Absolute Regression

Chapter 602: Make It Wrong This Time

As if it were a cry of fate, a low rumble of thunder echoed from afar.

Kurururung.

Dark clouds were gathering in the distance. The air riding on the wind already carried a humid touch.

Just like the rapidly changing weather, Geom Mugeuk could sense that this meeting would change his destiny.

Geom Mugeuk stared at the Dark Palace Master within the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique.

He was meeting someone he should never meet, in a place where he should never be.

‘Why in the world are you making contact with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult here?’

By chance, he stood in a spot where he could clearly see the other’s face.

In the intense gaze of the Dark Palace Master, he felt both cold and hot—two opposing sensations.

The first sensation was heat. In his eyes, a burning flame of fierce desire to achieve his goal had surged forth.

And Geom Mugeuk saw it at the center of that flame.

A cold-hearted ruthlessness capable of sacrificing anything for his goal.

Having witnessed countless villains until now, Geom Mugeuk could tell. This man was one who found answers in death. One who resolved problems through killing.

Geom Mugeuk then turned his gaze to the masked man. He had seen him from afar before, but today, he could see him up close.

‘Not an average fighter.’

From the feeling alone, he didn’t seem to be a Demon Supreme, but he was at least a martial artist of Division Leader level or higher. Likely someone experienced in this sort of work.

The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had met with Jo Ung of the Martial Alliance, and also with the Dark Lord of the Heavenly Secret Palace. In other words, they had established connections on both sides.

“It looks like rain will fall soon.”

The masked man glanced around at the surroundings darkened by the clouds and added.

“Isn’t the darkness on your side? Seems like the heavens are aiding you.”

The Dark Palace Master turned his body toward the masked man standing behind.

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk saw it. The man’s gaze shifting instantly into one that was neither cold nor hot—just lukewarm.

‘He’s someone skilled at hiding himself.’

The Dark Palace Master gave an unexpected reply with a composed face.

“The belief that darkness is evil and bad—that is mere prejudice. Ironically, most wrongdoings occur in the bright daylight. Darkness merely offers rest and comfort to humans.”

At those joking words, the masked man’s eyes smiled.

“I know well what kind of darkness yours is, and hearing you speak of comfort makes me laugh.”

The masked man spoke as if he knew exactly what kind of person the Dark Palace Master was. He didn’t try to read his opponent’s intentions, but he was not being rude either.

Their gazes intertwined in the air.

Between them, Geom Mugeuk watched the two.

‘They don’t trust each other.’

In other words, they had joined hands for something they needed.

What kind of deal was the Dark Palace Master trying to make with such a dangerous opponent?

The masked man asked the Dark Palace Master,

"Who has it now?"

In response to the masked man’s question, the Dark Palace Master answered,

"The Palace Master has it."

Geom Mugeuk understood. What the masked man was asking about was none other than the Secret Box.

'So the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult also knows that the Secret Box has awakened.'

If that was the case, then their reason for interfering this time was likely the Secret Box as well.

"Has he obtained the power?"

"Not yet."

"What makes you so certain? He may already have it."

"No."

The Dark Palace Master responded with certainty.

"If he had, the Martial Emperor Divine Sword would already be dead."

He knew better than anyone else the nature of the Heavenly Secret Palace Master. If he had gained the power, he wouldn't have just sat back and watched the Martial Emperor Divine Sword live.

"Here. Take it."

The masked man handed over the traveling pouch he had been carrying on his back.

The Dark Palace Master checked the contents of the pouch.

"By tomorrow, everything will be over. Since we won't meet again, let me congratulate you in advance on ascending to the position of Heavenly Secret Palace Master."

As the masked man turned to leave after saying that, the Dark Palace Master spoke, almost as if in warning.

"You must keep your promise. If you don’t want darkness to become a nightmare for the rest of your life."

In the masked man’s eyes flashed a brief contempt, as if to say, ‘Are you threatening us?’—but the words from his lips were gentle.

"I already have trouble sleeping at night. So don’t worry. Our cult always keeps its promises."

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk confirmed a truth at this meeting.

‘The Dark Palace Master has betrayed the Heavenly Secret Palace Master.’

At first, he thought that this could be a mission carried out under the Heavenly Secret Palace Master's orders. After all, it was plausible they would enlist the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to assassinate the Martial Alliance Leader.

But no, it wasn't that. This was the Dark Palace Master's rebellion.

Just what was inside that pouch?

Kurururung.

As the thunder grew closer, the Dark Palace Master, now carrying the pouch, slowly began to descend the mountain.

Once he disappeared, Geom Mugeuk exited the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique.

The Dark Palace Master would no doubt now be going to meet the Heavenly Secret Palace Master. To uncover what his intentions were, Geom Mugeuk needed to reach the camp before he did.

‘I must hear what they talk about.’

Of course, if the Heavenly Secret Palace Master was inside the tent, he wouldn’t be able to enter—but that was something to worry about later.

Geom Mugeuk looked down the cliff below. It felt barely within the limit of what his internal energy could handle for a leap.

"Wind God, I’m counting on you!"

Geom Mugeuk hurled himself off the cliff.

Swooooosh!

In the midst of a torrential downpour, the Heavenly Secret Palace Master sat cross-legged on a rock.

The falling rain didn’t touch his body, bouncing off as if an invisible barrier surrounded him.

He was calming his mind in a secluded area, slightly removed from the main camp, ahead of tomorrow’s decisive battle.

The power of the Secret Box had still not been transferred to him.

If he were to fight like this—could he truly defeat the Martial Emperor Divine Sword?

Not even vaguely did the word ‘of course’ come to mind. His opponent was a man who bore the title of Emperor in martial prowess and the title of Divine in the sword.

‘Heavens, are you mocking me?’

A sense of resentment welled up in him.

Just then, the voice of the Guardian Palace Master rang out.

“The Dark Palace Master has arrived.”

The Heavenly Secret Palace Master’s eyes snapped open. The emotion that flashed through them was unmistakably one of anticipation—‘At last!’

When the two returned to the command tent, the Dark Palace Master was waiting, studying the map of the Central Plains pinned on the wall.

As the Heavenly Secret Palace Master entered, the Dark Palace Master gave a perfectly formal and respectful greeting.

“I pay my respects to the most esteemed Palace Master.”

“Welcome, Palace Master Hwa.”

Dark Palace Master Hwa Sogang.

He also exchanged greetings with the Guardian Palace Master. Outwardly, they maintained polite etiquette, but their eyes told another story—they did not look kindly upon one another.

The Guardian Palace Master, in particular, always regarded the Dark Palace Master with suspicion and wariness. He believed the Dark Palace Master harbored ambitions to take over the Heavenly Secret Palace.

Of course, he had never voiced that suspicion to the Heavenly Secret Palace Master.

There was no evidence, and more importantly, the Heavenly Secret Palace Master trusted the Dark Palace Master. He knew that the Palace Master favored him more than himself.

After all, unlike the Guardian Palace Master, who often spoke against his will, the Dark Palace Master usually said the very things the Palace Master wanted to hear.

Today’s first words were no exception.

“Tomorrow, the leader of the righteous martial world will finally be replaced.”

The Guardian Palace Master suddenly realized—those were the very words the Palace Master had likely wanted to hear.

Even though he had been with the Palace Master all this time, he had never said anything like that.

He now believed that heavenly will had descended upon the Palace Master, but some part of him still could not welcome this war.

The Heavenly Secret Palace Master responded with humility.

“We cannot be certain of tomorrow’s battle. The Martial Emperor Divine Sword is not one to be taken lightly.”

“Heavenly will has reached you, Palace Master. It is not something a mere human can stop.”

At that, the Heavenly Secret Palace Master brought up the Priestess. He wanted to hear what the Dark Palace Master thought of the prophecy.

“The Priestess came.”

The Dark Palace Master cautiously asked,

“Did she deliver a prophecy?”

When the Heavenly Secret Palace Master slowly nodded, the Dark Palace Master respectfully cupped his fist and said,

“I humbly ask to hear the sacred prophecy.”

After a short pause, the Heavenly Secret Palace Master replied.

“She said I would lose this war. That our heavenly will would only be fulfilled three hundred years from now.”

Even in the face of such astonishing words, the Dark Palace Master’s expression did not change at all.

“You’re not surprised, are you?”

Then the Dark Palace Master calmly spoke.

“Three hundred years from now… it feels too distant to resonate.”

Though he didn’t speak directly against the prophecy, his words clearly conveyed his feelings.

“But surely we can’t afford to wait three hundred years, can we?”

At the Dark Palace Master’s words, a faint smile appeared on the Heavenly Secret Palace Master’s lips.

The Guardian Palace Master understood. That, too, was something the Palace Master had wanted to hear. He had longed for someone to support him like that. It was because he knew the Dark Palace Master would say such things that he had reacted with such joy upon hearing of his arrival.

“A prophecy is still only a prophecy.”

“But it’s a prophecy that has never been wrong before.”

“Then make it wrong this time.”

The Heavenly Secret Palace Master burst into loud laughter.

What the Dark Palace Master had prepared wasn’t just pleasant words.

“To do that, this will surely be of help.”

The Dark Palace Master retrieved something from the traveling pouch he had carried in.

“Please wear this, Palace Master.”

What he presented was a suit of protective armor.

“This is the Ice Dragon Divine Armor.”

At the mention of the Ice Dragon Divine Armor, both the Heavenly Secret Palace Master and the Guardian Palace Master were visibly astonished. It was an exceedingly rare and difficult-to-obtain protective armor.

“How did you get your hands on this?”

“I searched far and wide and barely managed to acquire it.”

There was a specific reason it had to be the Ice Dragon Divine Armor.

“The Martial Emperor Divine Sword’s martial arts are based on extreme yang internal energy. This armor holds the energy of extreme yin, making it the most suitable protection to face the Martial Emperor Divine Sword.”

The Heavenly Secret Palace Master was overjoyed.

“Thank you.”

But the Dark Palace Master had prepared even more.

He took out a small box from the pouch.

“Please take this as well.”

When the Heavenly Secret Palace Master opened it, he found a single pill inside.

Seeing it, both the Heavenly Secret Palace Master and the Guardian Palace Master were taken aback. It was a medicinal pill they were familiar with.

“The Heavenly Yin Pill.”

The Heavenly Yin Pill was a medicinal elixir with greater effects than the Millennium Snow Ginseng, and not easily found.

“This, too, is an elixir based on extreme yin. It will assist you in facing the Martial Emperor Divine Sword.”

“Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

“It will take time for the energy of extreme yin to spread through your body. So please take it now. We will stand guard.”

Though the elixir’s energy would convert into internal power, its special property required time to fully activate within the body. In this case, the extreme yin property was more important than the internal energy boost.

“Thank you. I will take it now.”

At that moment, the Guardian Palace Master transmitted a silent message to the Heavenly Secret Palace Master.

—It may be best not to take the pill.

He knew well how this would sound to the Heavenly Secret Palace Master. The Dark Palace Master had gone as far as to procure protective armor and a rare elixir for tomorrow’s battle, and here he was, doubting that very gesture of goodwill.

But with such an important confrontation ahead, he felt the Heavenly Secret Palace Master must not take the pill offered by the Dark Palace Master.

—Do you truly believe the Dark Palace Master would betray me?

Did he truly not see the possibility? Or was it that he himself had gone blind with jealousy?

—The Hwa Palace Master I know is a man of great ambition. I fear he may be plotting something under the guise of this opportunity.

The Dark Palace Master realized that the Heavenly Secret Palace Master and the Guardian Palace Master were exchanging silent transmissions. But he made no move to interrupt and simply pretended not to notice. The situation was in his favor.

Then, an astonishing message came from the Heavenly Secret Palace Master.

—You're right. More than anyone, Hwa is a man of great ambition.

He knew it well. Even better than the Guardian Palace Master did.

—Sitting in my place has been his lifelong dream.

—!

Startled, the Guardian Palace Master asked,

—Then why do you intend to take the pill?

There was another reason behind it.

—Precisely because of that, he wouldn't dare lace the pill with poison.

—What do you mean?

—The moment he kills me with poison, the position of Palace Master would vanish.

It meant that the Heavenly Secret Palace disciples would never accept someone who had poisoned the former Palace Master.

The Guardian Palace Master looked at the Heavenly Secret Palace Master in astonishment. He had thought the man had been fooled by a traitor’s sweet tongue—but he hadn’t. He had seen through everything.

“You two, stand guard.”

The Heavenly Secret Palace Master consumed the Heavenly Yin Pill right then and there.

He then sat down and began guiding his energy to melt and absorb the medicinal essence.

One full circulation of true energy, and again another.

As the Heavenly Secret Palace Master refined the medicinal effects, the Guardian Palace Master waited, inwardly tense.

In contrast, the Dark Palace Master stood with his arms crossed, casually staring at the map on the wall as if it were nothing.

The Guardian Palace Master felt a sense of confusion. If what the Palace Master had said was true...

‘What are you really planning?’

Surely he wished for the Heavenly Secret Palace Master to die in tomorrow’s battle. Then why go to such lengths to provide him with protective armor and a rare elixir?

After a while, the Heavenly Secret Palace Master opened his eyes, having fully absorbed the energy of the pill. His gaze had deepened. Just as he had said, there had been no poison in the Heavenly Yin Pill.

“This was a great help in boosting my internal energy. And by tomorrow, the energy of extreme yin should protect me from the extreme yang energy of the Martial Emperor Divine Sword. Thank you.”

“If it is for the victory of the Palace Master, I would gladly lay down even my life.”

Now that it was clear there had been nothing wrong with the elixir, the Guardian Palace Master had nothing more to say. Rather, he felt embarrassed, but the Heavenly Secret Palace Master did not rebuke him.

“Please also put on the Ice Dragon Divine Armor.”

The Heavenly Secret Palace Master donned the Ice Dragon Divine Armor right in front of them. It was such a rare treasure that wearing it in the presence of the one who had gifted it felt only proper.

Once fully clad in the Ice Dragon Divine Armor, the Heavenly Secret Palace Master spoke to the Guardian Palace Master.

“Leave us for a moment.”

Support for the Palace Master’s will, the gift of armor and elixir—this was a situation where even if he were told to step out ten times, he would have to obey without question.

The Guardian Palace Master gave a respectful bow and exited the room.

Swoooooosh.

He slowly walked into the rain.

Though the Heavenly Secret Palace Master had said he was well aware of Hwa’s ambition, the Guardian Palace Master couldn’t shake a feeling of unease. Everyone lived by using one another, and yet he felt like the only one falling behind. Was he simply being blindly loyal?

But the Heavenly Secret Palace Master had not dismissed him out of favoritism for the Dark Palace Master. It was because he had given the Dark Palace Master a secret command.

“Did you bring the Secret Box?”

“Yes, I brought it.”

The large Secret Box that had been stored in the treasury of the Heavenly Secret Palace was now here.

The very reason the Heavenly Secret Palace Master had launched this war, the reason he had chosen to ignore the prophecy and press forward with the conflict—all of it stemmed from the Secret Box. He believed the Secret Box had chosen him and would grant him its power.

However, as time passed and he remained unable to draw power from the small Secret Box, his impatience grew by the day.

The conclusion he finally reached was this:

Perhaps the presence of the large Secret Box was necessary for the small one to activate its power.

To test that final hope, he had secretly ordered it to be brought here.

At this point, the only thing he could rely on was the Secret Box.

“Where is it now?”