Chapter 84
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Regressor Makes Everything
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Black Lotus Submergence Terminal Lobby.
Normally a place bustling with heroes from all over the world, today's atmosphere was markedly different.
Hundreds of screens floated in the air, vividly broadcasting the cadets battling monsters via the familiars scattered throughout the Submergence.
And below them, the professors watching the screens spoke calmly.
"Team 21, six Lotus Boars. Score distribution: A 192 points, B 108 points. Team 27, eight Black Dragons. Score distribution: A 108 points, B 132 points..."
Whenever the two-man teams hunted monsters, points were allocated based on their contributions.
Even when multiple cadets fought simultaneously, the professors—all possessing observation-type abilities—missed nothing, meticulously narrating every moment of the battles.
Tap tap tap.
In sync, the assistants rapidly inputted the scores, occasionally glancing at pre-marked screens.
'They fight even better in real combat, just like they said. So adept at taking down monsters.'
'Great with spirits, but way too reliant on them. That narrow field of vision is a problem...'
They were evaluating promising juniors—whether under their direct supervision, personal connections, or client requests.
Thus, official and unofficial scoring proceeded swiftly under the staff's watchful eyes.
"Team 256, eight Lotus Boars. Score distribution: A 281 points, B 119 points."
"Team 256 again, five Black Dragons. Score distribution: A 30 points, B 120 points."
"Team 256 once more, seven Lotus Rabbits..."
Unlike the sporadic reports from other teams, scores for this one poured in relentlessly.
The runaway locomotive pace drew everyone's gaze naturally to their screen.
Whoosh!
Unlike other cadets moving cautiously, scanning their surroundings, this screen zipped along at a jog.
One assistant muttered in disbelief at the sight.
"They're just... running through there?"
Muddy quagmire, gnarled protruding roots, viscous plant sap everywhere, and mossy patches to boot.
The terrain of Black Lotus Submergence could trip up even novices just walking. Yet in the footage, Lee Se-hun and Jake treated it like flat ground, sprinting effortlessly.
'Jake makes sense, but what's with Lee Se-hun?'
'He's really from the Forging Department?'
The staff's eyes shifted to other screens as they watched Lee Se-hun nimbly plant his feet like a mountain trail veteran.
-Agh!
-Hey! Get up quick!!
Freshmen tumbling after slipping in monster fights. The stark contrast with these first-years left everyone with odd expressions as they watched the duo run.
-Kuooo!!
Three monsters emerged from the muck.
About 3 meters tall, black lotus flowers and stems protruded from their bodies. They dragged their legless forms forward with massive arms.
Lotus Golems, top-tier C-rank monsters in Black Lotus Submergence. Powerhouses worth 400 points each.
"Hmm. They'll have to stop for those."
"Those things are insanely tough."
Bodies of mud packed with dense lotus stems.
Physical defense on par with B-ranks, and they regenerated instantly by absorbing surrounding soil, no matter the wound.
Three of them? No way to just blow past like before.
Everyone thought so—until.
Whoosh!
A pristine white dagger shot from Lee Se-hun's fingertips.
Sharp enough to bury hilt-deep in the golem's body, but their size blunted the impact.
Puzzled by the seemingly pointless attack—
Thwung!
Jake surged forward even faster.
Slash—!
A blue trajectory arced from his waist.
Professors following its path stared blankly at what their eyes beheld.
"...A sword?"
A greatsword gleaming with starlight.
As gazes locked on the artwork-like blade, the golems it had grazed lurched.
Thud!
Bisected bodies crumpled downward.
The cores beneath Lee Se-hun's daggers—sliced clean in one blow, denied any regeneration.
"..."
"..."
Not even pausing, the pair pressed on after effortlessly neutralizing them. Staff gaped at the unforeseen display.
"Team 256, three Lotus Golems defeated. Score distribution: A 800 points, B 400 points."
Kasar, arms crossed, stated calmly.
"That about right for the split?"
"Y-yes. Spot on."
"Then quit gawking and keep scoring. Miss anything, and it's a report for everyone—professor or not!"
"Yes, sir!"
Dispersing the buzz, Kasar eyed the duo on-screen—Jake first.
'That kid... when did he learn to wield a sword?'
The Myers family second son, who turned countless masterworks to scrap and abandoned swords for Martial Combat.
This tragic figure now wielding a blade overnight? News would explode.
Kasar frowned curiously.
'If an active blacksmith made it, no reason to hide. So... did he...?'
Glancing at Jake's running partner, Lee Se-hun, Kasar's face twisted in disbelief.
Sharpening his kitchen knife had shocked him, but forging Jake's sword? Leagues beyond.
'And that combat pacing... uncanny. What the hell is this guy?'
Every fight, precisely measured power, perfectly placed.
Sounds simple, but flawless even to an S-rank's eye.
'Fine for himself, but syncing with his ally like that? Tough. Did that drunk Ma Gwang-su teach him?'
Meant to glance over, but they showed no bottom—eyes glued.
Kasar's gaze fixed solely on Lee Se-hun when—
"Professor. A word...?"
An assistant monitoring the Submergence rushed up urgently.
"What is it?"
"Eighth Fog Forest just spawned."
Fog Forests: natural barriers in Black Lotus Submergence.
They generated sense-blocking mist—rare, usually 3-4 per day.
Eight in quick succession? No coincidence. Kasar stroked his chin.
"Area boss?"
"Likely."
Area Bosses: irregular powerhouses in danger zones.
Cause unknown, but ignoring them allowed 'evolution,' upping the zone's rank. Must be culled.
"Pre-scout said low odds... Tech's lacking here, huh."
"S-sorry."
"Not blaming you... Tch. Whatever."
Waving off the bowing assistant, Kasar tapped a floating panel for boss info.
'Lotus Hive. Large specimen, C+ grade swarm.'
Plus-grade: handleable by that rank, but not soloable.
B-rank hero or equivalent firepower needed for a Hive takedown.
'Top teams could manage... but the Fog Forests behind are the issue.'
Hives trigger expanded mist and hyperactive monsters.
Pros could cope; green cadets? Dicey. Kasar’s eyes gleamed.
'Wait. This could work.'
This subjugation test gauged crisis response.
Mulling, he eyed the waiting assistant.
"Test continues. Safeguards solid, boss zone-limited—no biggie."
"Understood."
"And..."
Kasar smiled at the cadets on-screen—Lee Se-hun especially.
"Let's see how they handle it."
A bond has been established with target 'Kasar'.
Pausing his jog to stretch, Lee Se-hun grinned at the alert.
'Must've impressed him.'
S-rank hero 'Smoke Army Sword' Kasar.
Pre-regression, a Human Alliance exec who battled Demon Gods with unmatched martial and command prowess across battlefields.
Most famed for wiping out 'Grotesque Sword'—one of the Ten Evils—forcing Asia's fall back three years.
'Which made him priority one for that Annihilation Sword Demon God...'
Kasar, pierced by hundreds of blades. Lee Se-hun shoved the memory aside.
Who ended well pre-regression anyway? Focus: Kasar's aid over his grim end.
'Always called as commander for big game hunts.'
Veteran even guilds, corps, and stingy Hero Association hired for mass subjugations.
That was Kasar. Lee Se-hun eyed that 'network.'
'They hog all the prime drops.'
High-grade monster mats on market? Mostly low-value scraps.
The real gems? Hoarded or sold to cronies.
'Fought over that crap before...'
Hacks monopolizing rares via connections, churning trash. Lee Se-hun's most reviled type—hammered a few skulls pre-regression. Deep grudges.
'Fighting's hassle. This time, play smart.'
Leverage Kasar for connections, buy rares. Plan checked, stretches done, he glanced aside.
"..."
Jake sat calmly, eyes closed.
Deceptively serene—but listen close:
Thump-thump-thump-thump—
Heart raging internally.
Maintaining post-run tachycardia via blood arts. Early breaths faltered, but mastered in minutes.
'Took me months for this... Jealous how quick he is.'
Not talent envy—irked at less grind, faster gains.
Eyeing Jake grumpily, Lee Se-hun cleared his throat.
"Jake. Time to move."
"Ah, yeah."
They resumed light forest run. Jake, trailing, scanned around.
"Monsters thinning out. Others clearing them?"
"Probably."
Black Lotus Submergence vast and monster-rich, but ~1,000 cadets sweeping? Changes inevitable.
Considering monsters' hive-mind tactics despite types, herds forming soon.
'Trained 'em enough... Time to rouse the divine tree.'
Pre-regression, divine tree hid dormant deep underground, mistaken for normal flora.
To extract: wake from dormancy first. Needed: 'roots.'
'Lucky finds possible, but slim.'
Better systematic. Deciding, about to use Tu-an—
-Ahem. Emergency announcement.
Kasar's voice from cloak emblem.
"Emergency...?"
"Hold up."
Halting, they listened.
-Area boss signs detected across Black Lotus Submergence. Unexpected, but manageable. Adding rules.
Whumm!
Emblem mana pulsed; blue panel materialized before them.
Submergence-wide map. Blue, white, red dots marked.
-Map rundown: Blue—your position. White—Fog Forests. Red—boss spawn points.
Dots glowed per explanation; whites flickered anew.
-Destroy 'Lotus Tree' in a Fog Forest: 3,000 points each.
"3,000 points...?"
Jake's eyes bulged.
Separate from combat points. Huge for tops, game-changer for mid-tier.
-Area boss Lotus Hive: no headcount limit. Success: 1,000 points all participants. Combat points...
Pausing slyly:
-...50,000 total, by contribution.
"..."
-Prof analysis: Hive in ~1 hour. Move fast. Out.
Link cut. Jake mulled, calculating.
'50k by contrib... Sounds split tiny, but nah.'
Hive: weak offense, insane durability/regen.
Weak hits ignored; contrib skews to elites.
'One could snag tens of thousands...'
Mid/low skip; tops must join. Jake eyed Lee Se-hun.
"Think we prep boss site early? You?"
"..."
Lee Se-hun checked map sans reply.
Boss 'Lotus Grave': 10-min run. Doable now—but he eyed elsewhere.
'Today's the day, huh.'
Nearby white dot: Fog Forest. Inner smile.
Unpublicized: Lotus Tree cores Fog Forests—and was divine tree root.
Perfect: access root undetected, wake tree easy.
'"Accidentally" discover, call profs for cull. Massive score over boss.'
Negotiate with Ludwig? Bulk tree byproducts. Flawless.
Taming twitching lips, he pointed white dot.
"Fog Forest detour first."
"What? Boss alone guarantees first—why...?"
Grumbling Jake got curt reply.
"Spare sword. Don't need it?"
"Still tough? Slow down? Or piggyback?"
Jake instantly polite, ditching laziness.
Desperate to ditch Radiant Edge hostage. Lee Se-hun grinned.
"Perfect. Piggyback."
"..."
Jake, laden with bigger Lee Se-hun, dashed to Fog Forest with complex expression.