Episode 2. Become the Main Character (5)

I thought things would be different.

But they weren't.

What on earth is happening now?

Shiiik! Bang!

[You have died.]

Yes, even after consuming the 'Upper Soul' and gaining immense power, I was killed again by the protagonist.

But why?

[For your eccentric actions, a very few stars give you 800 Dust.]

If it weren't for receiving more Dust from the stars, I might have been stuck in the abyss forever.

Why is he so strong?

Barely escaping the abyss, I was bewildered.

After consuming the potion, my overall combat power had increased by an impressive 2000.

Not just that, if I only consider the increase in spirit power, it's a whopping 10000.

My overall combat power is 2005.

His is 2281.

Though still less than the protagonist, it was a figure worth challenging with.

Yet, I was defeated before we could exchange a few blows.

Why? What's the problem?

Could it be because of my skills?

Then, the list of my skills popped up in my head.

[Writer Skill List]

Your past in a special profession gives you extraordinary imagination. The exact uses of this skill are yet to be discovered, but maybe you can find happiness in your imagination.

Repeated failures and a fall to rock bottom have left you with a serious inferiority complex. This skill usually won't help you, but it might be useful depending on how you use it.

...How am I supposed to defeat him with these useless skills?

And why is the level of Inferiority Complex 10?

But then, I noticed there were two sections in the skill window.

Hoping for something better, I looked at the lower section.

[General Skill List]

-No skills.

...No skills at all?

Damn it, then why are there two sections?

If I remember correctly, the protagonist of "99 Ways to Live as a Returnee" started with an A-class swordsmanship skill.

Even with a twig, he could kill a person.

And me?

Even if I held the world's most famous sword, I wouldn't know how to use it.

What good is high spirit power and combat power if I don't have the skills to use them?

I'm just slightly better in physical abilities due to the excessive accumulation of spirit power.

Bang!

[You have died.]

[The abyss gazes upon you.]

…

[You have escaped the abyss on your own. 500 Dust is deducted.]

The only consolation is that my spirit power is increasing with each death.

I don't fully understand, but every time I consume the potion after regressing, my combat power accumulates. Is it some kind of system where it carries over?

[Lance Pilgrim]

Overall Combat Power: 7005

After the fourth Upper Soul, its effects slightly declined, but I was getting stronger and faster.

[Current Dust: 600]

And I could die one more time.

"What the hell are you eating!"

Vince screamed as he saw the Upper Soul shattering in my mouth.

I watched the approaching dust storm, knowing soon he would crush Vince's head.

Something's flying over there.

Shiiik!

But then, an unexpected turn of events happened.

Quickly wiping the blood from my cheek, I stepped back a few paces.

Why...?

The protagonist, instead of targeting Vince, aimed for me first.

Why the sudden change?

A chilling thought crossed my mind.

What if it wasn't just me who was regressing?

What if the protagonist was also a regressor?

What if he was regressing along with me and noticed my changes?

"Damn it—"

Cursing, I drew my sword.

Frustrated.

If only I had some means of attack.

Just one, even a pathetic one, any skill to strike at his weakness!

[Writer Skill ‘Imagination’ activates.]

[Full Brain Operation!]

[You can create a skill using ‘Imagination’.]

I was startled.

What?

I can create skills?

[Skills created by ‘Imagination’ are one-time use and will not be restored. After reaching level 3, you can permanently keep created skills.]

So, 'Imagination' is actually an incredible skill?

It’s a pity I can only make one-time use skills since it's only level 2, but I had no time or reason to hesitate.

If I'm creating a skill, it should be powerful.

A scene from an animation I once saw flashed in my mind.

A swordsman in black, wielding dual swords, annihilating enemies with the ultimate sword technique!

Its name was Starburst Str…

[The world's causality rejects your imagination.]

...What?

[Your physical abilities cannot perform this skill.]

Vince's head was flying off.

Damn, then let's go for something urgent.

My secret ninjutsu, Rasen…!

[The world's causality rejects your imagination.]

[Some stars doubt your imagination.]

...Did they catch my plagiarism?

I quickly thought of another image. Cry! The ultimate technique of the Shinigami, Getsuga…!

[The world's causality rejects your imagination.]

[A few stars are disappointed in your imagination.]

[100 Dust is deducted.]

Damn it! Stop being disappointed!

…

What about 'Stealth'?

[The world's causality rejects your imagination.]

[Insufficient imagination.]

Damn! Then what can I make?

[Your poor imagination manages to create a flimsy skill.]

Huh? I gaped at the temporary skill window that appeared.

...Wait.

This might work.

Though I was a bit bothered by the trivial nature of the skill I brainstormed with all my creativity, it seemed plausible.

The sword of the protagonist, who had slaughtered the gang, was right before me.

I could gamble here and now.

But if I survived one more cycle, my overall combat power would increase after the next Upper Soul.

Meaning, my chances of success would be higher.

Without hesitation, I stabbed myself in the heart.

[The abyss gazes upon you.]

[Repeated deaths have partially corrupted your mind.]

…

[Writer Skill ‘Inferiority Complex’ activates.]

[Jealousy of the protagonist strengthens your mental power.]

…

[You have escaped the abyss on your own. 500 Dust is deducted.]

Once again, the desert appeared before my eyes.

Bring it on, damned protagonist.

This is truly the last time.

***

'Where is he? Where's that bastard?'

Fehilt Rune, the protagonist of "99 Ways to Live as a Returnee", used the B-class general skill 'Eagle Eye' to observe the desert.

'Eagle Eye' allowed him to thoroughly scan a specific area.

The reason Lee HakHyun couldn't escape his sight was this skill.

'Found him.'

His target was detected by 'Eagle Eye', wriggling like a bug among the gang members.

'Odd fellow.'

Fehilt Rune, or rather, the writer Koo DaeSung, pondered.

'His behavior keeps changing. Wasn't he just a combat power 5 extra? Why?'

He recalled the movements of the thief he’d been pursuing.

They were not those of a mere combat power 5.

Why had the behavior pattern of such a trivial extra changed?

Beep—

The view provided by 'Eagle Eye' vanished.

He didn't need it anymore, having located his target.

'I'll catch him and ask. He might know something.'

Koo DaeSung looked down at his body.

Strong muscles, flawless skin.

A body brimming with power.

He was pleased with his new form.

Koo DaeSung became the protagonist of "99 Ways to Live as a Returnee" three days ago.

The day he edited Yu Chan Young's manuscript, he was sucked into the novel and became the 'Protagonist'.

Initially bewildered, being a genre novelist, he quickly adapted to this new reality.

It was the moment he always fantasized about.

Not only that, but he also learned the truth about this world using the protagonist's privileges.

Shocked and exhilarated by the truth, he realized.

That’s why my novels never succeeded.

That's why inexplicable novels dominated the rankings.

If what he discovered was true, his life would be set.

He would join the ranks of top 1% writers, earning a billion-won salary.

That was supposed to be the plan.

If only these inexplicable regressions hadn't started.

The regressions began a few hours ago. Since Fehilt Rune was originally a regressor, regressing wasn't unusual.

What was strange was that he was regressing 'against his will'.

Right before the first episode's climax, Koo DaeSung was pulled back to the prologue by a sudden regression.

Something had gone wrong.

The story had changed.

And now, for over ten times, Koo DaeSung had been repeating only the prologue.

The endlessly repeating prologue.

Koo DaeSung couldn't understand what it meant.

He wanted to ask the 'Dust Shop', but he didn't have enough Dust.

[Current Dust: 10]

Barely enough. Every time he turned back time to avoid death, he had to pay 500 Dust.

He couldn't afford to die now.

'At least I won't die for a while.'

The only concern was that he couldn't hear the stars' messages for the past few hours.

They used to pay close attention to him, but where had they all gone? Koo DaeSung became anxious.

'I need to kill him quickly and move to the next episode. I must regain the stars.'

Suddenly, he found his target.

The ground caved in as he lunged towards the bandits. With his power-infused steel sword, he decimated the entire gang in an instant. But his actual target was nowhere to be seen.

"Wasn't 'Eagle Eye' working correctly? He should be here," Koo DaeSung puzzled, using the skill once more. To his surprise, the indicator showed the target right where he was standing.

"Where exactly?" he wondered, feeling uneasy.

His apprehension grew when he noticed a crater dug into the ground right beneath him.

Reflexively, he looked up, only to see a gleaming sword blade, like a predator bird, plunging straight down towards him.

Join our discord at https://discord.com/yT4GsFAYRf