Absolute Regression

Chapter 550: He’s on His Way

As the swirling black smoke froze into white, it became as beautiful as snowflakes.

The icy crystals glimmered in the darkness, resembling a work of art crafted with a master’s soul.

Beyond that, the figure of a woman came into view.

On the palm of a woman dressed in a pure white robe, a crystallized flake of snow rose like a heat haze. It was clear that she had just performed a technique.

Her eyes met those of Bih Sa-in.

Her snow-white skin and her clear, cold eyes glowed in the darkness.

‘How can a person give off such a pure feeling?’

It was the first time he had ever encountered a woman who gave off such an impression.

The woman was none other than Han Seol, the Young Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.

Behind her stood a middle-aged man and woman, also dressed in white robes, standing protectively as if guarding her. They were the Cold Ice Twin Swords, unmatched masters of the Northern Sea.

The Ice Palace Master, worried about his daughter's first journey to the Central Plains, had sent them to accompany her—there was no need to mention their skill.

Bih Sa-in stepped toward her and introduced himself first.

"I am Bih Sa-in, the Young Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance."

Han Seol then introduced herself as well.

"I’m Han Seol, the Young Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace."

Upon learning her identity, Bih Sa-in was inwardly surprised. He had heard from Geom Mugeuk that a new person would be joining this summit, but he had never imagined it would be the Young Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.

Just as Bih Sa-in had been to her, Han Seol also found his first impression striking. She had never met anyone with such a terrifying and intense presence.

As he stared at her for a moment, Bih Sa-in's gaze shifted toward the frozen dark energy hovering in the air.

With a graceful yet polite gesture, Han Seol indicated that he could handle it, and Bih Sa-in returned the gesture with a respectful cupped-fist salute to express his thanks.

Bih Sa-in then drew his sword and channeled the true energy of the Tyrant’s Heaven-Shaking Sword Art. A powerful blade energy surged through his blade.

Shiiing!

Boom!

The gathered energy shattered into frozen fragments, scattering in all directions. As the central core broke, the remaining energy began to vanish.

Once it had all completely dissipated, only beautiful ice shards sparkled in every direction.

Bih Sa-in looked back at the Thirteen Wolves. He was grateful to them for risking their lives with him in the final moment. Reading the sincerity in his eyes, the Thirteen Wolves responded with the same unwavering gaze full of loyalty.

In the past, Bih Sa-in never looked back at them during moments like this. He had thought it only natural. No, he had never even considered the need to connect with them.

But now, Bih Sa-in looked back at them. He had become someone who did, someone who faced others directly.

Bih Sa-in’s gaze turned back to Han Seol.

"Thank you. You saved my life."

At those words, a subtle flicker passed through Han Seol’s eyes. Considering the power Bih Sa-in and the Thirteen Wolves had shown earlier when blocking the energy, it was hard to say how things might have turned out.

He could have just said thank you for the help, but instead, he said she had saved his life. For someone like the Young Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, he likely didn’t like owing a life debt.

“There’s no need to thank me. I merely froze that ominous thing.”

The Cold Ice Twin Swords standing behind her exchanged glances.

The Ice Palace Master's biggest concern had been whether his daughter could manage relationships well in the Central Plains, but she was handling things calmly and skillfully. This was probably why people said children act differently outside compared to how they are in front of their parents.

“I came at the invitation of the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. It was supposed to be a festival.”

She looked around. Things were shattered, broken. Corpses were piled high. And then there were the Ghost-Faced Swordsmen staring at her.

Bih Sa-in spoke to her.

“Considering who invited you, it shouldn’t feel strange at all.”

Han Seol agreed with those words. It was, after all, Geom Mugeuk who had flipped the Northern Sea Ice Palace upside down before leaving—affecting even the relationship between her and her mother.

“Where is the Young Cult Leader now?”

Bih Sa-in looked at her briefly, then replied in a voice full of certainty.

“He’s on his way.”

* * *

A desperate battle was still raging.

Their opponents were overflowing with inner energy, and they had fought by conserving and holding back their own as much as possible.

Shwaaak.

Battle King’s fist flew toward the face of the Evil Smiling Demon.

Thwack!

The one who struck Battle King’s wrist, diverting the path of the fist, was Geom Mugeuk.

Puk! Puk!

The Evil Smiling Demon’s daggers pierced into Battle King’s abdomen in succession. It was an attack that completely ignored defense. If he hadn’t trusted Geom Mugeuk to block for him, he would never have dared attempt such a move.

The two of them had gone beyond the limits of concentration, stepping into an entirely new realm of focus. Though they had fought in many battles together in sync until now, never had they fought as a single breath like they did today.

Hooaaang!

Battle King’s frenzied punch stopped mid-air after his stomach was pierced.

Skaak!

Geom Mugeuk’s sword, flying in to sever his arm, grazed the chain at the end of his fist.

The follow-up punch, tense and sharp from Battle King, missed its mark, and the two of them escaped from within each other’s striking range.

Battle King looked down at his abdomen.

It had been an attack that should’ve left a fatal wound, but black smoke covered his injury.

“Damn it!”

If not for the Dark King, this too would have been a critical hit.

Battle King was furious. Geom Mugeuk and the Evil Smiling Demon clashed without ever truly landing a hit. He was offended by their ability to conserve their energy yet remain so effective—and the fact that he couldn’t kill them.

At that moment, the calm voice of the Dark King echoed.

“Stay calm. Time is on our side.”

To her words, Geom Mugeuk replied.

“Is it truly on your side?”

As if asking what he meant, her eyes showed a faint inquiry, and Geom Mugeuk continued.

“I believe time is on our side. Aren’t you curious about what’s happening outside?”

“Our Young Cult Leader is clinging to a futile hope.”

At Battle King’s mockery, Geom Mugeuk stared at him and spoke.

“That smoke… it might betray you one day, don’t you think?”

But Geom Mugeuk wasn’t speaking to Battle King. He was speaking to the Dark King, whose presence flickered above Battle King’s pupils.

Then the Dark King replied in a mysterious and composed tone.

“Judging by your current state, I don’t see any reason it would.”

The sound of Evil Smiling Demon’s breathing echoed.

“Haa, haa.”

Heavy, ragged breaths came from behind the mask.

Listening silently to those breaths, Geom Mugeuk flicked his finger.

Tak!

With that, the scenery changed.

At the edge of a cliff stood Geom Mugeuk and Evil Smiling Demon, with Battle King standing a few paces away.

“Since I’m out of inner energy, how about a cliff-end strategy?”

At his words, the Dark King made a puzzled expression. Her gaze implied: there’s no way the Young Cult Leader would choose such a reckless method.

Geom Mugeuk turned to Evil Smiling Demon and asked,

“Are you good at swimming?”

“I am.”

Then, without hesitation, Geom Mugeuk pushed Evil Smiling Demon off the cliff.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Battle King didn’t understand, but the Dark King quickly caught on to Geom Mugeuk’s intentions.

“You sent Evil Smiling Demon to circulate his energy and return.”

There was no way he could defend against their attacks with his inner energy completely drained.

“The reason for choosing this cliff was to make it harder for anyone to find Evil Smiling Demon.”

A hint of admiration flickered in the Dark King’s eyes.

“Anyone could come up with such an idea. But to think of it in the middle of such a chaotic battle is no easy feat. The Young Cult Leader is truly brilliant.”

“You, who saw through my intent in an instant, are no less impressive.”

“In any case, it’s over now. By the time Evil Smiling Demon returns after circulating his energy, you’ll already be dead.”

It had already been proven in the earlier fight that he couldn’t win alone.

Battle King charged in once more.

A one-on-one fight.

Fists and sword clashed at the cliff’s edge.

But Geom Mugeuk did not step back from the precipice.

He gritted his teeth and fought with everything he had, but it was too much to handle alone.

In the end, he couldn’t last even thirty exchanges. Geom Mugeuk collapsed onto the ground.

Panting, Geom Mugeuk looked completely drained of energy. His trembling hand reached for the sword lying nearby but couldn’t manage to grasp it.

Battle King approached and looked down at him.

“Why didn’t you just jump off the cliff and escape?”

The answer came not from Geom Mugeuk, but from the Dark King.

“If he had, we would’ve jumped after him. Then Evil Smiling Demon might have died. Instead, he chose to die first. Truly admirable.”

Looking down at him with eyes full of admiration, the Dark King soon gave her final command.

“Honor the Young Cult Leader’s wish and send him first. Once the Young Cult Leader dies, the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique will break, and Evil Smiling Demon will reappear.”

Battle King clashed his two fists together and laughed.

Kaang! Kaang!

At that moment, Battle King’s chains gleamed. It wasn’t the result of his fists colliding.

A streak of light flowed along the chains. That light extended, traveling along Battle King’s body, reaching his face.

In that instant, Battle King narrowed his eyes. It was faint, but unmistakably—light had entered his eyes.

With a shocked expression, Battle King looked up at the sky.

A line of light began to form at the edge of the sun. It resembled the rim of Battle King’s own pupils.

The moon quickly began to move away from the sun, and the world that had been trapped in darkness began to reclaim its light.

In an instant, the solar eclipse was over.

At the same time, the world brightened.

A trace of astonishment crossed Battle King’s face. Overlapping with him, the expression of the Dark King turned grave. Something that must never have happened outside the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique had just occurred.

Lying on the ground, Geom Mugeuk spoke.

“You were the one who said it, weren’t you? That where there is light, darkness follows. But isn’t it also true that there is no such thing as eternal darkness?”

The Dark King calmly replied.

“What a shame. If it had happened just a little earlier outside, you might have won, Young Cult Leader.”

“It’s a pity. Under this sun, I could’ve killed you.”

The Dark King gave no response.

With the power that had been sustaining the Dark Descent Technique severed, it truly might have been possible.

“Still, I’m glad to die in the light.”

Battle King grabbed Geom Mugeuk by the collar and pulled him up.

“You stubborn bastard! It’s over now!”

He had endured all the pain for this very moment.

Craack.

Right then, Geom Mugeuk grabbed both of Battle King’s wrists.

“A desperate last move…”

In that moment, Battle King’s face hardened. Geom Mugeuk still had inner energy left.

Geom Mugeuk held him in a tight grip, refusing to let him move. Was he pouring all of his remaining energy into it? The force was immense. Why had he pretended to be out of energy until now?

‘Why?’

It was then that the Dark King flinched in shock.

“No… it couldn’t be!”

When Battle King instinctively turned his head back—

The last thing he saw was a massive palm.

In the instant when the eyes of Battle King and the Dark King, once overlapped, opened wide at the same time—

Swaaaaaaaaaaaaash!

Evil Smiling Demon’s Frantic Demonic Palm erupted right in front of Battle King’s face.

Boom!

Battle King’s head was swept away by the energy and blasted off.

In truth, Evil Smiling Demon’s inner energy hadn’t been completely depleted. He had just enough left to unleash a single Frantic Demonic Palm.

It had all been part of their plan. A life-risking deception—if it failed, they would die.

Beneath the cliff Geom Mugeuk had chosen, there had been a protrusion just large enough for him to stand on. Evil Smiling Demon had waited there for this exact moment, when they would be off guard. This one fleeting instant of triumph.

And just as the solar eclipse ended, the plan shone even more brilliantly.

They were certain now. Battle King would never return.

Even though his head above the neck had completely vanished, Battle King remained standing.

Where his face had once been, the face of the Dark King standing ahead was now visible instead. It was as if her head had been affixed to Battle King’s body.

The Dark King had escaped from his body just moments before his death. It had been far, far too close. Even within the darkness, she couldn’t be sure she would have survived such an attack—let alone beneath this sunlight.

This was also the moment when Geom Mugeuk’s earlier words had hit their mark: that the black smoke might just betray her one day.

Now, as the Dark King stood alone, flickering beneath the sunlight where once she had overlapped with Battle King, Geom Mugeuk calmly said:

“Now I can finally see your face clearly.”