Absolute Regression

Chapter 604: If You Still Don’t Show Up Today, You’ll Stay Inside

Six colored lights poured down on Geom Mugeuk.

Saaaaa—

The lights seeped into Geom Mugeuk's body like rain soaking the earth.

Once inside, the lights flowed through his body like inner energy, coursing like a river. With each heartbeat, the lights spread further and further throughout his entire body.

The lights felt hot, and also cold. They sent tingles through him. At times refreshing, other times comforting, and at moments they even instilled fear.

Geom Mugeuk did not resist the lights.

It was because he instinctively understood—they were lights meant for him. No matter how hot, no matter how cold, no matter how deeply they stirred fear he had to accept them.

The six lights that had roamed every corner of his body eventually gathered in his head.

The lights that converged in his brain simultaneously burst into radiance.

Sssaaaak!

The next moment—

The energies of Black Eye, Blue Purity, and White Eye Orb that had been dormant in Geom Mugeuk’s body began to move on their own, following his meridians.

Astonishingly, Geom Mugeuk already knew the heart technique's mnemonic verses.

The lights had just entered and directly taught the mnemonic verses to him. No—rather than merely teaching him, they had embedded them in him fully mastered.

He was familiar with people transferring internal energy to others, but transferring knowledge so instantly was entirely unheard of.

The heart technique revealed by the Secret Box was completely different from traditional energy circulation methods.

The three energies moved through his meridians in an entirely unexpected order. The scenery within the coursing meridians looked nothing like what he knew. It was extremely precarious, even dangerous.

At times, the energy flowed in reverse, and sometimes it forcibly traveled along paths that seemed likely to cause internal injury.

This heart technique utterly shattered the common sense of martial arts he had known until now.

But Geom Mugeuk trusted this mnemonic verse. Even though he didn’t know what the energies in his body were or what this heart technique entailed, anything related to the Secret Box—he simply chose to believe in it.

Just like the inexplicable sense of relief he felt when first absorbing the energy from the Secret Box, he trusted this instinct—that the energy was favorable to him.

When he completed one full circulation of the energy, at the final moment, the three energies merged into one.

At that very moment, when overwhelming power surged through him—

The three energies dispersed again without resistance, quietly falling asleep across his meridians.

Geom Mugeuk understood. Just as the Secret Box had conveyed earlier, all six energies had to be gathered for this heart technique to be complete.

Beyond that, everything else remained a mystery.

What would happen once all six energies were gathered and the technique operated? Would the gathered energies act separately? Or merge with his existing internal energy?

Whether this heart technique had a specific martial art that corresponded to it, or whether the heart technique itself wielded some kind of power—

And how exactly it granted the strength of the Greatest of All Time—

It was then that the surroundings began to change.

Sareureureureung.

As if saying farewell, the Secret Box let out a cheerful sound Geom Mugeuk had never heard before.

Chiiiii—

The six circles that had been engraved onto the Secret Box vanished. The markings, once deeply etched as if carved by a blade, gradually faded and then disappeared completely.

That marked the beginning of everything returning to its original state.

Jjjiiiiiik—

The torn space in front of him began to close. The deep darkness that had spread across that space—

Geom Mugeuk did not find the darkness unpleasant. He knew better than anyone that nights spent alone weren’t lonelier than the days.

Kuurururu!

The overturned ground began to settle back down. As it slowly descended, it seemed to be bidding farewell, saying, “Don’t worry, I’m still beneath your feet.”

Kwakwakwakwa—

The icicles that had glowed white began to disappear back into the ceiling. Perhaps reluctant to part, the ice twinkled with a pure white light in the final moment.

The fiercely blazing flames slowly died down. As the flames swayed left and right, it looked as if they were waving goodbye.

Hwiiiing—

A breeze swept past, brushing against the scorched lightning marks on the floor—and to Geom Mugeuk’s surprise, the traces on the ground vanished completely. Like drawings in the sand washed away by waves, they disappeared.

The wind gave one final gust, fluttering Geom Mugeuk’s clothes and hair in a refreshing breeze—then vanished completely.

And so, everything around him returned to the way it was.

Now the space looked just as it had when Geom Mugeuk first arrived.

It felt like a dream.

But Geom Mugeuk could feel the change.

The same three energies still slept within his body, but they were different from before. If previously it felt like he was merely storing them, now he felt—“these energies are mine.”

It was like a guest in a rented room had now become the owner.

And within those energies, he could sense unprecedented potential. If this was the case with just three, he couldn’t imagine what would happen once all six were gathered.

Geom Mugeuk pulled the Secret Box from his chest.

The Secret Box wore a radiant smile, mirroring the joy in his heart.

Geom Mugeuk was happy. Truly happy. What pleased him more than anything was that this power had not fallen into the hands of his enemies, but had come to him.

Since his regression, he had worked constantly to change the life he once knew—but now, it felt like he had just passed a major turning point differently.

“Don’t let your guard down, not even at the end. Keep pushing forward.”

He tucked the small Secret Box back into his chest and turned his gaze toward the larger one. The look in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes deepened as he stared at it.

Geom Mugeuk bowed deeply to the Secret Box. He could feel with every fiber of his being that this ancient power was not something that could be acquired through mere elixirs.

“If this is the will of the heavens bestowed upon me, then I shall gladly accept that fate.”

He meant every word. After all, the very fact that he had been able to regress in the first place was because the heavens had acknowledged the merit of his efforts.

Having offered a formal gesture of respect, Geom Mugeuk then stepped closer to the Secret Box and reached out his hand.

“Thank you, Secret Box.”

He acknowledged the will of the heavens, but still, he regarded these Secret Boxes as friends.

At that very moment—

Suuuuk—

His hand sank into the Secret Box. Before he could resist, his entire body was pulled into it. The Secret Box had begun to absorb Geom Mugeuk.

“W-wait! No! I haven’t even seen the final duel yet!”

But the Secret Box absorbed him in an instant, as if to say it would allow him no more than this.

Geom Mugeuk did not resist. Just as he hadn’t the first time he entered.

Yes. If this is the fate you've chosen—

“See you in three hundred years!”

*         *         *

The Sword King was examining the wall of the space where the Secret Box was located.

Several days had passed since Geom Mugeuk was pulled into the Secret Box. But he had yet to return.

During that time, the Sword King had explored various ways to enter the Secret Box himself.

Naturally, he had thoroughly inspected the box—he had knocked on it, tried moving it, and even injected internal energy into it. But the Secret Box showed no reaction.

He went back to the gate and rechecked the previous chamber, rereading the secret manuals that had been stored there. But none of them contained any clues about how to enter the Secret Box.

Eventually, after examining the surrounding walls, the Sword King returned to the Secret Box and sat leaning against it. The spot he sat on was exactly where Geom Mugeuk had been pulled in.

Just in case—wondering if he too might be drawn inside—he made it a point to sit in that very spot once a day. But today, as always, the Secret Box remained cold and unyielding.

“Huuu.”

For the first time, a sigh escaped the Sword King’s lips. He couldn't keep waiting like this forever.

In truth, his mission was to retrieve the Secret Box.

Whether Geom Mugeuk was inside or not, delivering it was all that mattered.

And yet... he had been waiting here for days.

He was concerned about Geom Mugeuk—and at the same time, not concerned. If he were being honest, it leaned more toward not being concerned.

Though the way he was pulled in resembled someone being swallowed by a swamp, it hadn’t felt like the box was trying to harm him.

Perhaps it was because of that unique quality Geom Mugeuk had shown.

“You're not the kind of person to die such a meaningless death, right?”

Thinking of Geom Mugeuk, the words slipped out of his mouth without much thought.

“If you don’t come out again today, I’m taking this with me while you're still inside.”

Despite the Sword King’s threat, Geom Mugeuk did not come out.

This time, he threatened the Secret Box.

“If you don’t give me my subordinate back, I’ll slice you clean in half.”

He said it like a joke, but deep down, he truly wanted to cut open the Secret Box with his sword and see what was inside.

But there was no way Geom Mugeuk could be inside that solid, unyielding Secret Box, so he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

‘If this really is something that can change the fate of the martial world, then why did it swallow the Young Cult Leader?’

The Sword King, toying with the shoe hanging at his waist, muttered as if talking to himself.

“Don’t tell me... the one meant to change the fate of the martial world... is you?”

Just then—

“Uwaaaaaagh!”

With a scream, something burst out from behind the Sword King. The person who tumbled out from above the Sword King’s head, who had been leaning against the Secret Box, and rolled onto the floor—was none other than Geom Mugeuk.

The Sword King stared at him in shock. He had been so startled that he had almost reflexively slashed Geom Mugeuk.

To surprise someone like this...

“Instructor, you look pale. Just in a few days.”

At those first words, the Sword King responded with a look of disbelief.

“You look like you had a good time.”

There was a clarity in Geom Mugeuk’s gaze, and the life energy radiating from his body felt stronger. It was a change that only someone of the Sword King’s level could perceive.

“Ugh, don’t even mention it. I went through hell without any internal energy.”

Geom Mugeuk checked his own body. The vast and dignified energy in his lower dantian—

Thankfully, he had returned to the state he was in before entering. His sword had also returned to being the Black Demon Sword. The Secret Box was still tucked safely in his chest.

Standing up, Geom Mugeuk took a deep breath.

The scent of three hundred years later—he had returned alive!

“You must have worried about me, right? You probably even stopped eating.”

“Not at all. I had meat every day.”

But Geom Mugeuk could feel it—the relief in his eyes when he saw him.

He had been waiting here. Waiting, worried that Geom Mugeuk might not return.

“What happened inside that place?”

It was the first time in his life the Sword King had ever been this curious about something.

“Before I tell you, just one moment.”

Geom Mugeuk walked toward the Secret Box.

The feeling he had now as he looked at the Secret Box was completely different from when he first entered or even when he met the Secret Box three hundred years ago.

That very same Secret Box had crossed three hundred years and was now before his eyes again.

Geom Mugeuk reached out and placed his hand on it.

‘You must have endured three hundred years in loneliness. You’ve been through a lot. And thank you. Thank you for sending me back here.’

It was a shame he hadn’t seen the final battle—but the outcome had already been decided.

After finishing his farewell to the Secret Box, Geom Mugeuk turned to face the Sword King.

How much should he tell him? Geom Mugeuk decided to leave out exactly two things.

The prophecy about himself—and the fact that he had mastered the mnemonic verse of the Secret Box.

"Do you happen to know anything about the Martial Emperor Divine Sword?"

Just how much did the Sword King know about this history?

"I’ve heard of him. He was the Martial Alliance Leader three hundred years ago."

He was the most famous Martial Alliance Leader of all time.

"Why are you suddenly asking about him?"

Then, an astonishing statement came out of Geom Mugeuk’s mouth.

"I met the Martial Emperor Divine Sword."

"What?"

At first, the Sword King gave him a look that said, “Is this a joke?”—but gradually, his expression shifted into one of surprise. He realized Geom Mugeuk wasn’t joking.

"You’re serious!"

"I even ate a meal with the Martial Emperor Divine Sword."

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned to the Secret Box.

"This box took me back three hundred years into the past."

The Sword King, astonished, looked toward the Secret Box.

Geom Mugeuk continued.

"This box was a divine relic of a mysterious faction known as the Heavenly Will Palace."

He watched closely to see how the Sword King would react to the name Heavenly Will Palace.

The reaction wasn’t anything unusual—just a typical response.

"I know it. The Martial Emperor Divine Sword destroyed the Heavenly Will Palace."

That was where the knowledge of those familiar with the Martial Emperor Divine Sword usually ended. From that reaction, it was clear—the Sword King had no connection to the successors of the Heavenly Will Palace. To him, it was nothing more than a piece of history.

"Don’t tell me—you met the Palace Master of the Heavenly Will Palace too?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded. It wasn’t just the Palace Master he had met—he had even met the Priestess.

"I stayed for a few days at the place where the final war between the two sides broke out."

"Why did they take you there?"

Since he had no intention of revealing the prophecy about himself, Geom Mugeuk had no real way to explain.

"I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because I’m better looking than you, instructor? I mean, if you’re going on a long trip, might as well take someone young and handsome—"

"Cut the nonsense!"

The mischief disappeared from Geom Mugeuk’s face. Now was the time to ask the real question.

"Why did you bring me to this place? Please tell me the real reason."

There was clearly a specific intent. It hadn’t been to save those trapped underground, nor to help dismantle the mechanism. There was another reason—something only the Sword King knew.

Finally, the Sword King spoke his true feelings.

"I wanted to see whether you’re the one who will change the fate of the martial world."

Their gazes met and locked in midair.

"Why did you think I might be that person?"

After a brief silence, the Sword King answered.

"Because you changed our fate."

They had believed they would be the ones to change the fate of the martial world—but it was Geom Mugeuk who had changed their fate.

"And now, you're trying to change even my fate."

Geom Mugeuk could feel it. The moment had come where his fate and the Sword King's would be decided. It would all hinge on the answer to this question.

"If I am the one to change the fate of the martial world..."

Geom Mugeuk stared straight into the Sword King's eyes and asked the next question.

"Can our relationship change as well?"