The Regressed NoBody

My eyes blinked open as I pushed my body upright. Did I dose off during the process of gathering mana. I thought looking around me, as the aching in my body had lessened and the pain was almost gone. But in spite of that my eyes and body still felt heavy.

The wounds over my body had regenerated, as I felt for my mana, and it had recovered a tad bit above half. But not completely. But this much should be enough for now.

My eyes drifted to the middle of the room where Han was standing—testing out his regenerated arm—as he performed a continuous set of jabs and roundhouse kicks, with quick precision and fluid movements. Each time, wherever his fist and feet landed in mid air the air around him ruffled and left shockwaves—his speed and power kept on increasing with each movement he performed.

But his speed and power still had room for growth—he had a long way to go, to reach the strength he possessed in the past. But knowing Han, it was only a matter of time until he does. Because he was a monster when it came to his inhuman reflexes and he had the ability to overpower his enemies with brute strength.

But that is if he makes it out of here alive. No...we all will. I will make it happen.

After a few seconds, he stopped and inhaled a quick breath, as he brushed his long navy hair back with his hand. His deep scarlet eyes came into my view as Han bobbed his head toward me.

He gave me a nod with a bright smile—which reminded me so much of the Han from the past—as I returned it, and soon he went back to performing and training his techniques.

Han’s speed of growth was monstrous, I think it was on equal terms with the likes of Ryuya and Jiyoung. But even I wasn’t sure which one of them would win if they were to go all out in a battle.

Because the ability to win varied on many factors in an actual battle. Your individual strengths, ability to use your skill and how you could manipulate and capitalize the strength of your opponents against them.

But I pushed those thoughts to the back of my head, as I turned my head to my left as saw Jiyoung sitting beside me a few feet away with her hands resting over her knees, leaning against the wall behind her. She turned to look at me as I hurriedly asked.

“How long was I asleep for?” I asked, panicked that I might have slept for at least a few hours at best.

“Its only been a little bit over an hour since you fell asleep, but I think its best if you rest for a little bit more,” Jiyoung reassured, as she looked at me with worry laced in her bright eyes. “Jiwoo...and I am sorry for not being able to help you out before. I am sorry for leaving you behind,” she said as I felt a tinge of guilt in her voice, which caused a bitter taste in my mouth.

“I was—" but I interjected.

“You don’t have to worry about it. Its not your fault—not anyone’s fault that I was left behind. And I know it might be a little rude to say this, but, none of you would have been able to help me out in that dire situation, regardless of what and how the situation led to.”

I looked straight into Jiyoung’s eyes as I held her gaze for a moment, then continued. “And I am glad that it was only me who was stuck there...” I turned my gaze away from her and down at my palm, which was full of callouses. “ I wasn’t sure if I would have been able to protect you all despite having the strength I have, in that situation.”

“It just goes on to say just how full of myself I actually am. But deep down I know I am weak!” I closed my hand into a tight fist. I glared down at my hand, as the bitter memories of the many decisions I had taken kept on taunting me like a roaring ballad.

I finished with an awkward smile as I rested my head over my knee, in a sign of mental and physical fatigue.

My eyes shut tightly, looking back on how I could have taken better decisions to save the students who had lost their lives back in the room before. Their desperate cries, shouts and pleas still rang inside my ears.

But I knew best after getting stuck inside this dungeon, just how incompetently weak I was. I was strong when I fought alone—as I always had, despite having prior experience of working in multiple teams in my past life—I finally understood just how weak I was when other lives were on the line together with my own. When there were people who needed your protection.

That how should I protect them, while fighting for my own life? Could I be able to do something like that?

The stern words of my General—Morris—who had taught me many things, back when I was in his battalion in my past life began to repeat in my mind like a ticking clock, continuously, sternly.

But I was still pretty apprehensive about the idea of me being a beacon which led people—taking the position of leader. I wasn’t something like that—I never was. I was never meant for some kind of a leader position.

“No, you did what you could in that moment—what you thought was right—but...” Jiyoung shook her head. “But Jiwoo, in spite of all that, I don’t want you to think of us as a burden, we will help you any way we can, even if we are not of much help to you. Just say the word.”

I didn’t say anything back. But in that moment, I steeled my resolve and with a determined expression over my face, I made my decision.

Why was I acting with such pessimism? I vowed to myself when I had regressed that I would change was ways, my decisions and the way I did things. That I would definitely change. No, I needed to change.

But could I—would I—be able to completely forget—let go of—the persona of Shun, whom I really was. The personality which helped—led—me to survive in that ruthless world, where there was no compassion, no friendships, no nothing. Everyone and everything was just an enemy. I...don’t know.

But despite that, I was changing. It wasn’t that big of a change, but I am changing little by little. I have learned to trust new people, I am not as wary of others as I used to be. And I have gained new bonds and friends, even a sister who dearly cares for me in this life.

“And please...” Jiyoung turned her face away, and spoke in a saddened voice as her expressionless face shifted into a more expressive one. “ Please don’t risk your life so selfishly like that again, care about yourself more. Have you ever thought what would the people that care about you will feel like if something were to happen to you?”

I drew in a quick breath as I thought about Jihye, how she had acted when she heard about the news of my condition after the lock incident a few months ago. I lifted my head and looked at Jiyoung. I was glad and grateful about the fact that I had a friend like her. She always reminded me to cherish myself every time I performed some reckless, crazy stunt.

But with a coy smirk over my face I asked. “Then are you among those people who care for me?”

Jiyoung’s eyes widened slightly as she incredulously looked at me—unexpectedly caught off guard—,but she recomposed herself quickly, as her face reddened, just a little, barely noticeable. “Maybe or maybe not.” She said, deadpan, but with her lips tucked into a grin as she said.

I chuckled a few times, “What’s that supposed to mean?” I said as I stood to my feet and gestured for Jiyoung to follow.

“But now, let’s help you breakthrough, Jiyoung,” I said walking to the middle of enormous room, as I stretched my arms wide and cracked my neck.

Han stopped performing the martial arts he utilised and turned to look at me.

“But what are we going to be doing?” She asked, curious as to what method was I going to be using to help her breakthrough.

“Jiyoung, first of all sit down cross legged on the floor and start channelling the mana inside your body to draw as much ambient mana as you can inside your body.” I instructed as Jiyoung sat down cross legged in front of me and I too kneeled down, to come to the same eye level as her.

I withdrew one of the mystic herbs from the system inventory and looked at the herb which I had received as a reward from the system.

This was the item I was confident in, which will play a key part in Jiyoung’s breakthrough.

It looked similar to a peach fruit, but the herb’s colour resembled the colour of Jiyoung hair, raven black, with golden leaves which shined like gold sprouting from on top of the herb. The herb was about half the size of my palm.

But as I felt for the mana sustained inside the herb, it was unbelievable potent, filtered and pure. Unlike any herb I had ever seen.

No doubt the mystic herb—as the name suggested—was a very rare and potent herb.

And as the description mentioned, it could help me rise twenty level at once and also cause a drastic increase in all of my stats. So I had came to the conclusion that this herb could also help Jiyoung breakthrough successfully without worrying about the backlash of forcing her to breakthrough.

Because as it was mentioned in the description, the herb allows the body and the mana channels to better assimilate with the atmospheric mana in the air, allowing the refining and absorption rate to increase.

I handed the herb to Jiyoung and she took it from my hand.

Without even having to tell her anything, she feasted on the peach like herb, as she quickly finished it and swallowed it entirely, the leaves as well. The fruit didn’t possess a seed.

“Now, begin to absorb as much mana as you can,” I ordered as I activated Mind’s Eye and began to observe the mana circulating inside Jiyoung’s body through her mana channels.

The ambient particles of fire and water rushed to Jiyoung’s side, as her body hungrily pulled the mana particles inside through the pores on her body and as the mana was pulled in the stream of her mana channels, she began to refine the raw mana particles as she circulated all the mana in her body in a fluid eddy motion.

But her face twisted slightly as her eyes shut tightly. Jiyoung moaned uncomfortably as her brows furrowed into wrinkling lines.

The rate at which the mana was being processed into her body had increased at least a few time than are original speed. So getting used to it would take her time. Her body was pulling the mana inside faster than she could refine it.

Alright, everything is going as planned so far, but the next steps will depend entirely on Jiyoung.

“Now Jiyoung, I want you to follow the breathing form I am going to show you,” I said after a few minutes as her face slackened a little and she stopped furrowing. She popped an eyes open, as she slowly began to lose focus. “No, try to absorb as much ambient mana as you can, don’t lose focus.” I added sternly.

She firmly nodded as he began to pull the particles of fire and water close to her and within her body, thanks to the effects of the herb helping her absorb and refine the mana faster than the usual speed she could do on.

I also sat crossed legged in front of Jiyoung as I began to perform a series of slow and quick series of complex breathing forms to draw the mana more proficiently, and allowing it to be focused in a few area I needed it to go.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Han keenly observing me, as I kept on performing the breathing form. ‘Yeah, yeah, its your technique, I am putting it to good use.’ But I focused my mind back on the task at hand.

Jiyoung followed my lead and repeated the breathing form, as sweat dripped profusely down her temples. But she was getting better at performing the breathing form each passing second. Ten minutes passed as she kept on drawing the ambient mana inside her body and kept on refining it.

“Jiyoung, allow the mana to move toward your lower back more, you need to distribute the mana equally inside your body.” I ordered. She nodded and her mana began to swirl all around her body, not leaving any place untouched. "And don't force the mana or rush its flow, make it flow and circulate in a fluid and precise motion," I added.

Her mana channels began glowing with a more potent light, as the essence of her mana was becoming stronger.

But it wasn’t enough to allow her to breakthrough. Then I began to perform the more complex forms of the breathing form. She needed to draw as much mana as she could without letting it dissipate into the atmosphere, and without wasting the effects of the mystic herb.

But Jiyoung couldn’t follow me any further as a painful groan escaped her mouth. She lost focus and began to breath heavily. Her bangs covered her face as she leaned forward trying to catch her breath. Her breathing had become uneven.

“Jiyoung, we can take a short break if you—” just then Jiyoung gave me a determined look as she pulled her body back into a meditative position and spoke.

“N-No...let’s k-keep going.”

I was reluctant, but complied and continued performing the breathing forms and she followed my lead.

The particles coalesced all around Jiyoung as she kept pulling the particles inside and began refining them without any break. Her speed of absorbing and refining the ambient mana was getting faster than before, and it only kept on increasing as time passed.

I completely lost the concept of time as I guided Jiyoung in the process of absorbing the mana and refining it, by pointing out the areas which was not allowing or missing the mana to go. I think it had almost been an hour since we started. A bead of sweat ran down my side as I peered at her progress.

She was now able to pull the mana particles—aligning with the element which was the most compatible with—more faster than a few minutes ago, as she refined them at great speed, and she didn't need my assistance to tell her or to point out where she was lacking. Her breathing had evened considerably as she had gotten used to the breathing form, even the more complex forms of it.

A smile crept up my lips, as I saw the pure state of Jiyoung’s mana circulating inside her in a more fluid and pure state. The purity of her mana was increasing minute after minute.

“Jiyoung, keep on performing this breathing form and refine the mana as much as you can,” I said getting up from the floor, but keeping an eye out for Jiyoung’s progress from the edge of my eyes.

“Ryuya, how much rations do we have in total left, and how long can they last for?” I asked placidly, as I walked closer to him.

Ryuya placed his hand over his chin and thought. “I think, maybe a day or at best two. But I don’t think they would last that long with the amount of people here with us. And the bigger problem is with water.”

I nodded in acknowledgement as I withdrew what little rations of food and water I had with me as I handed them to Ryuya and spoke. “Distribute them equally among the others and yourself.”

Ryuya incredulously looked at me with a raise of his brow. “Seriously, where are you pulling all this stuff out of? Perhaps you prepared it all in advance for such a situation?” His eyes began to be bore intently into mine, as his questioning gaze didn't flatter an inch. “First that miracle potion, then that mysterious rare herb, and now this?”

“Just who actually are you Jiwoo?” Ryuya finally asked, his confusion perfectly palpable over his face, his brows knit together making furrow wrinkling lines to appear over his forehead as he held my gaze.

But I gave my friend a knowing look in return. “What if I told you I am a deity in disguise, here to help you poor souls out in your darkest hour?” I scoffed, crossing my arms and puffing my chest, as I received a long and loud chuckle out of Ryuya, as some of the students turned to look in our direction.

“Ok, but still, oh great deity, what should we do next?”

“After Jiyoung breaks through successfully we will then move forward through the next set of doors.” Ryuya nodded back, as I twirled and began to observe Jiyoung.

She was close.

***

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NAME: SEO JIWOO (???)

HP: 30890

LEVEL: 84

STRENGTH: 139

STAMINA: 147

AGILITY: 134

VITALITY: 139

INTELLIGENCE: 99

MP: 15778

POINTS: 3650

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FATIGUE: 21

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【PASSIVE SKILLS】

[PERSEVERANCE] [LV. 4]

[PROFESSION]: [Swordsmanship] [LV: 3]

[Crescent Moon Style]

[Regeneration] [LV: 2]

[Pain Resistance] [LV: 2]

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【SKILLS】

[{D} Acausality] (Sealed)

This skill allows the user to tamper with the flow of time. Allowing the user to stop time for a brief moment.

Note: An equivalent amount of the host’s Mana will be drained as long as the skill is active.

Cool down: 2 weeks

*

[{??}] Ruler’s Authority]

Under the effects of Ruler’s Authority, the host can dominant anyone and anything through the force of his will. The stronger the host’s mentality and will the stronger the effects of the skill. Anything and everything can be bended according to the desire of the Supreme Ruler.

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【Returnee’s Privilege】 [Time: ??? ] [Synchronisation 35%]

–MIND’S EYE (Sealed) (Unlocked: 60% )

Allowing the host to slow down the flow of time from their perspective. The host can also observe the energy signature produced by any living being and object, and the ambient structures of mana and its pure forms...???

–LEAP (Sealed)

This skill allows the user to teleport to a specific location after empowering an image in their mind. The wormholes (pathways) spiralling in the atmosphere, connecting to a specified location by the pulse of mana, making a gate like connection for the host to teleport through. But as the host’s understanding and insight increases, the host can teleport without any external interference—empowering any location. Allowing the pathways to guide the host to wherever the host wishes to teleport too.

Each wormhole contains information about a different location, but connecting every path to every other.

Cool Down: 2 hours

–????

–????

–????

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【????】

–????

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‘Ruler’s Authority, huh?’ I thought as I peered at my increased stats and newly acquired skill.

But this one didn’t have a rank. For a rank, there were question marks instead.

Then that keystone contained the ruler’s authority skill. I thought. No other explanation could describe how I had obtained this skill.

And this doesn’t seem to be any normal, random skill which you could obtain. But still, it was a good thing that it didn’t have a cool down or it wasn’t sealed. And it was a good thing that I had acquired a new skill—now I had a new power which I could wield and get stronger with—, but I still didn’t fully understood the description of the skill.

Anything can be bended according to the supreme ruler's will. That part was something I couldn’t come to understand fully. Did it mean, the way I—or that alien-like presence—had bended and snuffed the mana out of those statues. But what I observed before was something not even mages could do with ease. Which was impossible.

To remove mana from an object was somewhat possible, but with beings not. But one must have an extreme understanding of mana and how it works to even do that with objects. And I think not even Adam can do something like that, what I had done. To completely nullify and snuff the mana out of an object rendering it useless.

But even with that extreme understanding, I don’t think something like that is possible. And despite how great the control a person has over mana, even mages who are the most closest beings to mana or hunter who can use the wind element, can’t just pull the air out of their opponents lungs even if they have dominant control over that certain element.

Its almost impossible. Just what had I done, I wasn’t even in control of my body back then, and I couldn’t even understand what I had done. It just happened so fast, so precisely.

But I pulled my mind away from those thoughts, as I sensed for my skill. Leap hadn’t worked back when I had tried to use it in the statue room.

I searched my skill, as I willed my mana into activating it. But it didn’t respond. Just like before, it was dormant, unresponsive, not heeding my call.

I felt like what I was searching for was a cold sensation, as I dived into the cold waters of a lake.

Just what was going on? Why can’t I assess the pathways? Something like this has never happened before.

But my eyes drifted away from the interface and mind from the train of thoughts, as I felt the fluctuations of the mana in the air increase, as there was a rippling effect in the air. The mana was rapidly being drawn in Jiyoung’s direction.

I walked closer to her and activated Mind’s Eye. It had been a few hours since Jiyoung began the process of breaking through. And now she was just a few steps away from reaching the rank.

With a final push, all the mana which had coalesced around Jiyoung entered her body and as she refined the last of the mana particles, a bright white glow began to emanate from her body.

The entire hall was filled with a bright glimmering white light as I took the sight of Jiyoung as she cleared the sweat accumulated over her forehead and slowly breathed in relief. She took a moment to relax to catch her breath and to get used to her new strength.

She had successfully broken through to the rank. No...

My eyes shot wide open, as I quickly doubled checked the amount and the purity of the mana which circulated inside Jiyoung’s body through Mind’s Eye. The pure state of the refined mana burned brightly and beautiful inside her, as I observed her mana channels which looked more stronger and the mana fluxing through them was more potent, for a newly ranker.

The purity of her mana and her reserves had grown equal to that of a rank. I watched in complete awe—as my expression momentarily turned flummoxed—as Jiyoung opened her eyes and looked at me with a calm expression. Her hazel eyes glowed with an enchanting power in them. But the slight excitement over her face gave her away. Even she could tell that she had skipped the threshold of the rank and directly gone to the rank, which was only a single stage away from the borderline of the rank.

So this was the complete effect of the mystic herb, and the lasting effects of the herb will allow her to absorb and refine mana at much faster rates than ever before. Seriously, it was just too good of an item. And it was the right decision to give it to Jiyoung.

“Jiwoo, I...” Jiyoung said as she looked down at her hand, as the bright glow resided around her body, and she pushed up to her foot, her body slightly trembled in excitement, as a brimming power filled each part of her body.

“Congratulations on reaching the rank, Jiyoung. How do you feel now that you have become a ranker?” I asked as I looked at Jiyoung with a bright smile.

“I feel like I can wield more mana, and my connection with it has also became stronger.” She explained as I kept observing for an side effects, but there were none. The herb had completely neutralized the side effects of her breakthrough.

“Then let’s test out your new strength,” just as I finished my sentence, I lunged at Jiyoung and threw a quick jab near her right abdomen, as I slightly buckled my knees. My arm blurred and hissed in mid-air as I launched it at Jiyoung with extreme speed.

Jiyoung took a breath pulling her body into a defensive stance, parrying my attack and causing me to take a few steps back defensively. But taking the initiative, she circulated her mana, and reinforced her arm and launched it at me. Everyone else maintained some distance from us—observing us with keen, and observant eyes—, as me and Jiyoung kept on with our short bout.

But I held up an arm to quickly counter her jab, but in that precise moment, her arm blurred from in front of me, as it pressed hard against my side, but in enough time, I changed the trajectory of my arm and defended. But for her to be able to follow my movements and even counter despite me utilising only half of my strength was beyond amazing.

I could now say that she had even surpassed Ryuya in terms of strength and speed and other aspects. She was currently the strongest person among all of the students here now, except for me of course, as well as among all of the other first years.

“Thank you, Jiwoo,” Jiyoung said as she drew in a quick breath and took a step forward. “If you hadn’t given me that herb, then I wouldn’t have been able breakthrough so easily, and I also even skipped a rank,” Jiyoung said excitedly like any normal girl her age.

But I raised a hand. “No, the herb may have helped you reach the strength you have, but it was entirely due to yourself. If you hadn’t focused enough or there had something gone entirely wrong during the process of your breakthrough then you would have gone into an extreme state of backlash.” she nodded her head firmly as she heard my explanation.

“But despite that, you were the reason that I was able to reach this strength in the first place.” She said.

“Alright, then I think its about time we move forward.”

The other turned to look at me and nodded—only Ryuya, Amelia, Han, Jiyoung, Derek and Claire. The others only had a look of apprehension or either a frown over their face.

Now that Jiyoung had broken through to the next rank, we needed to move forward and find an exit out of this dungeon. And I was getting a feeling that the exit was just ahead us.