272 - Regression Is Too Much

272 – Proven by the Regressor (12) Let's summarize the situation. “There are three main combat personnel.” Me. Choi Ji Won. And a mage. The mage is strong. As the boss of a single floor, it is designed to handle five players, possessing a strength equivalent to that of five or more players combined. Even though Choi Ji-won and I are stronger, the mage remains a formidable ally. Let’s set aside questions here. It’s true the mage is strong, but not nearly strong enough to confront the dragon on its own. The same goes for the warriors. “Since we lack any sealing tools... The goal is obviously to kill the dragon.” Our objective is to kill the dragon. In doing so, we'll earn rewards and observe the results of the warlock's work. Player Kim Jun-ho wants to kill the dragon and get the reward. Human Kim Jun-ho wants to see the results of the mage’s efforts. Killing the dragon can satisfy both desires, so achieving this outcome if possible is what I aim for. “Wait a minute.” An Italian player interrupted me. “Then what are we supposed to do? You haven’t mentioned that. I know it might not help.” “…I think it would be very helpful to ensure the safety of the warrior village. Their assistance is crucial.” “Hmm.” He stroked his chin and exchanged glances with the other players who were watching. “I don’t know if I can say this, but I also want our share secured.” “Maybe the accomplishment will wipe it out. Isn’t that enough?” “Well, thank you. But what if it isn’t?” “I’ll handle it separately then.” “Good.” We can’t just criticize them for being ‘greedy’. Engaging in this reckless plan involves high opportunity costs, and if Choi Ji-won and I perish while facing the dragon, all three of us will have to confront the mage. Agreeing to this is an adventure in itself. This is a tower where you gamble with your life. “So, let’s get back to the plan.” What are the ways to kill the dragon? Depending on its creation, there might be a small scale called 'Yeoklin' that can kill if struck, but there's no certainty whether this dragon possesses it. “A dragon's common weak spot is usually its heart…” There’s no reason for the dragon to use magic. Without magical power, targeting the heart inside its massive body is challenging. In other words. “You have to aim for its head.” It would be wiser to target the head, a weak spot common to all living creatures. There’s no disagreement there. “First of all, I’m the easiest one to approach.” The ice dragon is surrounded by a cold aura. The same goes for me. I even have an A-level trait called ‘cold resistance’, so it’s clear that I am the most capable of countering its power. “This is my characteristic.” “I use the hero traits.” What I'm trying to do isn't much different from the tutorial. “You, the mage. Is there any technique to summon creatures?” “There’s not. What I can summon is limited to parts of a demon's body or the dead. Also, I'll tell you in advance that mental attacks won't work on the dragon. It’s already insane.” “Hmm.” A bit disappointing, but still manageable. “Leader. Let’s head back to the village for a moment. Is that alright?” “What are you trying to do!” “I need help.” As you know, the ‘hero’ trait is one where your true strength grows the more people you recognize as protectors. The more people I have, the stronger I become. “What’s the population of this village?” “Around 200 people!” “…And 50 warriors?” “We risk our lives on every expedition! I was deceived by that idiot!” “You keep calling me an idiot…” “That’s it. 250 people including warriors?” “Yes!” 250 people. It’s quite a number, but I feel it’s still not enough. 250. In the tutorial, they even deployed a group of goblins, so I’m a bit dissatisfied with that. It would be great if I could activate ‘Heart of Cold’ to be safe thanks to the hero trait... Even if not, it’s worth trying. Since I've come this far, I'll use everything I can. ** “The mage we thought was evil is actually being controlled by an evil dragon!” “Woooo!!!” “The dragon must be killed! Just kill the dragon and everything can go back to normal! I will protect you from the evil dragon!” “Great, Captain! Is that true?” “… It is!” “Woooo!!!” Inciting the villagers was easy. Besides having the ‘mysterious atmosphere’ trait, I also possess the ‘curiosity’ trait, so stirring the general public isn’t a problem for me. “… “ “… “ Of course, the support and other players are looking at me with slightly cold expressions… Still, you can do it, but isn’t it better than not doing it? -Hero [C] -In times of crisis, people think of you. You grow stronger when fighting to protect someone. [Hero trait effect activated!] [Hero trait effect activated!] [Hero trait effect activated!] [Hero trait effect activated!] [Hero trait effect activated!] [Hero trait effect activated!] So, for the first time in what feels like forever, I activated the ‘Hero’ trait by stacking it. “Wow, wow…” “NO… ” White smoke billowed out of my body, and a strange light began to emanate. Well, isn’t it like buying an 'Aura' by spending money in an online game? That’s what happened to me. It’s quite beautiful to see the shimmering white light around. “Jun-ho, are you alright?” “…I don’t know.” It wasn’t just the exterior that changed. The magical power was also boiling. It's not about the Heart of Cold. My very existence has been amplified. As my physical capabilities increase, so does my magical power, so there's no downside. Therefore... Thanks to my strengthened body, I can wield this tremendous power. I can command it, but I can't use it as freely as I’d hoped. “What do you think?” “The amount of magical power and its momentum is stronger than me using the ‘Heart of the Demon Fighter.’” “Strong?” “There’s also the matter of swordsmanship... Because of your characteristics. If we were to fight, I think I would lose.” “Hmm.” According to Choi Ji-won’s assessment, ‘If you look at the sheer power of his body, he's stronger than me equipped with the Heart of Seomjeon.’ In contrast, she implied that if a fight broke out, he would win. That's precisely as I thought. “The preparations are complete.” By the time we finished our check-up, the mage had also finished their preparations. Similarly, the villagers began their evacuation, and the players nodded as they led them to safety. “Let's go.” The dragon looked down on us from the mountain. Our eyes met. The battle... had begun. ** Once again, the plan was simple. Cut off the dragon’s head. But as is often the case with such goals, the simpler the objective, the harder it is to achieve. Hanging a bell around a cat’s neck seems easy enough just by watching the crest. So, there needs to be an explanation of ‘how’ afterward. How will we sever the dragon’s head? How? The problem lies in closing the distance immediately. Look at that massive arm. What about its long tail? It's not easy to approach even if you throw just one snowball at a time. Even if I manage to do it with a flash beam, Ji-won lacks the capability to chase. What we need here is the mage. “%$!$#!$##” Holding his staff with both hands, he uttered the same unpleasant incantations. As if answering his call, a red hand emerged from the ground. “… “ The dragon’s eyes shifted to the mage. This being also sensed the mage's spell, and even though the dragon sensed its presence, it didn’t retaliate. “Is it okay?” “Probably.” Because the emergence of the red hand was beneath Choi Ji-won and me. The red hand was slow. But, its power alone was undeniable. Anyone would notice. That we were attempting to use this hand as a sort of catapult. Position yourself in the red hand and lower your posture as much as possible to reduce the impact. “Now!” -Shwaagh! The Red Hand hurled us toward the dragon with mighty force! The wind roared fiercely in my ears, and it was hard to keep my eyes open, so I had to shield them with magic! It felt so surreal! Like riding a high-speed amusement park ride! The sensation of free falling! “—!!!!!” The dragon, which had been lying down, rose up, opening its mouth wide, letting out a fearsome roar. Was this Dragon Knowledge? Even with my ears protected by magical power, my entire body felt like it was ringing loudly. Should I say that the vibrations shook my lungs? But it was too late. The distance between the dragon and us was now around 100 meters. At this range, it was possible to approach adequately. “Be careful. Its attacks will be faster than they appear. There’s an optical illusion because of its sheer size.” “Got it.” Ji-won began sprinting to the right. I veered left. The dragon seemed confused about which side to target. “—!!!!” Another roar from the dragon. This time, even cold energy spewed out in all directions. “Is it bearable?” Is it because I’m facing the same energy? I think it’s manageable to withstand. I’m sure Ji-won will hold out because she has ‘Shingeomhapunil’. “First… From the armpit.” My target was the dragon's armpit. When attacking formidable enemies, it's best to strike at weaker areas first, and most joints are vulnerable. If you can sever the armpit muscles, you can disable one of its attack methods. But don't let your guard down. Counterattacks can occur at any time. You must meet every assault sincerely and do your best. Keep the secret of the flash beam at your fingertips. Magical power was compressed, compressed, and compressed again, entirely contained within the sword. A body full of power. Time seemed to slow due to my concentration. Perfect. Nothing more, nothing less. Conditions were ideal. Envisioning a blow that could split worlds apart. “Hah!” I approached the dragon with speed I had never experienced before and at a pace that was hard to imagine. “Uh huh?” “Is that Junho?!” That’s where the problem lies. It was a speed I never anticipated. Arriving half a beat earlier than expected, my body wasn't ready to chime the bell. I tried to halt abruptly, but it was impossible to slow down, caught in the ‘flash signal’. “Ah.” -Bwak! In the end, it was my forehead that hit the dragon's hard scales, rather than the sharp blade. [You have suffered damage.] [You will return to when you first entered the 27th floor.] *** “Jun-ho, why do you look like that?” “Eh, um…” First things first, capturing the dragon was not the issue. I need to start with understanding the power of the ‘Hero’ trait.