Chapter 360
Chapter 360
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 360
Chapter Title: Final Spacetime Regression
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With the message.
Nine names were engraved in the sky one after another.
The crowd held their breath as they checked the names of heroes both familiar and newly revealed.
And they focused on the spot where the tenth and final name would appear.
Everyone naturally assumed Yang Cheon-wi's name would show up again.
But the tenth name etched into the sky completely defied all expectations.
10. Park Chan-woo
"...?!"
"Who's Park Chan-woo?"
"It's not Yang Cheon-wi! I've never even heard that name before!"
"Is it a submission error? Or did the system decide on its own...?"
The stadium plunged into utter chaos.
In place of the vanished Yang Cheon-wi, the name that appeared was 'Park Chan-woo'—an enigmatic figure no one had anticipated.
Even most Koreans tilted their heads in confusion.
Was there ever a powerhouse by that name?
Speculation ran rampant.
Especially among the awakeners who had survived the 'Third Night,' the name 'Park Chan-woo' stirred vague memories, amplifying their bewilderment.
It was a name mentioned a few times during the night's trials, yet one whose true form had never been revealed—a true enigma.
It was pandemonium.
"What the hell is going on?"
"Wasn't the 'Interspecies War roster' in Lee Hyuk-soo's hands?"
"I heard Yang Cheon-wi went missing!"
"The War God Yang Cheon-wi?"
The murmurs swelled uncontrollably.
News of Yang Cheon-wi's sudden disappearance spread late, turning Park Chan-woo's emergence into an even greater mystery.
"Wait, so does that mean this Park Chan-woo guy took Yang Cheon-wi's spot?"
"Lee Hyuk-soo! Please explain what's happening!"
"What happened to Yang Cheon-wi? Give us a statement on the roster tampering allegations!"
Amid a barrage of questions and flashing cameras, the Abyss Security Division and international delegations held an emergency press conference. On the podium stood Minister Park Sang-min with a grim expression, alongside Lee Hyuk-soo at the center of the controversy.
Minister Park Sang-min took the mic first to calm the room.
"We are well aware of the questions and concerns regarding the selection results. But to reiterate, the final ten were chosen through multifaceted evaluations and rigorous standards..."
"So what happened to player Yang Cheon-wi?!"
A reporter from the Chinese side cut in sharply.
The room grew rowdy once more.
At that moment, Lee Hyuk-soo raised his hand to quiet the crowd.
The disturbance ebbed under his calm yet intimidating presence.
He stepped slowly to the mic.
"I took first place in this selection tournament."
The statement was an obvious fact from his lips, but it carried an extraordinary weight.
"By regulation, the top finisher holds the authority to submit humanity's final representative roster. This is an official procedure recognized by the Abyss system."
The room stirred again at his words.
Such a rule existed?
Yet no one dared challenge Lee Hyuk-soo's claim.
He continued.
His voice was low and steady.
"Right before the roster submission deadline, I received official notice from the Zhonghua Federation that player Yang Cheon-wi could not participate. The reason hasn't been clarified yet. However, it was clear he could not join the team."
It was a lie.
But his expression was so composed and sincere that doubting him felt impossible.
Especially with the gravitas of being the 'Sword King' and 'Messiah' lending credibility to his words.
"The deadline was approaching, and humanity's team had to register exactly ten members in the system. Nine wouldn't suffice—that was the system's warning. In that urgent situation, I made the best decision for humanity's survival."
His gaze swept over the reporters and delegations.
"That's why I finalized Park Chan-woo as the tenth member in Yang Cheon-wi's place and submitted the roster."
"Who the hell is Park Chan-woo?! I've never heard the name!"
"How can you put some random newcomer on humanity's team...!"
"There must've been other candidates!"
Outcries erupted again.
Lee Hyuk-soo paused silently, letting their shouts wash over him.
Then he spoke once more.
"Information on player Park Chan-woo has been kept under the strictest secrecy. He is... humanity's trump card, the one person who can introduce an unpredictable variable into this Interspecies War."
His voice brimmed with unwavering conviction.
"I've personally verified his potential and abilities, and I vouch for him. His inclusion won't just add one more member—it's a decision that can more than double the team's strength. Detailed information can't be disclosed for security reasons, but when the Interspecies War begins, you'll all witness his true worth."
Lee Hyuk-soo concluded firmly, signaling no further questions.
"Time is short. We must focus all our efforts on the coming Interspecies War, not internal distrust and conflict. Trust me. Trust these ten representatives. This is humanity's all—and our best shot."
His charisma, resolute demeanor, and ironclad endorsement of the mysterious 'Park Chan-woo.'
Doubts and dissatisfaction lingered, but the atmosphere compelled acceptance.
Above all, the roster couldn't be changed now, and there were no other options.
Still.
"We have a right to know!"
A reporter—or perhaps a delegate from some nation—couldn't hold back and shouted.
His cry seemed to voice the suppressed questions of many.
"Where is Park Chan-woo? If he's humanity's representative, shouldn't he at least show his face here?!"
All eyes turned back to Lee Hyuk-soo.
Despite his charismatic speech, the core question remained unanswered.
The identity of the enigmatic tenth representative.
Where was he?
Lee Hyuk-soo's gaze settled coldly on the questioner.
The air around him grew subtly heavier once more.
"As I said."
Lee Hyuk-soo spoke low and quiet, yet with an irresistible force.
"Player Park Chan-woo is humanity's trump card. All information on his whereabouts and abilities is classified at the highest security level. For his safety and to ensure his success in the Interspecies War, no further details can be released at this time. I ask for your understanding."
He scanned the room, making it clear no more questions would be tolerated.
"He... will appear when the time comes. Without fail."
His voice held unshakeable certainty, though it only fueled more skepticism.
A trump card? He'll show up when the time is right?
It was far too vague and one-sided.
"What if he doesn't?"
At a reporter's question.
Lee Hyuk-soo answered with full conviction.
"He is my master—the one and only being who will show humanity the path forward."
"...!"
"His master?!"
"Lee Hyuk-soo's master?!"
The word 'master' from Lee Hyuk-soo's mouth delivered a shock different from when he drew Baal's sword or Adora summoned the Evil Spirit King.
The Sword King and Messiah, Lee Hyuk-soo.
The strongest living human had a master?
One who would guide humanity's path, no less?
Reporters, delegations, even Korean spectators froze in disbelief.
The Lee Hyuk-soo they knew had always stood alone at the pinnacle.
For him to call someone his master...
"This concludes the press conference!"
Minister Park Sang-min hurriedly declared.
Security personnel moved in again, and Lee Hyuk-soo and his group left silently, ignoring further questions.
Those left behind remained stunned for a while.
The chaos sparked by Yang Cheon-wi's disappearance.
Escalated by the emergence of the unknown Park Chan-woo and the bombshell that he was Lee Hyuk-soo's master.
The Interspecies War team was formed, but a massive question mark loomed at its center.
Who exactly was Park Chan-woo?
Would he truly appear 'when the time comes'?
What if he didn't?
...What would become of humanity?
The world's gaze turned to the invisible tenth warrior, Park Chan-woo.
And finally.
The true Interspecies War had begun.
It scattered and reassembled, over and over.
To grasp the existence of 'me' more precisely through endless enlightenment.
He repeated it infinitely, even bankrupting the Black Witch in the process.
But Park Chan-woo could not be perfected.
'Even victory like this would be no different from defeat.'
He had realized it.
The reason he had regressed.
Or more precisely, the reason he could regress.
—Park Chan-woo. My contractor. What do you wish to achieve by offering everything you have?
"Turn back time. To the moment I first awakened."
—Insufficient offerings.
"...What? You said it would be enough."
—What's sealed in the Holy Grail now is only half of Dragon God Sepiro.
"Half? What are you talking about?"
—Dragon God Sepiro has two main bodies.
"This isn't the complete body?"
—I just found out myself. ...Its other body will arrive soon.
"Damn it...!"
Right before regression.
When the Transcendent Dragon Sepiro erased humanity.
"Anything! If what I have isn't enough, I'll sell my future! If that's still not enough, I'll offer my soul as sacrifice...!"
He bet everything.
Offered his all as tribute.
He had thought selling his future and dropping to -99 level was what enabled the regression.
—The deal is complete.
"...!"
—Contractor Park Chan-woo. Initiating your final spacetime regression.
The meaning of those words.
He finally understood.
Park Chan-woo.
He.
'...Was not a first-time regressor.'
He was a 'multiple regressor' who had already looped through past and future countless times.