121 – The returner is surprised (3)
“… “
I was so dumbfounded that I stood still for a long time. This temporary state of my stun continued until the black cube collapsed.
“Congratulations!”
“Congratulations!”
I wake up from my thoughts thanks to the rain of flowers falling from all directions and the loud sound of trumpets. But my head is still confused.
“… What?”
What happened?
I absently feel my body, but nothing changes. I regressed. This is a sight I have already seen. But why?
I try to carelessly touch the back of my hand where I felt the pain. What you feel is the heavy yet smooth feel that is unique to leather. Yes, the transparent gloves were doing their job.
Then why? Why did I regress?
“Um… “
I let the illusion of Raphael float before my eyes and pondered the possibilities. What is the reason why I returned?
First. My alter ego actually has reflex abilities. Or, if my alter ego gets hurt, I get hurt too. So when I swung my sword, it left a slight wound on him, which was reflected back at me and I returned.
“That can’t be possible.”
Of course, this is a ridiculous assumption. Not only did I not have reflexes at the time of the tutorial, but the area I was aiming for was the neck. I don’t know if there is a wound on the neck, but if there is a wound on the back of the hand, this hypothesis is meaningless.
Then, second.
“… “
It would make sense if I had been stabbed by an alter ego.
But this is equally absurd. The me at the time of the tutorial and the me now are as different as heaven and earth. I am superior both technically and physically.
“… “
Then why did I regress? In fact, maybe I just mistakenly thought I had made progress, and it hasn’t changed much since the time of the tutorial.
Just as there is no significant difference if an F-class hunter is promoted to an E-class hunter, is there no difference even if a swordsman’s swordsmanship is upgraded to a swordsman’s swordsman’s swordsman’s sword?
“Whoa.”
Numerous cases repeatedly appear and disappear in my mind. There are a number of cases that seem likely, but nothing can be certain yet.
“Well, I hope you continue to work hard. “I’ll just go.”
After finishing his long speech, the illusion of Raphael disappears. Accordingly, I slowly tensed my body.
＜5Th floor＞
-Clear conditions: Defeat the enemy in front of you.
My alter ego is walking from far away. His eyes were still blurry, and his mouth was steadily muttering something.
“It will be different this time.”
While spreading mana throughout her body, she slightly puts her back foot back and extends her sword. My nerves are so tense that I can even feel the air flowing.
But he never goes first. Although my physical condition is already perfect, I maintain my distance while waiting for the opponent’s movement.
In the last episode, I got hit on the back of my hand. What you need to pay attention to here is why it is the back of your hand.
Of course, it is fatal for a prosecutor to be hit on the back of the hand, but in terms of importance, injuring one’s fingers is much more fatal. If a human is missing even one of his five fingers, his or her strength is greatly reduced.
However, it is necessary to say it like the back of your hand. Is it just a coincidence? No. There is a high probability that he also knows the information that ‘if I take damage, I will regress’. That’s probably why they were aiming for the back of the hand.
In other words, the opponent is already aware of my greatest weakness. If you take action first, there is a high probability that loopholes will be revealed. It would be wise to wait for him to move.
“… “
“… “
But when I don’t move, my other self also doesn’t move. They twitch and exchange imaginary moves, but there is no plausible gap in sight.
“Hmm… “
Even if it is true that I am passive, why is that guy so passive? As if it regresses when it gets hurt.
“Hey.”
“… “
“If you get hurt, will you regress?”
“… “
The clone does not respond and is still muttering something. I had a relaxed smile on the outside, but inside I was extremely complicated.
What happens if that alter ego also has ‘regression [EX]’? If he gets hurt, will I regress too? So, in order to clear the 5th floor, do we have to defeat that guy without getting hurt?
If you gently apply a choke from behind, you may be able to subdue it without it returning in the nick of time. Wow, this is difficult.
“… “First of all, I’ll have to try to hurt you.”
In order to provide a basis for my numerous hypotheses, I had to first hurt the guy. It would be wise to observe what happens then and then decide what to do next.
“Whoa… “
I exhale and hold the sword slightly longer. This is to increase the range as much as possible and prevent injuries.
“Inhale!”
Shuuuk!
A powerful stab that summarizes my experiences so far. The clone narrowly avoids this by bending its waist, while simultaneously twisting the wrist holding the sword and aiming for my forearm.
“hahahaha!”
But this is within my expected range. Immediately drop the sword and quickly retrieve your arm. The alter ego’s sword vainly cuts through the air.
Taking advantage of that gap, I aim for his stepping foot and kick out strongly. I bet he didn’t know that I would throw away my sword.
“?!”
However, the clone’s sword, which must have split the air, was suddenly protecting my leg.
Kaaang!!!
“aaah!”
My shin collides strongly with the sword, ringing loudly.
[You have suffered damage.]
[Return to the moment you first entered the 5th floor.]
***
“… “Was it a mistake to cut it in the first place?”
It was read that the sword should be thrown away. It doesn’t make sense, but that’s reality.
Did I fight that well in the tutorial? Was I actually a bastard with potential?
If not, does Kim Jun-ho have a lot of ‘hero’ characteristics?
“That can’t be possible…” “
Of course, my alter ego fought too well for that to be true. To be precise, it was technically overwhelming me.
I am ahead in terms of physical ability. This is a natural result since there is mana in addition to the stats.
“… “
But for some reason, he didn’t push me at all. Not only did he avoid the attack with his strange movements, but he also completely read my attack and responded accordingly.
This is clearly a strange situation. It is clear that the Archangel gave the assignment as a favor, but what on earth made it so difficult?
“… No way.”
A hypothesis came to mind, but it was so terrible that I immediately put it aside. This is the real Eva.
Rather than thinking negatively, it is better to test the solution you just came up with.
＜5Th floor＞
-Clear conditions: Defeat the enemy in front of you.
A message window pops up, and an alter ego staggers forward. But this time I am different too.
“… Come.”
“… “
In this episode, no matter what happens, we will not attack first. Because? Because I am ahead in terms of endurance.
I have higher stats than that alter ego. That means my body is superior.
Now, if we face off like this all day, who will fall first? At the time of the tutorial, was I still a sloppy person? Or am I now with good stats and mana? It is most likely over there. I don’t know how long it will take, but if it’s a war of attrition, I will definitely win.
Even if you fall down due to loss of strength, no one will be harmed. Truly the perfect solution.
Let’s see who wins. The moment I thought about that, I slightly raised the corners of my mouth.
“… !”
The alter ego suddenly leaps. A guy who swings his sword from top to bottom, exposing a lot of loopholes.
“You’re crazy!”
It looks like it senses there is no answer and is attacking, but its attack is very poor.
Tadat!
I took two steps to the right and at the same time gripped my sword tightly to stab him. When the movement is that big, avoiding it is not a problem.
Just as he was about to completely deviate from the sword’s path and deliver a thrust with all his might.
“Now what if this happens…?” “
In the air, the clone’s sword changes.
Originally, what is heavy is a straight law, and what is light is a law that is ever-changing. That is the way of the world.
But his sword was different. The sword’s path, which had been striking hard, suddenly turned 90 degrees. It’s truly a miracle that goes beyond the laws of physics.
“… Uh?”
Of course, I, who had been drawing the flow of the battle based on common sense, could not react in time to that unrealistic blow.
Suddenly!
He retreated late, but received a long horizontal cut across his chest.
[You have suffered damage.]
[Return to the moment you first entered the 5th floor.]
***
“This is not it.”
I’ve endured it until now, but this was the most ridiculous thing ever.
No, the sword coming down from above suddenly bends 90 degrees and cuts me? Do you think that makes sense?
“Inhale!”
Huh!
As a test, I imitated the movement in the air, but only my wrist hurt and I failed to reproduce it. No, how did that bastard do this?
My alter ego is me at the time of the tutorial, and I am me on the 5th floor. It makes sense that I am stronger. But now the alter ego is showing an absurd performance. Did Raphael possess the spirit of the Sword God to trouble me?
“… “
No, actually, I already noticed. I was just trying to deny it.
“f*ck… “
I curse and look at the other side of the temple. After enough time has passed, an alter ego walks towards me.
I look at the alter ego in front of me now and compare it to the one I saw when I first entered the 5th floor.
“Hey.”
“… “
His eyes, which were already blurry, had now completely lost their shine and turned black, and what he was muttering had now become an unintelligible language.
“You… “
My hypothesis was correct.
“How many times?” ?”
That alter ego had already regressed countless times.