261 - Regression Is Too Much

261 – Proved by the Regressor (1) The newly discovered way to use the 'flashlight.' Instead of employing it on someone weaker than myself, this skill was crafted for the experts equal to or better than me. And if I had to choose one person around me who was stronger than I am. "Are you ready?" "Yes." Choi Ji-Won. No one other than her. You couldn't ask Michael Jeter for a spar, could you? Inside the gym we had rented for a while, we faced each other, each holding a wooden sword. There was a significant discomfort seeing a familiar person gazing at me in such an unfamiliar way. It felt as though she had returned from the tutorial days. "Let's start from the basics, Junho." With those words, Choi Ji-won straightened her sword and assumed a defensive stance. Was this the stance of a master who refrains from initiating the first strike in martial arts? "I don't know." Just like the late Jisoo, with wounded pride, I sprinted towards her in a single stride. The considerable distance closed in an instant, yet my eyes focused solely on Choi Ji-won. A jab? A slash? Or, as I previously suggested, a feigned thrust followed by a kick? No. I sensed none of this would work. It was too solid, too strong. Even with no way back, it would be me who suffered. There was a difference in the effectiveness of techniques or minor maneuvers. “Hmph!” So, a straightforward knock down. A heavy strike executed by gripping the sword tightly with both hands and pressing with force. It's easy to disrupt an attack with a broad motion. Simply dodging without blocking. -Swish! Clang! However, Choi Ji-won didn't avoid the attack timidly; she blocked it directly. Not only did she block it, but she also slightly redirected my strike. Considering an overhead strike is the most damaging, this indicated a significant gap in basic physical strength even without employing magical force. “Ugh…” I was out of breath. Now it was my turn to defend. A somewhat straightforward thrust came in, and I closed the gap by pressing the side of the wooden sword against hers and pushing the thrust away like a scrape. Now. Turn your body halfway and hit Choi Ji-won with your elbow... "NO." I tried to hit her, but I was a breath too late. It was because Choi Ji-won had already kicked my leg, causing me to lose balance. -Thud. Choi Ji-won gently caught me as I lost balance and fell. The posture people refer to as the princess carry. I tried to twist my body from embarrassment, but Choi Ji-won smiled wryly and didn’t let me go. “Hey!” “Oh, all right.” Anyway, I found the answer after our brief discussion earlier. Swordsmanship... Unfortunately, it was still ineffective against Choi Ji-won. My swordplay is tailored for decisive short-term battles, so when the flow was disrupted like this, defeat ran even deeper. Choi Ji-won gave me a tip, saying she could grasp my problem just from this short sparring session. "Junho. Now, follow along. It's not difficult, right?" "It is difficult..." "..." "..." Should I say that I could finally see it as I grew older? I thought I'd reached the peak of the mountain through the clouds, but only then could I see the hidden sun. Choi Ji-won's understanding of swordsmanship, combined with her magical prowess, had reached an extraordinary level. No, is this even possible? "No matter how genius you are... Isn't this too much?" "That's it, because I have a bug." "...Ah." According to Choi Ji-won's explanation... Since she had become one with her sword, her understanding of the 'sword' itself had elevated, and she mentioned that debating with two selves in her mind was incredibly helpful. So, she lived constantly in debate. "As expected, you are my sister." The saying that you could win using the Heart of Cold might need to be retracted. As I became stronger, Choi Ji-won became stronger, stronger, stronger. Her thrusts were simple thrusts, and her slashes were simple slashes, yet the depth of technique contained within was far broader than before. To the point where I feared she might reach natural beauty and become truly good, like a fairy tale. "Let's try again now." But since when had I become as talented as Choi Ji-won? Since when did she seek to challenge and break someone with swordsmanship? Regardless of the means or methods. Winning was enough. Though it might be a bit messy, the result is what matters. "So then, are you using your magical power quite sparingly?" "Okay." Unlike before, when we were not using any magical power at all, we now faced each other, generating a slight amount of magical energy. "I'm coming." My movements became passive. Instead of swinging wildly, I extended my sword in a safe and deliberate manner. I opted only for attacks that wouldn't pose a high risk even if blocked. "...!" But this too was the wrong choice. Clearly, there was an exchange back and forth, and thanks to Choi Ji-won's handling, the physical difference couldn't be said to be significant... Bit by bit, I was being pushed back. I lost my breath. On the surface, it seemed like an intense battle was unfolding, but I could feel the word 'defeat' inching closer to my throat at any moment. The difference wasn't significant. Blocking the attacks and taking incredibly small steps. When attacking, her waist rotated slightly. A hand that seemed to extend without purpose. These minute motions accumulated and accumulated again, creating ‘ease’ for Choi Ji-won and ‘impatience’ for me. As usual, the only option for someone being chipped away like this is to employ a grand technique to turn the tables. If we're just going to lose by staying idle, shouldn't we attempt a change? The problem is the other side anticipates this as well. "Go!" As I crouched and poised to slash her horizontally, Choi Ji-won instantly closed the gap. Her aim was to block my sword before it amassed full force and then subdue me. Initially, the best time to block an attack is just before it lands. -Clang! Indeed, my sword was blocked according to her intent. Just before Choi Ji-won's outstretched hand could reach my neck. -Swish! "Huh?" I instantly withdrew half a step, stopping right before reaching Choi Ji-won's neck. Choi Ji-won's hand, which tried to grab my neck, turned and aimed for my uvula instead. "I’m fast, right?" “… Yes." The difference was just a fraction of a second, but it granted me victory. "Is this really fine?" Choi Ji-won shook her wrist and nodded. "You’re talking about super-fast movements, but in reality, it was an instantaneous motion. Honestly, I thought you’d rush the station, Junho. So I attempted a counter with my remaining hand… I didn’t expect my hand to move backwards." "When I practiced this, I couldn't move left or right, but I could freely move forwards and backwards." It can't be used against large monsters or those charging at you. I think this is a technique that will work well against martial artists like Choi Ji-won, who try to evade every attack by a hair's breadth. A flash of light. Not just that, but I think it would be quite effective when used for a surprise attack. "I'm thinking of making good use of this in the future..." The next thing to consider is the Transformation Ring. Thanks to the sudden victory on the 25th floor, the Transformation Ring even replaced my attire, and I plan to actively capitalize on this 'transformation.' "What do you think?" To push the 'Shinseon' concept in the future, I’ll be wearing clothes slightly resembling this ancient motif. It may feel odd to wear flowing garments, but… How about the gi that appears in martial arts magazines? When I actually ordered and tried on a gi, I found myself more captivated by how cool it looked rather than feeling awkward. All right, I'm satisfied. A man in a uniform enveloped in a white mist? Anyone could see that he was a breath of fresh air. Should I grow my hair out and tie it back? Are you not asking if I'm anti-Spirit again? The corners of my mouth twitched for no reason. "Hmm, in that case, maybe I'll..." Choi Ji-won wore leather armor over her modern clothes rather than contemporary steel armor, making it look much more natural and beautiful. Looking at us like this, we really did seem like two people cosplaying. "...I really need to hold onto these memories, right?" "I think so…?" After enjoying our brief date, we returned right away. We skipped the 26th floor this time as well. Currently, there was no need for contributions, and nothing to do on the 26th floor. No reason to talk to Michael Jeter. There was only one thing left to do. "Let's go." Clearing the 27th floor. ** -Enter the 27th floor. A dark night. The wind blows. Snowflakes cling to the face, melt with body heat, then freeze into a thin layer of ice. "What. Are you here?" "Come in. It's cold." A voice from behind. A voice came from inside the snow-covered wooden cabin. As I slowly opened the door and went in, I saw two players warming themselves by the cozy fireplace. They were all using the 'Transformation Ring' obtained from the 25th floor, so their appearances were different, but you could tell they were players just by looking at their eyes. It was because their eyes were wide open. "...Choi Ji-Won?" "What. I didn't hear you made it to the 26th floor?" This time, we headed straight to the 27th floor right after entering the 26th, so it seemed Choi Ji-won's rumors hadn't spread at all. Two players with wide eyes stared at us. "Do you know what this floor is like?" "No... It's a floor where five people need to gather to proceed. One more person needs to come…" -Thud! "Ah! It's cold!" At that moment, a woman in a bikini rushed into the wooden cabin, and the text [4/5] floating in the air changed to [5/5]. "What, a bikini..." "Was it transformed? Why?" "No, there's no issue..." "Wait. Hold on. I hear something." Outside, I heard a commotion. It was the sound of humans. It was the sound of human footsteps. The players, who were about to pick fights with each other, immediately grabbed their weapons, and soon, the sounds approaching could be heard right outside the door. "Welcome! Friends!" A man with a thick beard and blonde hair opened the door, muscles trembling. Despite the falling snow, he remained bare-chested. The man, surveying the wooden house, smiled brightly and said. "You’ve come for an honorable death too, haven't you?" "...What?" Are you ready to die?