The sharp sensation wound around my fingertips and my whole body felt refreshed.
Damn it, just how much I wanted to beat him up.
But… something was off.
"…Yoo Jung-hyuk?"
He didn't turn around.
A gray-white aura was flowing from his body—an endlessly ominous aura that made the hairs on my arms stand on end just by looking at it.
I instinctively took a step back.
Looking more closely, the aura was connected to an old man sitting in a chair further inside on the 8th floor. The moment I saw that old man, I understood everything.
["The Theater Owner Simulation" has revealed its form.]
…Damn it. So this is how it turned out after all.
Yoo Jung-hyuk, emanating a gray-white aura, slowly turned toward me.
This was the worst situation.
["The Theater Owner Simulation" has taken control of the character "Yoo Jung-hyuk."]
My whole body crawled with goosebumps.
From the body of someone who had lost all reason, an overwhelming murderous intent was spreading outward.
There was no "character" in this world who could stop him now.
[Character "Yoo Jung-hyuk" uses "Fa Jing (Release Force) Lv.4".]
I barely managed to open my mouth.
"W-wait a minute!"
THWAAAANG!
First, a powerful pain shot through my stomach, and then my consciousness began to blur. My field of view was pushed back like the pages of a memory book flipping on their own. I had let my guard down.
「…In the 8th loop, Yoo Jung-hyuk didn't die in the 'Theater Dungeon' because he was weak. Strictly speaking, Yoo Jung-hyuk was unlucky.
Because the boss of the 'Theater Dungeon' was the worst possible type to face for a returning player like Yoo Jung-hyuk…」
Air returned to my lungs.
"Kugh… haah."
[External reinforced suit is damaged.]
[Defense has partially decreased.]
I stood up, clutching my stomach with trembling hands.
This was unbelievable combat power.
He ate that many ampoules, and yet he put me in this condition with a single blow?
The force of that one blow had launched me straight into the side of the rooftop.
[Character "Jung Hee-won" uses "Gu-Sal (Demon Killing) Lv.2"!]
I saw Jung Hee-won in the distance, eyes blazing, charging toward us.
I wanted to intervene, but my body wouldn't obey.
[Character "Yoo Jung-hyuk" uses "Bai Bu Shen Quan (Hundred Steps Divine Fist) Lv.2".]
In his current state, there was no way Jung Hee-won could stand up to Yoo Jung-hyuk. Thanks to Gu-Sal she seemed to hold out a few rounds, but soon blood began to spill from Jung Hee-won's lips.
Yoo Jung-hyuk was far stronger than I had predicted.
[Activating exclusive skill: "Character List."]
[There is too much related information for this character. "Character List" is converting into "Summary List."]
[Only the items designated for the user's convenience are shown.]
Name: Yoo Jung-hyuk
Exclusive Traits: Regressor <3rd Loop> (Mythical), Professional Gamer (Rare)
Exclusive Skills: [Eye of the Sage Lv.8], [Close-Quarters Combat Lv.8], [Advanced Weapon Craft Lv.5], [Mental Barrier Lv.5], [Hundred Steps Divine Fist Lv.2], [Zhuque Divine Step Lv.1], [Chaotic River Strike Lv.2] …(omitted)…
Stigmata: [Regression Lv.3], [Transference Lv.1]
Overall Stats: [Stamina Lv.28], [Strength Lv.27], [Agility Lv.26], [Mana Lv.25]
The above character is currently in a state of lost reason.*
Damn bastard. As expected, yet another stigmata had activated.
"Master!"
It was then that Lee Ji-hye rushed up from the lower floor.
The fist that had been flying toward Jung Hui-won abruptly changed direction toward Lee Ji-hye.
Thud-thud-thud!
"Kyaaah!"
Perhaps thanks to Admiral Yi's Blessing, or perhaps due to her improved [Ghostly Footsteps], Lee Ji-hye narrowly avoided the blow by sheer luck. I shouted at her.
"He's being controlled! Aim for the theater owner!"
But Lee Ji-hye didn't seem to have the leeway to do that. In the end, without getting past Yoo Jung-hyuk, there was no way to approach the 'theater owner.'
In that brief instant, Jung Hui-won's and Lee Ji-hye's gazes crossed. The two of them moved their swords toward Yoo Jung-hyuk at the same time.
A combo of [Kendo] and [Swordsmanship Training].
But even a combo that had brought down a T-Rex had no effect on Yoo Jung-hyuk.
Pow-pow-pow!
"Keugh!"
Lee Ji-hye was struck in the face by Yoo Jung-hyuk's barrage of Baekbo Divine Fists and went flying, coughing up blood.
[Character 'Jung Hui-won' activates 'Time of Judgment'!]
[Constellations of the Absolute Good alignment remain silent in response to Jung Hui-won's request.]
[Skill activation has been canceled.]
Jung Hui-won spat out a curse.
"Damn it… this one doesn't work either?"
Of course it wouldn't. Yoo Jung-hyuk might be ruthless, but at his core, he undeniably possessed a sense of greater justice.
Jung Hui-won, who had taken a crushing blow, dropped her sword and rolled across the floor. At that critical moment, Lee Gil-young, who had been behind us, used his special skill, 'Mjolnir's Thunder.'
Kuuuu-rumble!
[Character 'Yoo Jung-hyuk' negates the impact of the attack with 'Electric Resistance.']
Yoo Jung-hyuk turned to look at us.
Damn it.
I knew he'd be strong, but… was he really this strong?
I grabbed Lee Gil-young's shoulder and staggered forward.
"Gil-young. I'm counting on you. You know what to do, right?"
Quick-witted as ever, Lee Gil-young immediately nodded.
"Yes, hyung."
"I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay."
Lee Gil-young immediately began murmuring something under his breath. His eyes slowly rolled back. I hadn't wanted to go this far, but now we had to use every card we had.
[You have used 'Tyrant T-Rex DNA Ampoule.']
[All stats increase explosively for 30 minutes!]
Yeah… let's fight this out, you damn sunfish bastard.
[Stamina Lv.24 → Stamina Lv.34][Strength Lv.24 → Strength Lv.34][Agility Lv.20 → Agility Lv.30][Magic Power Lv.15 → Magic Power Lv.25]
[Vitality surges throughout your body!][The potential of your muscles explodes!][You can move far faster than before!][An unknown energy boils within your heart!]
What I lacked in skills, I made up for with an overwhelming gap in raw stats.
If Yoo Jung-hyuk had completed a full
Even if only for a moment.
Even a single moment would be enough.
[Exclusive Skill 'Baekcheong Sword Aura Lv.1' has been activated!]
[Proficiency accumulates, increasing the level of Baekcheong Sword Aura!]
[Baekcheong Sword Aura Lv.1 → Baekcheong Sword Aura Lv.2]
The sensation of mana coiling around my fingertips changed. I didn't even have to charge at him—he was already rushing toward me. Perhaps sensing that my momentum was no joke, he finally drew the sword from his back for the first time.
[Character 'Yoo Jung-hyuk' uses 'Pacheon Sword Aura Lv.2.']
Kagagagak!
Sparks flew as our blades collided. Neither Yoo Jung-hyuk nor I gave an inch. Tremendous pressure surged through the hands gripping our swords. Blue ether blazed along the edge of his blade.
At this point, it went beyond admiration—it was awe-inspiring.
In the world of Ways of Survival, the leading digit of one's stats creates an absolute difference in power.
Right now, my leading digit was 3, and Yoo Jung-hyuk's was 2.
And yet, he wasn't being pushed back at all. If anything, I was the one in danger of being overwhelmed. I clenched my teeth.
[Exclusive Skill 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' Stage 2 has been activated.]
The moment the skill activated, Yoo Jung-hyuk's chaotic thoughts flooded into my mind.
"It hurts."
"How many more times…"
"Do I have to keep repeating this?"
Anger surged up inside me.
This bastard—already?
"Get a grip, you idiot!"
I knocked his sword aside with all my strength and swung my fist toward his jaw. It was a crude, unsophisticated attack, but thanks to Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, I could read his movements.
Thud!
By a hair's breadth, my fist grazed his jaw, and for the first time, he staggered after taking a hit.
"When regression begins, everything returns to the beginning again."
"My companions lose all their memories, and every history I lived through is erased."
"You moron!"
"And everything repeats once more."
Those who know will know: sunfish are actually very sturdy creatures. They die easily not because their bodies are weak, but because they're vulnerable to stress.
Just like the guy standing in front of me right now.
The reason the 'theater owner' had been able to control Yoo Jung-hyuk was because of his unstable mental state. The 'theater owner' might have weak physical abilities, but he possessed top-tier mental attack skills. If Yoo Jung-hyuk's 'Mental Barrier' level had been even above 8, things wouldn't have turned out like this.
"What am I even fighting for…"
Yoo Jung-hyuk's eyes went unfocused, dazed. Watching him sink into his half-baked philosophy made my blood boil.
"Are you really the protagonist?"
In a way, this was the rightful anger of a reader who had read all 3,149 regressions of Ways of Survival.
"You're already like this after just three regressions?"
I struck him in the head again with all my strength.
Was it a miracle? His movements slowed slightly after the blow to his jaw. I didn't miss the opportunity and kicked him square in the chest.
"Is that really what you think? Have you already forgotten the resolve you had when you regressed for the very first time?"
"In this world, the only one who's alive… is me."
A lonely voice.
"Damn it, you bastard… you said you wouldn't get lost in that kind of sentimental crap."
I shouted as I knocked away the sword charging at me.
"If you couldn't find meaning in life right in front of you, you decided you'd live at least for a greater cause, didn't you?"
[Exclusive Skill, 'The Fourth Wall,' is vibrating.]
I didn't know who exactly I was speaking to. Hot sparks flew from the clashing blades. My eyes stung, and my skin was being seared by the heat. Amid the breathless torrent of words pouring out, perhaps I, too, had lost my reason for a moment.
"I'm alone."
As if I had become Yoo Jung-hyuk—or as if I had lived as him, even just once. My chest felt tight, painfully constricted.
"Alone?"
"I…"
"Why the hell would you be alone, when I followed you all the way here, and you say you're alone?"
"I…"
Our sword strikes collided, tearing at my grip.
Blood flowed, flesh ripped open.
I swung my sword like a madman, again and again.
My teeth ground together.
"Why are you alone? When you died like an idiot in the 'Theater Dungeon,' when you clutched your dead little sister and sobbed, when you got stabbed in the back by a prophet and died! When you first loved someone and had a child…!"
As I spoke those words, strangely enough, other memories surfaced. Letter by letter—long years of memories from living while reading Ways of Survival.
"And when you went insane after your child died!"
A complicated family history, memories of my teenage years getting beaten up by bullies.
"When you fought the Demon King, when you stood against the Returnees!"
Nightmares from the military, crushed under the injustices of seniors.
"When you helped the Otherworlders, when you fought those damn Reincarnators! When you finally stood before the Constellations!"
Days spent struggling to find a job, groveling with vile flattery to superiors just to survive. All for the sake of living. Days lived, one by one, solely to stay alive.
"Watching you struggle desperately to survive somehow!"
And yet, on the way back home—
Finding solace in the fact that there was a single novel I could read.
"I…"
The hand gripping the sword trembled violently.
Pathetic—I was way too worked up. Damn it.
All I had to do was buy time.
I steadied my ragged breathing and looked ahead.
But then… something felt off.
Was it just my imagination?
For a brief moment, a faint light returned to Yoo Jung-hyuk's pupils.
"You are…"
There are some things you can read in someone's heart, yet never truly understand.
The moment I saw Yoo Jung-hyuk's expression, my heart lurched.
[Due to excessive immersion, 'The Fourth Wall' is shaking.]
Yoo Jung-hyuk's eyes were fixed squarely on me.
"Who… exactly are you?"