◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (24)

Chapter 5. Caught on His Own (5)

Nine years had passed since KiJun was trapped in the world after the tutorial ended. At last, the moment arrived.

―Steelization (U) skill has reached level 99, its limit.

A month ago, Rapid Regeneration had reached level 99, and not long before that, No Rest for the Wicked skill as well. With Steelization as the last, all three of his Rare skills from his first tutorial phase had grown to Unique max level.

Feeling a strange sense of déjà vu he had experienced several times before, KiJun closed his eyes and then opened them again. He was ready for the next step.

"Demons Lord," KiJun called.

"What is it?" the Demon Lord asked, looking paler than before, yet maintaining a bright smile as if still trying to deceive him.

Just a moment ago, they had been engaged in fierce combat, both of them drenched in sweat and bearing wounds here and there.

KiJun tossed his twin shields aside and spoke to the Demon Lord, who was gleaming at him curiously. "I want to try something. From now on, I'll only defend. Can you attack me in various ways?"

"Sure ― no advice needed, right?"

"Of course."

The last time KiJun had received advice from the Demon Lord was three years ago when he completed Salutaris. Having passed down the mana circuit of freedom to him, the Demon Lord realized KiJun no longer needed her concern when he overcame and transformed it to suit himself.

KiJun had learned to walk his path without being concerned about others. He was ready to face others in Leta after the tutorial ended, equipped to handle things his way.

"Fine, then come at me as much as you want ―!"

As the Demon Lord unleashed her destructive magic, her fists shrouded in deep darkness lunged towards him. Despite being weakened for some unknown reason, she was still strong enough to easily take KiJun's life.

Originally, the barriers of grades were unbreachable.

KiJun had killed a full-powered demon and proven that he could surpass such barriers, but the Demon Lord who had nurtured him had proven herself numerous times to reach that position.

―Crack!

"Hero!"

"It's fine, keep coming!"

As soon as his abdomen was pierced by the Demon Lord, KiJun suppressed the Rapid Regeneration that was about to activate by his will. Steelization rapidly hardened his body to prevent the wound from worsening, and No Rest for the Wicked poured strength into his steel body to keep standing. Finally, he tied in Rapid Regeneration.

―Crack!

He had remembered a transformation skill that the Demon Lord briefly showed a long time ago. It was a complex mixture of various high concepts, emanating a strong and ominous aura, incomprehensible and thus powerful.

―Boom!

KiJun blocked the Demon Lord's attacks, combining his skills into one. He had to do it to survive. His intense willpower, reflected in his spirit power, shaped his metal body more robustly.

―Boom!

The land nearly turned to ashes under the bombardment powerful enough to split stars. While Lucy watched, relieved that her connection with KiJun hadn't severed, the Demon Lord, who had initiated the attack, watched the center of the explosion with a serious expression, holding an unknown glass bottle from her inventory.

Finally, as the darkness disappeared and the dust settled, KiJun, covered in a thin layer of metal, stood holding his ground.

―Hero!

"I feel like I'm going to fall, catch me."

Instead of saying something cool after using all his strength to complete the transformation, KiJun collapsed backwards, caught by the Demon Lord who had approached from behind.

The Demon Lord looked at the pale-faced KiJun and chuckled.

"You did it."

"I would have been really embarrassed if I had died."

"Indeed."

―Don't joke, I was really worried...

While Lucy, who usually would have made jokes about the Demon Lord being a devil or plotting to kill him, now looked as if she was about to cry with relief.

KiJun hugged her and checked the system messages.

―By combining various skills you've honed over a long time, you've met your ideal in [Rapid Regeneration], [Steelization], and [No Rest for the Wicked], transcending their limits. You've acquired the Legendary-grade skill [Adamant]. The Skill Creator title effect amplifies its effect by 20%.

―Creating a Legendary-grade skill provides a very positive adjustment to [Skill Creator]. The title's growth is imminent.

Adamant, the metal of the gods.

In Greek mythology, the scythe or Harpe, given by Gaia to Kronos, was made of adamant. It was the metal that harmed gods.

The Greek word, meaning uncontrollable, was later absorbed into English, denoting indomitable and impervious. It was the perfect embodiment of KiJun's ideal.

"Are you satisfied?"

"Very."

―But that was too much. I don't want to see that again.

"Sorry."

While Lucy, visibly worried about him, contrasted with the Demon Lord who looked relieved along with KiJun, he found the scene amusing.

The Demon Lord suggested, "Let's have a party."

Although KiJun initially frowned at the suggestion, he couldn't resist the Demon Lord's gentle smile and nodded in agreement.

"Alright, let's have a party."

He felt the end approaching and the thought of being unable to stop it was terribly painful.

* * *

It had been almost 10 years since the start of the second round.

"There's a rebellion," said YeMin, the leader of the world's strongest party, composed of four members, in a cold voice.

"So, heroes are fighting each other? Is that what this means?" she inquired.

"…Yes," JiHye replied, frustrated. She couldn't believe such foolishness. Hadn't the heroes already experienced total annihilation once due to their inadequacies? And yet, there was a rebellion?

"The reason?" YeMin asked.

"Do you remember the guy claiming to be the strongest?" JiHye described a man who claimed to have Uncommon innate strength, which he apparently raised to Rare and had gathered a force to challenge the Demon Lord.

"A rebellion for that?" YeMin furrowed her brows, expecting a tale of the man trying to establish his own nation or something similar.

JiHye explained with a sigh, "There's talk about not attacking the Demon Lord… Some say it'll just lead to another annihilation… others are scared of what might emerge if the Demon Lord is defeated."

YeMin blinked in disbelief. What were the million heroes summoned to this world even training for, if not to defeat the Demon Lord?

JiHye continued, "During the first round, we were annihilated because we attacked the Demon Lord first. Now, they say we should live on this continent without provoking the Demon Lord..."

"That's nonsensical!" YeMin cried out in disbelief. The Demon Lord's mere existence was causing monsters to grow stronger and the land to decay. "That's why we trained to attack the Demon Lord at the last possible moment!"

"Um… there’s someone who can purify the land," JiHye hesitantly added.

"So, they're relying on this purifier, thinking it doesn't matter if the Demon Lord destroys the world as long as they can purify small areas and survive?" YeMin asked incredulously.

"It's more like trying to amplify the purification area with other capable heroes. But yes, that's essentially it."

"Are they fools? Do they really think the Demon Lord will just let them do that?"

Despite her angry outburst, YeMin thought of KiJun, who could have united the fearful and led them to a successful Demon Lord assault.

"Maybe KiJun left because he was tired of dealing with such people," she mused.

"YeMin…"

"So, did this 'strongest' man die? Killed by those who don't want to attack the Demon Lord?"

"No, he’s holding on, but it’s tough. That’s why I came to ask for your opinion."

"There's no need to ask. We must go," YeMin declared firmly, ready to clean up the "trash" opposing the rightful heroes.

Her announcement was met with enthusiasm from her party members, and they swiftly set out. The heroes were sharply divided between those for and against the assault on the Demon Lord. YeMin, with her overwhelming power, rallied everyone behind her.

Reaching the field where the Demon Lord was presumed to be, they encountered a battle between the man known as the strongest and another party of heroes.

"The heroes are divided," the crowd murmured, realizing YeMin's stance as she effortlessly dispatched those opposing her.

"There's no surrender or escape," YeMin declared coldly. "Either win or die. Only two options."

Her dual-winged sword, Nike's Bifold Wings, split the sky, shining with a strange light.

YeMin, with a faint smile, turned her attention to the man, the strongest, who was left dumbfounded by her prowess.

"You," she addressed him without looking. "We're heading to hunt the Demon Lord. If you want to strike a blow at the Demon Lord, follow us quickly."

The man agreed, albeit hesitantly, and YeMin, along with her party, set off to hunt the Demon Lord.

All surviving heroes, whether they agreed with YeMin or not, had no choice but to follow her lead.

Upon arriving, they realized that their return to this world might not have been just a simple comeback. The Demon Lord was, in fact, a man.

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