They were sacrificing tens of thousands at the least, preparing some horrendous magic. Words usually don't suffice with madmen, so a battle ensued promptly. The outcome, however, diverged starkly from the youth's expectations. The moment combat commenced, the leaders of the Alliance faced an ambush from within. Yet that element of surprise seemed to have limited impact. The self-proclaimed leader, the snake that swallowed truth, was a rare grand sorcerer in this era of declining mana, and no one, except the youth, could resist his bizarre sorcery. This part gave Logan another chilling premonition. If the youth truly met his end like this, who might have penned this document? The subsequent writing quickly validated his foreboding. “Mmm...” Logan murmured, briefly averting his gaze from the manuscript. Since his return, an undefined anxiety clouded his mind once more. Could all this be an illusion? Will everything restart once I die? A primal fear inspired doubts that every effort might be a futile outcry. This book, left by an unknown author, seemed to crystallize Logan's anxieties into words. 'Not even Kassel's Mage Tower's magic affected it.' Too much of it was impossible to dismiss easily. After a deep breath to calm himself, Logan resumed reading. Predictably, the text sounded similar to his thoughts. The youth couldn't easily break free from the void and sense of loss. He pondered the fundamental reason. Why does he keep returning? What is the root cause of this bizarre phenomenon? The youth sought guidance from the sages of the world. He wished to uncover the truth hidden behind his regression. But answers remained elusive. His quest for truth led him far south, where he met a sage of the dragonians in seclusion. There, he received words that pierced deeply into his heart. Uncomprehending, the youth begged for enlightenment. Watching him, the dragonian sage clicked his tongue in pity. The first death. He was the warrior who resisted to the end when the city fell. A hundred thousand city dwellers died, looking solely to him. Their wish. The second death. Those sacrificed to the heirs of Zibric Kassel. Tens of thousands felt grief and held their wish. To the youth, tormented by the void of regression, it was a soul-numbing revelation. “Gasp!?” Logan felt a shiver crawl up his spine at this part. The burdens of wish and resentment. It brought a specific image instantly to mind. A mountain of corpses. It wasn't merely a metaphor. The mountain of corpses consisted predominantly of the refugees from Grandia, numbering not in the thousands or tens of thousands, but exceeding a million. Amidst them, he alone stood fighting against the empire and the emperor. In that context, everything made sense. 'Zibric Kassel claimed he used divine power to cause my regression...' Yet this record seemed more believable. Or rather, he wanted to believe it. 'The power of the golden wish. Indeed, my ancestor couldn't comprehend my force. That's right.' With trembling hands, Logan continued to read through the manuscript. The sage's words rekindled the soul of the wearied youth. Additional comments were irrelevant. For the youth, mere validation of his theory sufficed. “Haa…” Logan exhaled a deep sigh of relief. Isn't it a miracle only if it doesn't repeat itself? The reassurance that his regression wasn't some capricious twist of fate was a comfort in itself. It seemed the author of this book felt similarly. However, his realization came too late. According to his past life's memory, he met the dragonian sage after the city had already fallen. When the sage spoke to the regretful youth, the youth reacted immediately. He sprinted madly back to his homeland upon hearing those words, focusing solely on the fact that there was still something left to protect. Luckily, he made it just in time. The battle in the city, which had initially sparked his regression, was occurring later than before and in a slightly altered state. However, there was a bewildering turn of events. Those responsible for the disappearances, no, the kidnappers—they were followers of the Magic Saint Zibric Kassel. They insisted on gathering human factions to bring Zibric Kassel, humanity's protector, back to the world. Being quite clueless, I had no idea what they meant, and seeing the grand sorcerers puzzled suggested these followers weren't sane. Despite expecting them to be mere lunatics, Zibric Kassel's descendants were unexpectedly formidable. When I came to, all the leaders of the Alliance, except myself, had become the enemy. Despite fighting with all my might, I couldn't escape an unjust end. Then I opened my eyes back in my childhood. Resentment? A thirst for revenge? What loomed larger was the futility of it all. Why does my life repeat endlessly? What meaning do my efforts hold if this life continues in perpetual cycles? Being quite ignorant, I couldn't understand, and thus, I began wandering, leaving my tribe behind. Most sages ridiculed me, taking offense. The rare grand sorcerer I encountered firmly declared that such things were impossible by any magical means. Yet, I refused to give up. – It was that which sent you back in time. The final warrior who fought till the end. – Of course, enduring such an experience twice is exceedingly rare. *tsk tsk* My life was far from meaningless. – It's still good. The power of the wish, its golden light within you signifies that the grudges of those who wished for it haven't vanished. The place I vacated was now occupied by them. The black serpent, heirs of Zibric Kassel. They guarded my homeland, battling other species. I lacked intellect and couldn't sense mana. Hence, I couldn't fathom learning magic—the mightiest force in the world. For someone like me, the force represented a power those devoid of talent could still cultivate. I thought ordinary people could also easily acquire the force as I did. That was a mistaken notion. Upon achieving the feats I couldn't in my past life, I believed everything was complete. What an arrogant thought. – Let's establish a human empire once more. – Indocumented by any provocations from other species. The diminishing power of mana across the continent played a significant role. Monsters seemed to move steadily southward, and other species, more attuned to mana than humans, showed similar tendencies. Slow as it was now, eventually, all non-human species might entirely migrate south, maybe even beyond... Based on this judgment, the Alliance expanded its bases northward. Naturally, the north became human territory. Amidst this transition arose unforeseen issues. Within the Alliance's domain, disappearances began to increase. The unjustly ascended limbless dragon, symbolizing the wicked serpent. Their leader dubbed themselves the 'Snake that Swallowed the Truth,' and ranted madly. – Only we know the truth of the world. – This alone is humanity's true salvation. – It's still inadequate. We need more humans! Offer them as sacrifices! Initially, I thought some Alliance leaders had betrayed us. But seeing their eyes, I understood it wasn't their will. Zibric Kassel's descendants were manipulating minds and summoning otherworldly creatures. Thankfully, their magic, for some reason, didn't affect me. – Gods? Don't make me laugh. Unless it’s the Creator, gods are just beings on a slightly higher dimensional plane. Sure, they might be potent. Yet, they can't meddle with time. So, is it entirely impossible? No, it is possible. – Even they rely on divinity, or more accurately, the faith of sentient beings. Do you know what that implies? – It's a miracle born of the grudge-laden, earnest wishes of sentient beings. The culmination of the souls of the wronged, creating hope in the form of you. – But what are you doing here? A momentary daze enveloped me. The dragonian sage explained once more. – They, too, wished for their grudges to be resolved. They chose to believe in you, who fought to the very end. – What? Meaningless regression? You must be blind to the immense grudges you shoulder to utter such nonsense! Agh, that's why humans... He said that there were others like me in ancient times. When all races were closer to the heavens, in those long past days resembling the divine, such instances, though rare, did occasionally occur. These individuals were called 'those who change fate,' and he claimed that the 'golden light of wish power' within me was proof of that. Furthermore, he stated that as time progresses, individuals like me would become even rarer. As the era moves further from mythic times, the power needed for regression—the weight of those unjust wishes—would continue to increase. He explained that for someone like me to emerge again, an unimaginable scale of sacrifice would be necessary in our current era. At that moment, countless thoughts rushed through my mind. My family and friends, who cried and laughed with me. The tribe members who cheered me on. The people who smiled in the ever-growing villages and cities. They were all a part of me. All those hopes and expectations supported me. And yet, with just two deaths and regressions, I had believed it was all an illusion and ran away.