The Regressor Can Make Them All

Chapter 193

Se-Hoon slowly opened his eyes to the familiar sight of his bedroom ceiling.

“...”

Realizing he was in his room, Se-Hoon calmly assessed his physical condition instead of immediately getting up. Was everything truly over? Was he still in a dream?

While carefully reviewing his memories and sensations to answer those questions, Se-Hoon soon heard an incredulous voice in his mind.

“You do realize how ridiculous you look, right?”

At the voice, Se-Hoon’s attention snapped to his right hand, and he immediately noticed the inscriptions on his index finger and the eye on its back. Now he remembered that through Iron Desire, the power of the Eternal Nocturne had seeped throughout his body and combined with his consciousness.

With the answer to his questions found, he recalled his last memories and asked, “Is everything settled?”

“It ended exactly as you saw. Do I need to explain further?” Wurgen indifferently replied. To him, it was a minor incident.

But it made Se-Hoon look down at his index finger with a peculiar expression.

The last skill he used... was definitely Vision of the Abyss.

Vision of the Abyss was one of the necromancy spells imbued in the Eternal Nocturne’s Phalanx. Back when Se-Hoon had used it, he could only manage to trap the opponent beyond the boundary. But when Wurgen used it, it swallowed everything—including the Dream Demon herself.

I expected some user-specific power difference, but not to this extent.

And such power had come from a single finger bone.

“It’s obvious there will be a difference between using the power and merely borrowing it. You have to understand that to extract anything from an artifact containing the power of us Perfect Ones in the future,” Wurgen said, seemingly reading Se-Hoon’s thoughts.

“Extracting...”

Se-Hoon made a thoughtful expression. He had always thought of the tools containing their powers as secret manuals containing the complete teachings of a master, but it seemed there was more to them than that.

I think I somewhat understand...

Delving deeper into this matter would undoubtedly be beneficial for future research and application of the Ascension Ring and the Pilgrim's Incense Burner.

“Thank you for the advice.”

“It's nothing.”

At the indifferent reply, Se-Hoon raised an eyebrow.

I never knew this ill-tempered man had this side to him...

Perhaps the consciousness left in the finger bone long ago differed from his current personality.

Entertained by the thought, Se-Hoon watched as Wurgen's eye narrowed into a crescent moon shape.

“Besides, Ludwig or Andersen will be the ones getting analyzed anyway.”

“...”

Unlike the still-intact Ascension Ring and Pilgrim's Incense Burner, Iron Desire had completely consumed the Eternal Nocturne's Phalanx. And once the effect of the skill wore off, both the power and the consciousness from it would disappear, explaining why Wurgen was indifferently divulging secrets about the powers of Perfect Ones.

So as long as it's not him, it's fine.

Re-evaluating Wurgen, Se-Hoon narrowed his eyes. Meanwhile, the eye on his right hand was glancing around the room.

“Hmm... is it that? Hey, bring me closer to that jewel box, would you?”

Remembering that the jewel box Amir had given him contained the purple gem which was actually the Dream Demon's Eye, he obeyed Wurgen's instructions.

Taking control, Wurgen directed Se-Hoon’s right hand to hold its index finger above the box. From it, a black shadow-like substance then seeped out and penetrated the box.

Clank, clank!

Upon contact, the jewel box immediately started shaking violently, as if something inside was struggling to get out. However, the shadow created by Wurgen quickly stabilized the box and prevented it from opening.

Then, when the box calmed down about five minutes later, Wurgen withdrew the finger finger and instructed, “Open it.”

“Okay.”

Taking caution, Se-Hoon carefully opened the jewel box to reveal its contents. Amidst the neatly arranged jewels, the Dream Demon's Eye sat quietly. Unlike before, it now had a closed-eye-like black line across the center and emitted no dream mana.

“It was set to self-destruct if the plan failed. But I prevented that by trapping it in the boundary between life and death.”

Thinking about Wurgen’s explanation, Se-Hoon soon understood and asked, “So, the Dream Demon won’t be able to regenerate one of her eyes anymore?”

“I see you're sharp. Yes, that's correct.”

The Dream Demon's extraordinary regenerative abilities and mastery over dream magic normally rendered any physical damage to her body almost insignificant. However, Wurgen had neither returned nor destroyed the eye.

By sealing it between in the boundary, he rendered it completely lost.

Wurgen's power is quite well matched against the Dream Demon.

If the Dream Demon had known that Se-Hoon possessed one of the Eternal Nocturne's body parts, she would never have sent a part of her body in such a manner. This time, Wurgen had not only prevented information leaks but also dealt a blow to the Dream Demon and gave Se-Hoon intriguing material.

It’ll be troublesome if the seal breaks later, but if handled well...

Guessing Se-Hoon’s thoughts once again, Wurgen curiously watched Se-Hoon contemplate how he could potentially use the Dream Demon's Eye.

This brat surely isn’t right in the head...

He had first broken the finger bone of a Perfect One and absorbed its power, and now he was intending to study and utilize the Dream Demon’s eye. His audacity, combined with his way of thinking that was a bit unhinged compared to others, clearly distinguished him from those who couldn’t become top-ranking heroes.

Given his skill and talent, I might already be closely monitoring him.

As the consciousness in the finger was from thirteen years ago, Wrugen had no knowledge of Se-Hoon. However, witnessing Se-Hoon's potential assured him that his actual body in the present was already on the lookout.

With his thoughts sorted out, Wurgen called out to Se-Hoon.

“It seems everything is settled, so I will be leaving now.”

“Ah, it's already time.”

Looking at his right hand, Se-Hoon noticed that both the inscription on his index finger and the eye on the back had faded significantly. The effect of Iron Desire was nearing its end, and since Wurgen's consciousness decided to leave, it began dissipating faster.

Gazing at the process, Se-Hoon suddenly had a thought. “Um... are you just going to disappear like this?”

“Most of my consciousness will, but some parts will flow back to the original body.”

While the Eternal Nocturne was still alive, the consciousness in Wurgen’s finger bone, which had helped him defeat the Dream Demon, would cease to exist. The thought put a bitter expression on Se-Hoon’s face.

However, upon seeing his expression, Wurgen nonchalantly remarked, “My original body will receive the details of your contract to fix my finger, so don't consider withdrawing.”

“...Tsk.”

Although Se-Hoon didn't want to get involved with such a troublesome skeleton, life didn’t always go as planned. Still, he was frustrated, so he openly expressed his dissatisfaction.

At Se-Hoon’s audacity, Wurgen’s eye stared at him incredulously.

“You’ve become very confident since I'm disappearing... I advise against behaving this way in front of my main body. He might immediately kill you, regardless of whether there’s a contract or not.”

“I have that much sense myself, you know.”

“Arrogant brat...”

Squinting at him, Wurgen glanced around the room before relaxing.

“Well, you won’t have an easy time either.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Good luck. Oh, and...”

Wurgen's eye curled into a crescent moon.

“...I’m leaving you a get-well-soon gift.”

Leaving beyond those cryptic words, Wurgen’s consciousness and power disappeared, along with the inscription on his index finger and the eye on the back of his hand.

But just as Se-Hoon realized Iron Desire’s effect had completely ended, he heard a sound echo from within his body.

Crunch!

Following the sound, his bones and muscles twitched like a tightly wound spring, and Se-Hoon's darkness mana, Moonlit Shadow, began rampaging wildly.

Boom! Bang!

Startled, Se-Hoon searched his body for a cause and quickly identified it.

That damn bastard!

Since Wurgen’s power had deeply infiltrated Se-Hoon’s body through Iron Desire, it was natural for residuals to remain, especially considering it was the power of a Perfect One. However, Wurgen could have completely removed his power without leaving anything behind because his consciousness was almost in a perfect state.

He said he would erase everything... but that was a trap from the start.

Instead of completely removing his power from Se-Hoon, he spread it throughout his body. And once Wurgen's consciousness disappeared from his body, so did his control over it.

Thankfully, it had been weakened from dealing with the Dream Demon, but it was still a Perfect One’s power. Without any struggle, it quickly assimilated Moonlit Shadow and started wreaking havoc inside Se-Hoon’s body.

That bastard must have been planning to leave me in a vegetative state and then coming to fix it himself.

Was it because it was possible to fail to fully transfer the memories to his original body? Figuring out Wurgen's intention, Se-Hoon narrowed his eyes.

Too bad you picked the wrong opponent, though.

He hadn’t lived his life so foolishly that he would let the remnants of a Perfect One’s power take over his body. Desperately suppressing the rampaging remnants inside him, Se-Hoon immediately activated Soul Honing.

Swish!

A new path began forming inside his body, connecting with the mana circuit that contained Moonlit Shadow. Seconds later, the rampaging force discovered the newly created path and rushed out as if escaping.

Rumble!

Surging through the new path and moving to seize his heart, Moonlit Shadow was strengthened more and more as it absorbed all of Wurgen's power while coursing through his body.

Clank!

Slamming the path close, Se-Hoon trapped the now corrupted darkness mana in his lower abdomen. But having been strengthened, it immediately tried to break through. However, Se-Hoon’s Scorching Wheel moved first.

Boom!

The shock within his body caused him to jolt, and black smoke billowed out his mouth. Yet, the explosion only caused the corrupted darkness mana to recoil slightly; it wasn't enough to subdue it.

So, Se-Hoon detonated Scorching Wheel again and again in his abdomen.

Bang! Bang!

Explosions continued to sound from his lower abdomen, causing his entire body to repeatedly jolt, sending blood trickling from his mouth.

He had used Purified Earth to protect his organs, but it wasn't enough to completely shield them from internal explosions. So with each explosion, his injuries increase, yet he paid them no mind.

Fwoosh!

Anticipating such a situation, he had already summoned a competent healer.

Watching Se-Hoon in amazement, the summoned Vermillion Bird listened to the continuous explosions from his abdomen.

“You told me to stay quietly in that little piece of metal, but...”

The Vermillion Bird was speechless, unable to understand how a mere human could do something so reckless without flinching even once.

“You madman...”

Although it was already aware of Se-Hoon’s abnormality, it felt even more reluctant to get involved with him now.

Seeing the Vermillion Bird’s look of disgust, Se-Hoon glared at it with a frown.

“Just hurry up and heal me.”

“...Alright.”

Reluctantly, the Vermillion Bird attached itself to Se-Hoon's abdomen and began, transferring its flames inside his body, quickly healing his rapidly deteriorating interior.

This should do it.

Boom!

Confirming he no longer needed to worry about further injuries, Se-Hoon borrowed the Vermillion Bird’s flames to cause even more powerful explosions.

Although the corrupted darkness mana had been strengthened, there was no Wurgen to assist it further. And seemingly realizing that as well, the corrupted darkness mana began to lose momentum and slowly transform.

Swish-

Submitting to Se-Hoon, the corrupted darkness mana sunk down like a subordinate dropping to grovel. Seeing that, Se-Hoon opened a path to extract it separately.

At this point, all of the explosions had successfully refined the corrupted darkness mana, so he redirected the purified mana back into his body.

Woong!

Despite a few hiccups, his guidance allowed the newly purified darkness mana to flow naturally in its originally designated mana circuit. Satisfied, Se-Hoon adjusted the structure of its mana circuit before summoning an imaginary hammer, which he then used to mentally strike his body.

Clang!

A harsh metallic sound resonated in his ears, causing his body to jolt violently.

“Hah!”

His tightly shut mouth opened, and black smoke rapidly escaped.

“Whew... I’m exhausted.”

While other students were busy taking their exams, he was attacked by the Dream Demon and then almost put into a vegetative state by the Eternal Nocturne. It was no wonder why the death card had appeared in the divination magic.

One mistake and I would have lost everything.

Even though he was a regressor, his opponents were no less formidable. Reminded of the hard truth, he resolved to not let his guard down in the future.

[The effect of ‘Soul Honing’ significantly boosts all stats.]

[The elemental mana ‘Moonlit Shadow(C+)’ has been enhanced to ‘Midnight Abyss (A)’.]

[Skill ‘Edict of the Eternal Nocturne (B+)’ has been acquired.]

Reading through the somewhat expected series of notification messages that appeared before his eye, Se-Hoon checked his stats.

[Lee Se-Hoon]

[Strength - B (224) Stamina - B (230)

Mana - A (278) Agility - B (220)]

[Midnight Abyss]『A』

[Darkness mana that flows from the boundary of night.

It specializes in handling the unique darkness mana that exists beyond the boundary and can even invert the target’s boundary, sending them beyond it.]

[Edict of the Eternal Nocturne]『B+』

[The law established by the Perfect One, Wurgen Kruger.

It enables complete command over the boundary between life and death, as well as the ability to manage souls within the body.

It also allows one to control or absorb the power of spirits; however, this may lead to contamination by vengeful spirits.

*Enables manipulation of the boundary between life and death

*Enables one to command spirits and absorb their power

*Absorbing too much of the spirits' power may lead to contamination by vengeful spirits]

“...Wow.”

His mana stat had increased by more than forty points, reaching grade A in an instant. His darkness mana had similarly advanced to grade A, skipping four levels of enhancement. Additionally, he had acquired a B+ grade skill, marking significant growth.

However, rather than the grade increases, he was most surprised by the effects of Midnight Abyss and the Edict of the Eternal Nocturne.

Controlling the boundary between life and death... did I gain Wurgen’s unique skill?

It seemed he had naturally acquired the overpowered skill while taming the darkness mana mixed with Wurgen’s power. Even if it would take him some time to master it, he would likely be able to use necromantic spells like the Vision of the Abyss without the help of the Eternal Nocturne’s Phalanx in the end.

This skill also seems to have many other potential uses.... It’s quite the gift.

Anticipating how Wurgen would react if he knew about this, Se-Hoon smirked. And that was when two more notification messages popped up in front of him.

[The host’s bond has grown to Lv. 2.]

[Skill ‘Bond Recreate’ has been added.]

“...Huh?”