273 - Regression Is Too Much

273 – Proven by the Regressor (13) The study of 'characteristics' is still an active topic worldwide. For instance, there is a report from a military company in Costa Rica. (This was later leaked.) "Your trait is the 'ability to make weapons sharper', right?" "Yes. If you look at it this way..." "The ability has been confirmed. What matters is where you use this characteristic?" "Uh... I've also used it on kitchen knives. Last time, I borrowed a real sword and tried it." "What about a tree branch?" "Pardon?" "Is it a trait that adds sharpness? Or is it a trait that enhances existing sharpness? From a dull tree branch to a masterfully forged sword. Let's try an experiment." "Yes, yes!" While research at the company level is active, individual level research is also challenging. Many people are learning to climb the tower quickly and become stronger. There are even more people conducting research out of mere interest. One of the hottest topics on YouTube right now is 'players'. "Today, the topic we're testing is: Can we make migrating birds fly in a heart shape using the 'Communication' trait?!" "Here's the news. A cancer patient in Peru is reportedly fully cured thanks to the 'self-healing' trait." "Currently, research is ongoing on agriculture using player characteristics..." "Use the welcome feature to educate smokers! Let's do it right now!" Regardless of the intent, public understanding of 'traits' is indeed growing. Living in the future, I have a high understanding of this field. So what do I want to talk about? I want to state that there are two main types of traits that enhance abilities. There are traits that 'add' new powers, and traits that 'enhance' existing elements. Adding characteristics increase power by a certain amount. This is similar to an example of an old man on the brink of death suddenly regaining his vitality. On the other hand, 'enhancing' characteristics boost existing performance. Heavy things become heavier. Sharp objects become sharper. Conversely, you cannot add a feature that did not previously exist. This means a tree branch does not turn into a sharp weapon. Am I still rambling nonsense? ... Okay. Here's the reason. I haven't tested the effects of the 'Hero' trait separately, but it's clearly an 'Enhancement' power. It's a power that multiplies my current physical abilities whenever the number of people I protect increases. The magnitude of enhancement grows stronger as my physical strength increases. In gaming terms, this is called a 'multiplicative operation'. I wanted to say that, in a way, it was natural for me not to be able to adapt to my own power and to make a few mistakes. “Junho?” “Eh, yes.” “What’s wrong?” “… NOTHING.” Honestly, it was embarrassing. It was extremely embarrassing. Here I was, talking about the successes and failures of a wizard, the raison d'être of a warrior—something profound and philosophical—but it hit me hard... I felt my dignity had vanished. Perhaps I should be glad that Choi Ji-won's memories aren't intact? I'm the only one who remembers. As long as I forget, it's like it never happened. But if that's the case, is it safe to say that a person who can't be remembered by anyone is a person who doesn't exist? It's a deeply philosophical question. “Junho!” “Ah, oh. I'm sorry.” Bingryong's large eyes were fixed on me. It was my first encounter with the giant. Is it because I'm not a genius? Or because my own physical growth has stalled lately? Adapting to a changing body isn't easy. It's really not easy. Even when you think everything is going well, at some point, mistakes will happen. -Kaang!!! “Ahh, my wrist…” The timing to reinforce my sword-wielding arm was off, and my wrist bone fractured. “Big, big...” “Is that Junho?!” “My heart...” Having lost control while using stronger magic, my heart stopped from the cold. “Damage!” “Got it! I'm running up!” “Is that Junho?” -Love's sweet! “… Ah?” I leapt high to dodge the sweeping tail attack on the floor but ended up jumping too high, allowing the creature's claw attack to get dangerously close before I landed. These ludicrous mistakes kept recurring, but humans are creatures that adapt, and I'm human in my own way. “Junho, left…” -Hwiik! “Inhaling!” “Well, you're alright now.” I've now reached the point where I can initiate an attack successfully without Jiwon's guidance. This dragon lacks intelligence. It’s like a giant, pre-programmed game boss. It means its reactions are always the same. If you approach its head, it tries to bite. If you come from the side, it swings its arm or tail. If you jump on its back, it rolls. If it were intelligent, it could think. It could engage in psychological warfare, put opponents in danger, or identify a target and retaliate. Why, when you look at creative works, does no one say, 'It's just a big scarecrow?' That's what the dragon was like. Of course, for what could be considered a scarecrow, it was extraordinarily large, fast, powerful, and strong. But still, predicting its movements meant there was a possible response. “Right armpit! I'm hurt!” “Left side too!” My 'coldness' had little effect on the dragon. Just as I, possessing a similar power, was not too affected by the dragon's power, the dragon was not significantly affected by mine. But that was okay. Because the sheer destructive force, not the cold nature of the magic power, was enough to deal with it. “Now’s the time!” “—-!!!” A green fireball fell from the sky. It was a mage's attack, and the dragon sensed it immediately, rolling on the ground to dodge it. “Jiwon!” “Yes!” And we had predicted this movement. Actually, it wasn’t so much a prediction as it was familiar territory, but one could say we anticipated it well within this timeline. Choi Ji-won and I had moved to the position where it would roll, but since its body was massive and the mountain area was narrower in comparison, its movement was limited. “…!” As if summoning great strength, I dashed forward with all my might. The sound of my heartbeat pounded in my ears, and my field of vision gradually narrowed, focusing intently on my target. The dragon hadn't recovered from its fall yet. Rolling such a massive body was indeed threatening, but it required a lot of strength. It's not a technique that can be recklessly abused. I didn't understand why, since there was no reason for me to. The target was its eye. From my experiences in previous encounters, I learned that piercing those tough scales required exceptional skill. It hadn't even received a scratch from previous worthy attacks. Hence, only coordinated strikes from Jiwon and the mage, who had amassed their strength over a long period, could kill it. But would the dragon just accept such an attack? Dodge or intercept. That's why the snow descended. It was a tactic to first remove its means to retaliate and impair its vision. “—!!!” We charged toward its face. Bingryong opened his mouth wide as he looked at us. A horrifying roar erupted from his mouth, but having prepared in advance with magic, I avoided losing consciousness. I steadied my bewildered mind and continued my charge. “—-!!!!!!!” Bingryong's eyes widened. He looked genuinely startled, but he didn’t give up. His mouth was already open. In one swift motion, he lunged his head inward to swallow me whole. His limbs were incapacitated from the fall. His wings had been in poor condition from the start. It was safe to say this was his last stand. The problem was there seemed no way to dodge it. “Go!” Yes, that is, if not for Choi Ji-won. Choi Ji-won, wrapped in blue lightning, leapt up and sliced through Bingryong’s lower jaw as if closing it. Thanks to this, I landed on the bridge of the dragon's nose instead of its sharp teeth. “Sorry about this.” I channeled all the boiling magic power into the tip of my sword. Targeting the large reptilian eye. “…!!!” And at that moment, Ben sensed it. Something was wrong. Was it the unsettling liquid trickling down from under its eye that bothered you? Or the psychological discomfort of hurting an innocent creature? No. It wasn't that. “…” The dragon howled. It wasn’t the intimidating roar from before, nor a terrifying, unintelligible sound. This creature... it was crying mournfully. Like the lament of a heartbroken woman, or the wail of a child. White mist emerged from its snout. The sky turned white. No, it wasn’t discoloration. It was cold. “… Ah.” It was only then that I realized. Why did people try to 'seal' the dragon? The dragon's heart was about to explode. The space froze. The world did. And that was it. [You have taken damage.] [You will return to the first moment of entering the 27th floor.] *** “I just realized.” I just felt it. You can't win by fighting. You can't win. No matter how you achieve victory... the immense energy lying dormant within that body would erupt. Even if I somehow miraculously survived, every living thing, including Jiwon, would freeze. We… You can't kill a dragon. I can't let Choi Ji-won die just for compensation. “Jiwon