The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player Novel - Chapter 291
Chapter 291 – The Curse of Immortality
‘Oh no!’
It was a fleeting moment, but Artaros felt death. Of course, death was a distant word for him, who was under the curse of immortality. However, just before dying, an expression of dismay appeared on Artaros’s face. After all, there was a penalty for resurrection.
Zwiing!
The sword that was heading towards Artaros’s neck was thrust through Ryu Min’s neck instead, like a returning strike.
That’s how Artaros died.
However, Ryu Min couldn’t help but tense up.
‘He’s not dead.’
Even though his neck had been pierced, Artaros was still moving.
A truly eerie sight.
Swooosh…
When the sword of light was withdrawn from his neck, the hole closed up as if nothing had happened.
[That was quite a hard hit. I didn’t expect you to have reflection skills.]
Artaros reprimanded himself, realizing he had underestimated his opponent.
[I lost my life twice because of that. I also received a 10% penalty on my stats.]
Artaros’s curse of immortality allowed him to resurrect without penalty the first time he died. However, if he died within an hour, he would receive a penalty. Nothing less than a 10% decrease in all his stats. If he kept dying repeatedly, he would continue losing stats. Although the stats would eventually recover, what would never recover was the piece of soul lost in each resurrection. That’s why it was a curse.
‘I may not be able to kill him, but I can make him suffer penalties.’
After reading all those thoughts in his mind, Ryu Min saw an opportunity in this fight. However, he didn’t become arrogant. Even with a 90% decrease in his stats, Artaros was still formidable. And it seemed he knew that too, as there were no signs of tension on his face.
[If you thought you could kill me so easily, you were wrong.]
“I know. It’s not a problem I can solve by just killing you once.”
‘If I want to reduce his stats, I’ll have to kill him several times now.’
If he kept dying repeatedly, the stat penalties would accumulate, making future kills easier. That’s why Ryu Min raised his scythe again.
[Are you determined to keep fighting?]
“It goes without saying. Now is the perfect time to attack, how can I let it pass?”
[Naive. In fact, you just lost a chance to kill me smoothly.]
“Oh? Is my good sir finally worried about me?”
Instead of responding, Artaros raised his sword.
He planned to use the skill he had used before, [Light of Extermination].
[I can’t back down now. I must give everything to kill you.]
Artaros was truly using all his power.
A dazzling glow emanated from his sword.
It was so intense that it was even difficult to open his eyes.
In this situation, using such a comprehensive and unavoidable skill was practically impossible.
The only option was to charge forward before Ryu Min’s scythe reached him.
The calculations of Ryu Min’s battle runes determined that he was a bit far from his opponent.
He realized he would be consumed by the light before his scythe reached.
At that moment, Ryu Min had no choice but to use his special move.
[Repent with death, foolish mortal!]
The light of Extermination darkened the view.
No matter what, Ryu Min charged forward.
He approached Artaros to kill him.
But before that, the light reached Ryu Min’s flesh first.
The hair was scorched, skin tissues peeled off, and bones were exposed.
The closer he got to the light, the more his body melted like ice cream.
Despite having an 80% damage reduction, it was still a devastating hit.
He could feel his entire body experiencing a different kind of damage than before.
However, Ryu Min didn’t charge forward thoughtlessly, like a moth flying into the fire.
[You have purchased an experience package for 1,000,000 points.]
[+15.87% experience]
[You have leveled up!]
[Your rank has increased from ‘Master’ to ‘Grand Master’.]
[You can now use the ‘Command’ function.]
[All functions have been unlocked.]
[The skill Seal of Death has been strengthened in commemoration of your rank up!]
[The additional damage of the skill Seal of Death has increased from 160% to 200%.]
[The skill Night of Death has been strengthened in commemoration of your rank up!]
[The range of the skill Night of Death has increased from 1,500m to 3,000m.]
[The skill Moonlight Slaughter has been strengthened in commemoration of your rank up!]
[The area damage of the skill Moonlight Slaughter has increased from 1,800% to 3,000%.]
[The skill Crimson Moon has been strengthened in commemoration of your rank up!]
[The duration of the skill Crimson Moon has increased from 10 seconds to 20 seconds.]
[Additionally, you have learned the exclusive reaper skill, ‘Death Sentence’!]
[Exclusive Skill – Death Sentence]
-Effect: Instantly kills the enemy. Can only be used when the enemy’s health is below 30%. It is a no cooldown skill.
[It has been confirmed that you are the first player to reach the maximum level. Congratulations!]
[You obtain the title of ‘Max Level’.]
[As a reward for reaching the maximum level for the first time, you have received the ‘Rune of Growth’.]
[The acquired rune will be automatically engraved on the player’s body!]
[In commemoration of reaching the maximum level, all your health will be restored and you will enter an invincibility state for 1 minute.]
A minute of invincibility.
A temporary benefit not easily obtained.
This was the reason why Ryu Min had postponed reaching the maximum level.
A minute of invincibility was actually quite a long period.
For his enemies, at least.
[…!?]
Looking at Ryu Min, whose burning skin was regenerating cleanly under the bright light of invincibility, Artaros showed a surprised expression.
[The effect of max level…?]
Although he also knew that effect, he never thought he would reach the maximum level without experience.
Sssk-!
The scythe that pierced through the light of extermination sent Artaros flying.
However, his body suddenly reattached as if it had never been damaged, returning to its intact form.
But there was something different, and both Ryu Min and Artaros knew it.
“Your stats have also decreased by another 10%, right?”
[…]
“Then, with exponential calculation, your stats are now only 81% of what they used to be.”
[What are you insinuating?]
“Now you only have one minute to face the blows.”
At the same time Ryu Min swung his scythe, Artaros tried to block reflexively.
Or rather, he tried to block.
Suddenly!
An attack flew back at Artaros, whose arm had dropped and had become a stump.
Klang-Klang!
He blocked it, but with great difficulty.
It was a clearly different movement from before.
Although he was a bit surprised, Artaros showed no signs and tried to counterattack.
However, Ryu Min didn’t even think about blocking.
Why should he block when he was under invincibility?
Ping-!
When his own scythe bounced against invincibility, Artaros was baffled.
Whether he was confused or not, Ryu Min stabbed his scythe into Artaros’s heart.
Thump-!
Artaros, who had lost his life in an instant, came to his senses again.
He resurrected once more and would continue resurrecting in the future, but his expression was now one of bewilderment, unlike before.
“This is not good.”
His overall stats had decreased again.
Now, it was difficult to block the attacks of Black Scythe.
Let alone blocking attacks that had changed from unidirectional to multidirectional.
Thud-Thud-Thud-
Cutting necks, piercing heads, puncturing hearts.
In this way, Artaros died five times in 50 seconds.
His stats had fallen below 50%.
“Although they have decreased a lot, I can still handle it. So hold on for another 10 seconds.”
Then, his opponent’s invincibility will end.
Only 10 seconds more and he would have a chance to counterattack.
“Although my stats have decreased seven times, it’s fine. If I use ‘Burning Radiance’ again to increase my stats by 50%…”
He thought he could somehow face him.
And when the 10 seconds passed and the golden light enveloping Ryu Min’s body disappeared.
Artaros used ‘Burning Radiance’ to counterattack.
All his stats increased by 50% and he regained vitality.
“You thought you killed me while you were under invincibility, but we also got this far?”
Artaros stopped mid-sentence.
There was a change in his opponent’s body.
The dark energies swirling were a different feeling from before.
“Oh, this? It’s the cooldown time of the God of Death’s skill.”
[…]
“Why? Did you think only you had upgrades? I have mine too.”
Before he could finish speaking, Ryu Min’s scythe glowed like a shooting star.
Before he could respond, Artaros’s head fell again.
When his head reattached, Ryu Min murmured.
“You have a curse of not dying, right? Keep resurrecting? Then I’ll kill you again and again, until boredom.”
Ryu Min was desperate to kill his opponent.
He was a formidable opponent and was showing weakness.
If not now, there would be no other chance.
That’s why he launched an all-out attack at that moment.
It was easy to face a child when using the God of Death’s skill.
Sssk-Sssk-Sssk!
After cutting off limbs, he used the newly learned skill as the finishing touch.
‘Death Sentence’.
Fwoosh!
As soon as he conjured it, a crimson blood fountain shot out like a geyser, killing him instantly.
Despite dying so miserably, he kept resurrecting.
Of course, during the brief three seconds of resurrection, Ryu Min couldn’t intervene.
Until Artaros’s body was fully formed, his attacks had no effect, as if they were attacking a being from another dimension.
But that was no obstacle for Ryu Min.
Once dead after waiting three seconds, wouldn’t that be enough?
“How many times have you died now? Thirty times?”
[…….]
“How does it feel to die right after resurrecting? How much have your stats decreased? I wonder, that’s why I’m asking. Oh, sorry. I didn’t give you time to speak.”
Ryu Min set aside his scythe that was about to be thrown.
“If you have something to say, go ahead.”
[…For newcomers, there is no stats system. The system was only created for players to see more easily.]
“Anyway, how much have they decreased? According to my calculations, about 4% compared to before?”
Having lost 96% of his strength and only 4% remaining?
For Ryu Min, it was as if he was completely out of the game.
Well, something like that would be enough to play easily with other players, but still.
[If you want to mock, do as much as you want. If that comforts you.]
“What? Now you’re resigned? Don’t you have any desire to live?”
[If you expect me to beg, it will be a futile effort. I have no intention of begging for my life.]
“Oh, really?”
Ryu Min tried to read his opponent’s thoughts.
It wasn’t so easy for an entity that appeared under the orders of the superiors to give up so easily.
Clearly, there was something else at play.
‘Huh?’
With that thought, Ryu Min couldn’t help but be a bit surprised.
Artaros’s movement was a strategy he hadn’t even considered.
[A fool like you.]
For a moment, Artaros’s gaze turned violet.
[The fact that you gave me time to speak is your mistake. All I needed was a moment.]
Ryu Min’s body froze as if his soul had left.
In the quiet silence, only Artaros’s lips moved.
[Pushing me to this point. That deserves praise, Black Scythe. But you are a nuisance to the gods. You shouldn’t spoil the only pleasure the gods have.]
Artaros placed a hand on Ryu Min’s head.
Inside, he wanted to crush him, but now that he had stopped time, his options were limited.
[Killing would be best, but with my current state, it’s impossible. So, erase the memories. Forget all the skills, relationships, and hardships you’ve had so far. Naturally, you will be eliminated and disappear from the game.]
If he couldn’t kill him, Artaros had no choice but to do this.
[Then, wait for your soul to reach the underworld. Huh… I don’t know what to say to Nyx.]
With a whisper, Artaros carried his tired body and disappeared out of space.
—————
The Demon King’s Castle was shrouded in darkness.
Only one person lay there.
“Ugh, w-where…?”
Ryu Min regained consciousness and got up, looking around nervously.
He couldn’t see anything, but his mind was the problem.
“Oh, damn… What happened?”
He looked around, but there was no one.
Neither Plunictos nor Artaros was in sight.
“That damn Artaros tried to erase my memories.”
Ryu Min clearly remembered the previous situation.
All the words he had said after stopping time.
All this was possible thanks to the memory runes he had obtained by killing the dragon.
‘With my stats decreased, he tried to erase my memories after stopping time? And then undid the lifeless space?’
It was a decent attempt, but he didn’t know.
The memory runes had left an indelible impression on his mind.
Moreover, he remembered the words spoken when time was stopped.
“Wasn’t it that he slowed time to the extreme?”
Even in the slowed time, Ryu Min’s ears were open.
That’s why he could hear all of Artaros’s murmurings.
“He surely mentioned the God Nyx at the end.”
He was probably the instigator who ordered his death.
“Another God who wants to kill me.”
A cold smile formed on Ryu Min’s lips.