123 – The Returner’s Surprise (5)
To be honest, I don’t think I’ve had the feeling that my abilities are lacking recently. Although I am not as good as the top players, my basic specifications are very good.
Objectively speaking, I was a strong person.
“Whoo, whoo…” “
But now I am keenly feeling my lack of ability. No, more accurately, I felt that my swordsmanship was very lacking.
While Choi Ji-won’s swordsmanship follows the principles of both attack and defense, my swordsmanship focuses solely on attack and subduing the opponent quickly and accurately. In a way, it was natural, as it was a skill he had honed while defeating the monsters that constantly came from the 4th floor.
That’s why we put murderous intent into every strike, aiming to defeat it with just one move. If you can’t suppress it at once, there will be a counterattack, and if so, there is a high probability that it will return. Therefore, my sword can be said to be a strong sword in terms of martial arts.
However, the sword of the alter ego was different. Its sword was light, fast, and insubstantial.
Cheonbyeonhwa (天變萬化). That damn sword was unpredictable. It appears to be wielded without any set format, but every blow is fatal. Even with my reflexes honed on the 3rd floor, avoiding it was almost impossible.
The reason why my alter ego’s swordsmanship is so different is simple. If I practiced my sword skills against monsters on the 4th floor, my clone practiced his sword skills against me on the 5th floor. Because it is a swordsmanship trained solely to defeat me.
“f*ck… “
Even now, I have returned with a cut on my shoulder. It’s not a deep wound. A minor wound that can be forgotten by putting a band on it and that even ordinary people can laugh at. But I am a regressor, and even these light wounds are fatal.
“You didn’t even hit me once… “
The fight structure between me and my alter ego always followed the same structure. I actively try to turn the battle into a battle of strength by clashing swords, while my alter ego avoids it and focuses on hurting me. The fight between Kang 强 and Yu 流. So far, the alter ego has won everything. No, I won, but it might have ended up as nothing.
“Hey, how do you do that? “Break the sword in the air.”
“… “
“I tried following it, but my wrist ligaments were really sore. “I think I can do it if I do it, but at the same time, I think I’ll have a regression because my wrist is sore.”
“… “
“Are you using mana? Right?”
Time flows constantly. As my alter ego has come to understand me, I have also come to understand my alter ego.
It was clear that the clone had learned how to use mana through repeated regression. When the mana that is quietly sleeping inside the body is circulated very quickly, the color of the world changes, and when that happens, the color of the guy’s wrist is especially different. It looks like he went beyond simply circulating mana to improve his physical abilities and came up with his own way of using it.
“But if you do it, I can do it too.”
But we are the same person. If my alter ego can do it, I can do it too. From the moment I realized that alter ego deals with mana, I started researching ‘how to send mana to the right place at the right time.’ It wasn’t an easy task, but as I kept trying, at some point I was able to follow along, albeit clumsily.
“Hey, this is it.”
I abandoned the traditional swordsmanship. Forgetting the lethal swordsmanship of each blow, he learned the changing swordsmanship just like his alter ego. Because it was advantageous in the fight against returners.
Thus, I also succeeded in learning ‘breaking the sword in the air’, and the moment I was able to break away from the traditional attack-only sword technique and use a variety of patterns.
“… Uh?”
The alter ego surpassed me again.
This time, the slow sword suddenly became faster, and the fast sword suddenly became slower. Speed control that completely penetrates psychological weaknesses. A feat that defies physical laws by borrowing the power of mana. I was unable to respond in any way to a technique I encountered for the first time and retreated helplessly.
“… “I do it too.”
Once again, the return to catch up with the alter ego that had gone ahead has begun.
**
“… “
“… “
I don’t know how many times I repeated the regression. I easily passed it 100 times, maybe a thousand times? 10,000 Times? Since I don’t have the means to record it, I can only understand it by feel.
I used to talk to my alter ego in a pleasant way, but now I too am at a loss for words. When on earth is that guy going to collapse? Was my will this strong?
“… “
I throw away all unnecessary thoughts, such as what the reality is like and what I will do when I leave the 5th floor. What you need to focus on at this moment is how you can become even a little stronger. By developing and developing again, can we increase the number of times that alter ego returns as much as possible? Focus only on that.
However, in this fight, you cannot essentially taste the result of ‘victory’, and you can only ‘realize’ that you have won indirectly by feeling your opponent grow. In short, it means that your mentality changes at a very fast rate.
“… “
Looking at the face on the sword, it is very similar to the appearance of the clone I saw when I first entered the 5th floor. The eyes have lost their power, and the overall impression is strong. If an acquaintance is walking around like this, it’s perfect to hear, ‘Are you okay?’
Of course, the alter ego is in worse condition. The speed at which he mumbles something while looking at his sword has accelerated, and if an acquaintance were to walk around like that, he would immediately recognize the phone number of a mental hospital.
“Don’t go around like that with my face…” “
When I look in the mirror and see my face like that, I feel strange for no reason. What if Choi Ji-won’s memories had not returned and I had repeatedly returned to the 20th, 30th, and 40th floors alone… He probably didn’t look like that.
It would have become something closer to a machine than a person, climbing the tower with an expressionless expression. Once again, I realize that I am lucky.
Of course, realizing this did not mean the fight was over. As my alter ego becomes stronger, I also become stronger. And when I finally catch up with my alter ego, it becomes even stronger.
Regression. Return. Return. I felt like I was going to become mentally ill as I was repeating the same situation endlessly.
“Dear climbers. What do you think are the ‘uniquely human strengths’? Of course, there may be several answers. But I think there is only one answer.”
“Dear climbers. What do you think are the ‘uniquely human strengths’? Of course, there may be several answers. But I think there is only one answer.”
Now I have memorized every line of Raphael’s speech. I memorized the speed of speech, the accent, and even the parts where I took a breath. I never wanted to memorize it, but I memorized it without even realizing it.
I hope he gives up quickly. Now I want to get some rest.
**
“Ah.”
I lost again.
You may think you have gotten used to repeated defeats, but getting used to it is the same as already being pickled. I was steeped in the bitter taste of defeat and despair.
“… “
Slowly, negative concepts rise to the surface of our thoughts. What if the alter ego never falls apart? What if I go crazy faster than my self-immolation? What if Raphael intervenes and protects the spirit of the alter ego?
What if I’m trapped on the 5th floor and can’t get out forever? What if I go crazy at some point and have to lie still on the floor and repeat the cycle of regression and suffer never-ending punishment?
A returner cannot even die. When I realized that fact, it sent shivers down my spine and made me fight even harder. Of course, we still lost.
Choi Ji-won’s face slowly becomes a little confusing. In the endless waves of reality, her precious memories are chipped away like rocks on the shore. I feel a sense of crisis. I felt a sense of crisis that if this fight continued any longer, my mind might be twisted.
Of course, there is no clear answer. All you have to do is repeat the fight and pray that your opponent collapses from exhaustion.
“… “f*ck.”
However, the complexion of the clone approaching from afar was the brightest complexion I had ever seen. Although their eyes were blurred and they were muttering something, a light smile appeared on their lips.
Have I finally gone crazy? You look too good for that, don’t you think? I want to stop now. Please fall down.
Hold the sword at an angle and watch out for the approaching clone. Whatever it is, what I have to do is decided. Struggling as much as possible.
“… “
Stand tall.
“… ?”
But instead of walking, the alter ego stood tall in its place. Because it was a pattern that had never been seen before, I was on high alert.
From Noble mtl dot com
Have you invented a new technology? You got stronger here? Ha, how much longer do we have to regress to win? Was I this talented kid?
That moment when I held my sword tightly with a mixture of frustration, desire to win, and regret.
[…] Stop.]
“Huh?”
A long time passes.
My alter ego spoke to me.