The Regressor Gets Stronger (3)
The Regressor Gets Stronger (3)
In the martial-arts novels I used to read, there's a common concept called "Understanding First, Attainment Later." Basically, you grasp the enlightenment of the realm first, and then your actual attainment catches up later. Anyone who's read a fair number of web novels will know exactly what I mean.
"..."
But for me, it was the reverse. My situation was more like "Attainment First, Understanding Later." As I kept circulating Cold Mana through my body, the sensation grew stranger—almost comfortable, as if my body was gradually adapting. I had no idea why, but something was improving. If there'd been zero change, I would've just shrugged it off. But the constant sense of progress made it impossible to stop.
"...Is my body just adapting? Or is it the nature of the mana itself? Is this outside my control?"
That maddening feeling of being just within reach but not quite there. I couldn't tell if I was circling the right answer or wandering completely off course. Whether it was thanks to the elixir or my own talent, something was definitely improving—but I had absolutely no idea how.
"Hmm..."
In the end, I just had to keep going. With a little more focus, something might come of it. I turned my attention inward again, centering on the mana inside me, and slowly sank into my inner world.
Or rather, the instant I tried to. A warmth kept nagging at me from somewhere outside my body.
At first I ignored it and tried to focus on my internal mana, but the warm energy kept growing. It grew so much that something definitely felt off.
Only then did I slowly open my eyes. I'd kept them shut for a very long time, and the room's temperature itself had dropped substantially. My eyelids were slightly stuck together.
"...?"
The sight that greeted me was distinctly strange. Near the doorway, three players stood frozen in ridiculous poses, staring at me. And a short-haired woman was wreathed in flames, her hostility blazing.
What the hell? Why are they acting like that? Do they have something they want to say? Then just say it. Why just stand there gawking?
"Ah. Right."
Then I understood. They must have been exposed to my Cold Mana and ended up frozen solid. The cold aura I'd been radiating during my training had likely seized them the moment they entered the room... and the short-haired woman dealt with fire, so she was at least able to resist to some degree.
Wait, does that mean eleven whole days had passed? I knew intellectually that as my stats rose I could endure long periods without food or water, but experiencing it firsthand still threw me off.
"..."
Thud. Thud.
When I stopped circulating mana, the other players collapsed, their bodies apparently freed. I'd meant to present a tidy, composed image, not this—but my sense of time had dulled, so I hadn't prepared properly.
Should I regress? I still wasn't perfect at handling Cold Mana. I didn't want to challenge Floor 12 while still half-baked.
I had roughly made up my mind and was about to bite the inside of my cheek—when the reward list for the final test flashed through my mind.
[20] Book of Possibilities (Unique)
[30] Elixir of Choice (Unique)
[40] A-rank Trait Selection Ticket (Unique)
'...Book of Possibilities?'
I recalled that it supposedly quantified and displayed the user's potential. Wouldn't this help me get my bearings with mana handling? Yeah, it would definitely help. Even if it didn't, it would at least serve as a milestone to gauge how much stronger I'd gotten.
"Hm. Hm."
Decision made, I cleared my throat and slowly rose from the bed, offering a casual greeting.
"Hello there."
Time to clear Floor 12.
**
"I'm sorry. It wasn't intentional. My mana is a special type called Cold Mana..."
Kim Jun-ho sat the four players down and explained calmly. Perhaps because traces of mana still lingered, wisps of white smoke kept drifting from his body.
"..."
The man with acne was arrogant, but he also had a jovial side. Normally, he'd have cracked a joke to lighten the mood—'Cold Mana? Isn't that name kinda lame? Sounds like a refrigerator.' or 'You've got smoke coming out like dry ice, pahaha.' Some nonsense like that.
But now he kept his mouth firmly shut, listening intently to Kim Jun-ho's explanation. He even kept his hands neatly folded—the very picture of deference.
The reason was simple. That man was different.
It wasn't as if Acne Guy had never met strong people before. The short-haired woman was stronger than him, and he'd seen powerhouses on Floor 4 and Floor 11 who could throw their weight around.
Sure, they were strong—but they were still just fellow players at the end of the day. Fast, strong, skilled, holding exceptional superpowers... but he'd never felt a truly fundamental difference. More like watching the top student at school who studied far better than you. Impressive, sure, but that was the extent of it.
That man was different. Smoke streamed from his body, he had a force that seized your gaze, and the longer you looked, the more oddly unsettling it became. He was so far removed from a fellow player that you'd sooner believe he was Floor 12 boss. The aura he radiated was on another level entirely.
The man with the mole and the woman in glasses felt the same way. They were curious about him, yet simultaneously uncomfortable and afraid. They had countless questions but couldn't bring themselves to ask. The Mysterious Mist, the Curiosity trait, and the Strange Presence trait had simultaneously synergized and triggered the 'Awe' trait. The short-haired woman alone seemed unaffected by the trait's influence, but she was naturally taciturn, so the silence stretched on endlessly.
"...?"
Kim Jun-ho quickly noticed the strange atmosphere too. These people weren't the type to act like this. Puzzled, he discreetly checked his Status Window—and confirmed that the trait-copying effect attached to his 'Awe' trait had activated.
But last time, even when I scared them in my own way, Awe hadn't triggered. What changed this time?
Only two things had changed. The faint white mist blanketing the floor. And the new 'Mysterious Atmosphere' trait.
Now with enough mental bandwidth to look around, Kim Jun-ho quickly pieced it together. He understood that in their eyes, this scene looked incredibly awe-inspiring. He also realized that the mole-marked man's earlier muttering of "Immortal Sage" had been directed at him. Immortal Sage. Immortal Sage, huh. Yeah, I guess I would look like one.
"Well then. Everyone, stand."
The moment he understood that, Kim Jun-ho's speech abruptly turned rigid. He'd realized that their freely misinterpreting things could only work to his advantage—never to his detriment. And if Awe had activated on top of that... the road ahead would be remarkably smooth.
'Actually, isn't this better?'
Kim Jun-ho had always known only two approaches: treating others with clean manners, or openly threatening them.
He had now realized there was another way.
**
No one spoke a word until we arrived at the testing area. I walked in front, and the others were too busy just keeping up behind me.
I now knew that this cold—this mist—helped enhance the sense of divinity, so I kept circulating a trace of mana even now, letting wisps of smoke drift from me. To them it would look like some kind of passive effect. In reality, I was busting my ass circulating mana.
<Floor 12>
- Pass a total of three 'Tests'. Each person may participate in each test only once. Failing the final test will yield no rewards.
- All rewards are distributed individually after clearing Floor 12.
In any case, once we arrived at the testing area, everyone took their seats on the chairs. Perhaps because I still had Cold Mana circulating through my body, even the cold steel chairs didn't feel all that unpleasant.
- Now, before the first test begins, you will each select your reward.
[1] Low-grade Potion x 10
[5] Custom Item Box (B~D)
[10] All-Purpose Pill - Increases all attributes by 3.
A message window floated before my eyes. I chose [5] without much deliberation. I'd already obtained the All-Purpose Pill once, and since duplicate pill-type items had no effect, it held zero value for me. Better to check what the Custom Item Box would produce than waste the opportunity.
With my selection quickly made, the barrier surrounding me vanished and I could see the others' faces. Their expressions were... still slightly uneasy. They kept sneaking glances at me, but the moment our eyes met, they'd avert their gaze. If a woman did that, I'd wonder if it was a green light—but when men do it, it's kinda creepy.
"I, I chose 5."
"Me too."
"Same..."
As in the previous cycles, everyone claimed to have chosen [5]. Since I'd also picked [5] this time, the resulting number should logically be [30]. I shifted my gaze to the elevator to check the number.
"...Huh?"
[25]
The number displayed above the elevator was, shockingly, only [25].
Five players, all of whom chose 5. And yet the result was [25]. At a glance, that conclusion seemed perfectly obvious—but the true meaning behind the number [25] was something else entirely.
"Heh."
This cycle, the liar chickened out when they saw me.