A Perfect Day for Regression
Opportunity favors only the prepared.
Here stood a man who had carved that maxim into the very marrow of his bones.
He had prepared with absolute thoroughness—for the regression that would one day arrive.
And now the preparations were finished.
All that remained was the regression itself.
The man switched off the television the moment the screen shattered into static and noise, then walked toward the entrance hall.
Instead of an umbrella he picked up the long metal rod that had been leaning diagonally against the wall and stepped out into the corridor.
Silence reigned.
Some guests had fled in panic the instant they heard history’s worst typhoon was approaching; others remained locked inside their rooms, trembling with fear.
The man, however, strolled at an unhurried pace to the elevator he had already summoned and rode it down to the lobby.
The lobby was deserted—almost.
A single hotel employee stood on duty, posted by management against any unforeseen emergency.
Just what kind of lunatic…!!
He had been certain no one would come down.
Yet, to his astonishment, a man was calmly crossing the lobby.
“Y-You can’t come down right now!! Please return to your room at once!!”
The employee shouted as he sprinted over, only for his pupils to spasm violently the moment he met the man’s eyes.
What the hell… is wrong with this crazy bastard.?
Those eyes were bright and sparkling—exactly the eyes of a child who had just discovered something fascinating.
“I’m fine. You’re the one in danger—get to safety.”
“No, more than me…! B-But that thing you’re holding…”
Only then did the employee notice the metal rod in the man’s hand; his face twisted in shock.
The man gave a short chuckle and slung the rod over his shoulder.
“Lightning rod.”
“……”
A lightning rod.
Why was he carrying that toward the front doors?
The employee could not comprehend it.
Only a few hours earlier the news had shown a car exploding after being struck by lightning.
Is this guy actually insane…?
He decided the man was mad.
And before he could react further, the man had already crossed the lobby, opened the tightly sealed entrance, and walked straight outside.
“Ah—no…!”
He had to stop him.
He had to drag him back inside.
If a guest walked out into this and something happened, there would be no escaping the responsibility.
“Huff…! Huff…!”
The employee raced to the doors, flung them open—and immediately threw both arms over his face as he was blasted backward.
“Whoa!!”
Thud!!
A howling wall of rain and wind slammed into him.
It was strong enough to hurl a grown man off his feet.
Collapsed in front of the door that refused to close against the gale, the employee barely managed to lift his head and force his eyes open to look outside.
“……”
It was like staring at the end of the world.
Cars tumbled through the air. Black pigs tumbled through the air, their terrified squeals shredded by the wind.
And yet, in the heart of that raging storm, the man stood perfectly upright, gazing calmly up at the sky.
“Man… what a perfect day for regression.”
“What the hell is he saying…”
A blinding flash split the darkness.
KRAAAAANG!!!!
Lightning speared a flying car; the vehicle detonated mid-air in a fireball.
He’s going to die. At this rate that man will be struck and killed too.
Somehow he had to force him back inside.
But then—
Whoosh!!!
The man raised the lightning rod, both hands clenched tight around it, high above his head.
“That crazy bastard…!”
“Strike me! Lightning!!!!!”
Flash!!!
KRAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKABOOOOOM!!!!!!!!