Record of a Thousand Lives-Chapter 88

Kartheon gasped for air and turned back time as his vision started to blur.‘I will survive this time,’hethought.

Kang Yoon-Soo said, “You will die.”

Kartheon drew his sword and immediately turned around.However, just ashe was about to strike down Shaneth, who was disguised as a mummy,Henrick’s combat dollsattacked him. The ancient king destroyed fivecombatdolls and called for his mummies to protect him, but Iris lunged at him and smashed him to pieces.

[You haveturned back timeby 40 seconds.]

[You have used some of yourtemporal power.]

[You have turned back time fifty-six times in a short period of time.]

[Your body has received a significant amount of damage.]

***

Kang Yoon-Soo said, “You will die.”

Kartheon hurriedly ran away, but he was blocked by the barrier that he himself had cast. The barrier that was supposed to protect him ended up stopping him from running away.

“Damn it!” the ancient king screamed.Heknew there was no escapefor him, but he still punched the barrier in frustration. Henrick was the one to approach him this time and stab him throughtheheart.

[You haveturned back timeby 40 seconds.]

[You have used some of yourtemporal power.]

[You have turnedback time94times in a short period of time.]

[Your skin has started to break apart.]

***

Kang Yoon-Soo said, “You will die.”

There was no way Kartheon would be troubled by insignificant weaklings like them if hehad beenat his original level. The barrier would remain for half an hour even if all of the mummies in it were killed. The ancient king could delay his death by commanding the mummies to block the assailants, but it would not change the outcome of hisdying to them.

‘There must be a way…There must be…’Kartheon was rackinghis brains when Iris smashed his jaw with an uppercut.

[You haveturned back timeby 40 seconds.]

[You have used some of yourtemporal power.]

[You have turnedback time 178times in a short period of time.]

[You will start experiencing severe migraines.]

***

Kang Yoon-Soo said, “You will die.”

Kartheon gnashed his teeth, thinking, ‘I cannot escape no matter what I do!’

The sameeventrepeatedover the courseof 40 seconds.

The same situation.

The same enemy.

The same death.

Kartheonwas about to go crazy, asthe same situation had occurred over a hundred times. Anarrowfired byone of Henrick’scombatdolls pierced through the ancient king’s heart.

[You haveturned back timeby 40 seconds.]

[You have used some of yourtemporal power.]

[You have turnedback time 217times in a short period of time.]

[Your sense of taste has disappeared.]

***

Kang Yoon-Soo said, “You will die.”

“Bleurghhh!”Kartheon felltohis knees and vomited.The ancient king looked so pitiful and disgraceful that the title ‘king’ did not seem to suit him anymore.

He had heard the same thing over and over again, every time he turned back time.

You will die.

You will die.

You will die.

You will die.

It was an endless cycle he could not escape from.He experienced ahellish regressionand arepeating nightmare.

“Damn it!” Kartheon cursed and screamed.He feltas if he wouldgo insane if hecouldnot at least scream out his frustrations.

Shaneth was surprisedto see the ancient king looking so defeated, but she neverthelessraised her scythe and walked toward him. The sight of Shaneth walking toward Kartheon made him feelas if he werelooking at the Grim Reaper himself.

“Kuheok!”

The scythe slashed across the ancient king’s body and cut him in half.

[You haveturned back timeby 40 seconds.]

[You have used some of yourtemporal power.]

[You have turned back time 349 times in a short period of time.]

[Your sense of smell has disappeared.]

***

Kang Yoon-Soo said, “You will die.”

Kartheonfell tohis knees. He wascompletelyexhausted. He hadused about 10,000units of temporal powerby now going through the same situationover and over. Turning back time hadtaken such a great toll on his bodythatit was no longer possible for him todo so anymore.

The ancient king spoke with a trembling voice, seemingly havinglost all his will to fight.“I… I have lost…”

[The Time Resurrection has beencanceled.]

[Thetemporal powerwill not be refunded.]

The onlookers wereconfusedaboutwhat was going on. Itappeared to them that the ancient king had suddenly lost all will to fight, mere moments afterconfidently laughing as if he hadalready won the war.

Kang Yoon-Soo askedcoldly, “How many times did you regress?”

“…349 times,” Kartheon answered.

“That’s not much,” Kang Yoon-Sooremarked.

“…” Kartheon was speechless.

The coalition forces let out a victory cry, rejoicing in their success.

“Whooooooo!”

Shaneth, Henrick, and Iris all approached Kartheon and bound him up.

The mummies all returned to dust after their king lost the war, and the barrier thathad beenup for half an hourfinally dissipated.

Kang Yoon-Soo approached Kartheon, who was bound by his hands and feet. The ancient king askedhim, “You…Howlong did you live before regressing?”

“20 years,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied in avoice so lowthat nobody else would be able to hear him.

Kartheon was at a loss for words. He had almostgoneinsane, goingback in time by a mere 40 seconds 349 times, but this man hadregressed 999 times and lived a period of 20 years each time?

“…How are you still sane after all that?” Kartheon asked in surprise.

“I’ve already gone insane,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied.

Kartheon looked at the man, feeling even more thoroughly demoralized. Hefelt completely sick of the manas he said, “Are you telling me you are insane right now?”

“I’ve gone insanepeacefully,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied.

“…Isupposethat makes sense,” Kartheon said, sounding defeated.

Kang Yoon-Soo placed one ice swordon the ancient king’s neck.

Ignusimpatiently roared, “Hurry! Kill Kartheon and bring my child back to life!”

Kartheon bitterly laughed and murmured, “Katz was right.I shouldnot evenhavedreamed of regressing.”

Regression…Kartheon had onlyrealized itsfutilityafter regressing multiple times. He thought, ‘It was a foolish idea.’

The power to turn back time,returningto the past to right wrongs and make oneself immensely successful, sounded impressive and yetpetty at the same time.

‘Regression is just an act of abandoning one’s world and stealing someone else’s accomplishments,’Kartheon thought.

To live through the same experienceover and over.

To steal someone else’s accomplishments and punish thoseonedisliked.

There was no thrill orexcitement in suchalife; the only thing one might feel was a sense of futility.

Kartheon finally admittedout loud, “Regression is not an opportunity, inthe end.”

Kang Yoon-Soo prepared to deal thefinalblow and cut off the ancient king’shead. However,he first said, “It might not sound that wayto others, but it’s different forthose of us who haveexperienced it.”

Kartheon reminisced about the life he had lived as he said,“Living lifeall over again is nothing but obtainingsecond-handsatisfaction from the accomplishments of others.”

Kang Yoon-Soo nodded. Those were words only thosewho hadregressed until they were sick of it would sympathize with.

“Now, kill me,” Kartheon said as he closed his eyes.Kang Yoon-Soo lifted his ice swordand prepared to strike Kartheon.

Suddenly,a voice shouted from the crowd,“Wait a minute! P-please! Just give me a minute!”Amanpushedhis way through the crowd and stood in front of Kartheon.It was Katz.

“Katz…? But why…?” Kartheon was flabbergastedbyKatz’s sudden appearance.

Katzbreathed deeply before exclaiming loudly, “Don’t kill him! Please don’t kill Kartheon!”

The trolls and the elvesprotested the man’s request loudly.

“What the hell are you saying?!”

“Do you know how many elves he killed?! Can you still say that after all this?!”

Katz bit his lips. He could not understand why he had suddenly donewhat he did, but he did not back down regardless of the reason.He shouted loudly once more, “Kartheon can resurrect the dead elves with his ability!”

The eyes of the trolls and elvestrembled,but they seemed skepticalaboutthe idea.However, thebloodiedIgnus Dragonloweredherbattered head to the ground and asked while staring at Katz, “Tell me, what are you thinking of?”

“K-Kartheon can turnback time! He can onlygo back 40 seconds right nowbecause his body hasn’t fully recovered, but he can certainly do a lot more if he recovers his strength!” Katzexclaimed, forcing the words outas he continued, “Weshouldlet Kartheon live until he recovers. Then, Kartheon can turn back time days, no, months to thepointbefore the massacre occurred! The deaths of the elves willnever havehappened in the first place!”

The trolls and the elves in the crowd murmuredwhen they heard Katz’s argument.However,Ignusscoffed and roared, “What a foolish attempt! Do you really thinkhewill repent forhis sins and change his ways?! He is nothing but an evil creature. He will turn back time and meticulously prepare for this war once again, and attempt to annihilate the entire continent!”

Katz was speechless.However,Kartheon suddenly spoke up and said, “No, I will not turn back time even if I manage to recover my strength.”

Katzlooked toward Kartheonin surprise and hurriedly said, “How can you say something like that right now?! You have to tell them you willrightyour wrongs!”

“Were you not the onetelling me aboutthe futility ofreversingtime, Katz?” Kartheonreplied.Katz felt flabbergasted, looking dumbfounded by the ancient king’s words.

Kartheon no longer wanted to turn back time; no,rather, it was more proper to say that hehadlost all his will to live.He said,“I should not exist at this point in time.Indeed,I wish to embrace death once again and go back to a peaceful slumber this time.”

“B-but…!” Katz tried to retort.

“Enough! You have stalled enough!”Ignusroared in annoyance. She continued, “Kill Kartheon and bring my child to life beforehedecides to pull a trick using time!”

The dragon liftedherclaw and swiped at Kartheon. However,Katz remained steadfast, staying in front of the ancient king with his eyes closedas he preparedfor his demise. In moments, he would besplit in half by the dragon’s claw.

‘No!’Kartheon screamed inwardly, focusinghis remaining strengthintohis eyes.It was at the very moment that Katz was about to besliced apartthat the ancient king’s heart was moved for the first time. He thought, ‘I cannot let himdie…!’

Suddenly,everything stopped.

***

Time stopped.Ignus’ ferocious claw strike, Katz trembling in fear, the eyes of the crowd watching the spectacle in horror… Everythinghadstopped.

The only ones still moving wereKartheon—andone other person.

Kartheon saw the humanwhowasmovingfreely even while time was frozen, and he asked in surprise, “How are you moving?”

“No idea,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied as he looked aroundleisurely.He had beenaware that Kartheon could stop time, but this was the first timehe hadexperienced it firsthand.

“It’s amazing,” Kang Yoon-Soosaid, swinging an ice sword lightly. The bladebroke into pieces like morning frost, its fragmentssparkled in the air.In the place where time had stood still, everything seemed weaker.

“Please move Katz,” Kartheon pleaded.

Kang Yoon-Soo stared at Kartheon. The ancient king was pleading and not commanding for the first time in his life. He asked,“Why should I?”

“I donot know,” Kartheon replied.

Kang Yoon-Soo moved Katz into a position where the dragon’s claw would not be able to reach him. Meanwhile,Kartheon started to slowly turn into dust starting from the tips of his feet. It was theside effect of hisstopping time.

“You havegoneagainst the laws of time. Thatiswhy you can still move while time is frozen,” Kartheon said.

“What are you talking about?” Kang Yoon-Soo asked.

However, Kartheon coughed up blood and said, “You will find out what I mean by yourself even if I do notexplain it to you.”Hisbreathing turned laborious as hecontinued, “You donothave the power to control time. How did you regress?”

“Demon Lord,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied in a low and deep voice. He continued, “I regressed because of the Demon Lord.”

Kartheon saidbitterly, “I think I know what happened to you. You poor thing.”

“What the hell?” Kang Yoon-Sooexclaimed with a frown.

“Is something different from your previous livesnot happeningright now?” Kartheonasked.Kang Yoon-Soo’s eyes shot wide open and began tremblingwhen he heardthe ancient king’s words. Kartheon slowly continued, “This will be your last life…”

“I know,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied.

“...and the Demon Lord will appear earlier this time,” Kartheonfinished.

It wasKang Yoon-Soo’sfirst time hearing that. Hecould not hide his emotions, andhis eyes trembled uncontrollably again. He walked up to Kartheon and grabbedthe ancient kingbytheneck, asking angrily, “What do you mean by that?!”

“Itisjust as I said.Even though the Demon Lord appeared before you consistentlyafter20 years, he will appear much earlier this time,” Kartheon replied.

“Tell me why,” Kang Yoon-Soo said.

“Hmm… I wonder why…?” Kartheonrepliedslowly,as if he wereexactingan act of petty revenge.

Kang Yoon-Soo grippedKatz’s neckandsaid threateningly,“I’ll kill this guy if you don’t tell me why.”

Only thendid the ancient king answer him, saying,“I met with the Demon Lord once at the magic tower.”

“So what?” Kang Yoon-Soo asked.

“I almost lost everything after I picked a fight with the Demon Lord. I barely managed to survive;no, itismore fitting to say that the Demon Lord let me off,” Kartheon said as his lower body crumbled to dust. His upper body was beginning to turn into dustas wellby the timehe continued, “Ilearnedto control time after I survived against the Demon Lord.”

“Get to the point,” Kang Yoon-Soo said.

“Go to the magic tower where the Colossireside,” Kartheon said.

Kang Yoon-Soo frowned. The magic tower of the Colossi was one of the two forbidden placeson the continent, along with the lair of the Dragon of Destruction; they were places no one should even attempt visiting.

“Why should I go there?” Kang Yoon-Soo asked.

“The onewhokilled me is in that magic tower. He will help solve your problems,” Kartheon said.

Kang Yoon-Soo could not understand what was going on,buthe asked the ancient king, “Why did the change only occurduringthe thousandthlife?”

“Someone is getting in your way so you will notbe able to regress anymore. I cannotsay anything else other than that,” Kartheon said.

Kang Yoon-Soo glared at the ancient king beforegrumbling, “I didn’t manage to get anything helpful out of you in the end.”

“What did you expect from the villain?” Kartheonretortedwitha laughashe was slowly dying.Kang Yoon-Soo grabbedhis head as hewas crumbling into dust,butKartheon asked in an annoyed voice, “Canyou notjust let me die peacefully?”

“I have to get my rewards,” Kang Yoon-Soo replied beforecrushing the ancient king’s head.

The stopped flow of timestarted tomoveonce again.

[The ancient king has been defeated.]

[You have brought peace to the Desert of Death.]