The Regressor Can Make Them All-Chapter 387

A Harbinger Shard...?

Se-Hoon was caught off guard by the unexpected appearance of the crystal—which served as the core of the Six Great Demon Realms and the seed that led to the blooming of the Harbingers of Destruction—but he still moved to respond immediately.

Unfortunately, he was still too slow. The heart of the already awakening Harbinger of Destruction reacted even faster.

Squelch-

The crimson-black gem melted into the shadows, disappearing without a trace. At the same moment, the orchard’s shadows all began churning ominously, exploding outward in every direction.

Swish-

Like roots burrowing into the ground, dark thorns branched from the shadows and pierced through others deep down before repeating the process over and over. In the blink of an eye, every shadow around them had been pierced, becoming a part of the mysterious phenomenon.

Step, step-

Then, from the first shadow that had absorbed the Harbinger Shard, black silhouettes began emerging one by one. Some carried swords, others spears—but all unique yet all eerily similar. And more importantly...

There’s no hostility?

The shadowy figures were undoubtedly linked to the Harbinger of Destruction, yet Se-Hoon couldn't sense any hostility from them? They seemed like nothing more than reflections, shadows of others.

Hesitant, he just intently observed the situation with Jason, waiting.

“Even if the flesh crumbles and the soul withers, the thirst for enlightenment forever resides in martial prowess.”

Finally, the shadowy figures began speaking, and the calm murmurs of Doppelganger—now a new Harbinger of Destruction—resounded.

“Enjoy the dying echoes of the past.”

The once-idle silhouettes shifted into stance, each revealing the martial skills they had honed throughout their lives—the doppelgangers of the martial artists Doppelganger had hunted over decades. And now, all of those obsessive pursers of enlightenment in the world of martial arts had turned their gazes upon Se-Hoon and Jason.

“Extinction Mirage: Heroic Requiem.”

A battlefield of ceaseless, nightmarish combat unfolded before them.

Boom!

Everything within hundreds of meters was obliterated in an instant the second the shadows moved. Sword techniques, spear techniques, staff techniques, and hand-to-hand combat—every skill that Doppelganger stole was hurled toward them in a relentless, indiscriminate storm.

It was less a battle and more like witnessing a shadow play, reenacted by the echoes of warriors long past. But that didn’t make it any less deadly.

Crash!

The martial artists Doppelganger had slain ranged from B-rank to S-rank. However, many of those ranks had been undervalued due to physical limitations, despite the exceptional skill of who they belonged to.

Now, though, that problem no longer existed, having been resurrected as spectral warriors by the Destroyer of Perception’s power.

BOOM!

With perfect bodies, a staggering amount of mana, and regenerative abilities, every single one of them now wielded their techniques at a level beyond their living selves.

In other words, Se-Hoon and Jason were facing an onslaught of hundreds of S-rank heroes attacking all at once.

No matter how strong one was, enduring such devastation was nearly impossible—

“Stay close.”

Unless they were the Perfect Ones who had conquered the Tower of Heroes, that is.

The chaotic storm of attacks rained down on all sides. And because none of the attacks interfered with one another, the shadow figures’ seemingly uncoordinated assault became an impenetrable wave of martial power.

Boom-!

Yet that was only from an ordinary perspective. Despite the relentless strikes rushing him, Jason could read the infinitesimal gaps between them. And his fists exploited them without hesitation, striking down the echoes that sought enlightenment.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Each fallen enemy further revealed another opening, which Jason’s fists relentlessly exploited, leading to a completely one-sided battering of their foes without mercy.

Before Jason, the seemingly impenetrable tide of attacks began faltering, and before long, the shadows were being pushed back.

So this is the power of the Trailblazer... freeweɓnøvel~com

Even in the past, the Harbingers of Destruction—beings specifically created to kill Perfect Ones—had still been forced to attack in concert to challenge such an overwhelming power.

Now, Se-Hoon finally understood. The sight of Jason made it clear the move he had shown yesterday was solely for sparring purposes.

I can see a possibility now...!

With Jason breaking through, Se-Hoon could see that while the techniques used by Destroyer of Perceptions were formidable, compared to the versions he had faced before his regression, they fell short.

Judging by that, the Destroyer of Perception was likely still incomplete or holding back for some reason. Regardless, Se-Hoon was certain that if they pressed forward now, they could seize victory.

Does Jason know, though?

If he did as well, then why was the Destroyer of Perception fighting, despite knowing they could see it was at a disadvantage?

Trying to figure it out, Se-Hoon was cautiously analyzing the situation from behind Jason when two figures rushed over from a distance.

“Se-Hoon!”

“What the hell is that?!”

Seeing Jake and Kwang-Soo, Se-Hoon immediately realized that if they joined in, they could kill the Destroyer of Perception for sure. After all, they were already overwhelming it as two.

Thunk!

However, just as that thought crossed his mind, four arrows pierced down from above. Each one contained a terrifying amount of sheer force, as if Heaven Eye had been conserving his strength until now.

The four of them reacted instinctively, deflecting the black arrows.

Heavenly Shadow Arrows

But when the shattered arrows struck their shadows, an eerie hum reverberated through the air.

Woong-

The attacking shadows all froze.

Then, in the next moment, they melted away just as suddenly as they had appeared. However, the shadows tainted by the black arrows surged violently instead.

Realizing the imminent danger, the four quickly retreated.

“That’s...”

“The shadows...?”

Even though they withdrew, distorted echoes of their own shadows remained where they had stood.

Bubble-

The corrupted shadows absorbed the remnants of the vanished specters and began twisting ominously.

Seeing that, the four braced for battle as they watched the shadows compress and take shape. Finally, one by one, the figures stepped forward.

“...They look just like us.”

At Jason's words, Se-Hoon focused on the new enemy. The newly arisen shadowy figures mimicked them perfectly—doppelgangers of their very own forms.

“Interesting... so this is what it feels like.”

“Not bad.”

“I see a few things could still be improved.”

“Well, I might as well just use this.”

The Destroyer of Perception spoke in different voices, as if it were multiple beings at once. And at that, Se-Hoon narrowed his eyes and adjusted his stance, while Kwang-Soo and Jake drew their swords.

“...”

Even Jason, for the first time since the battle began, had assumed a proper stance. He raised his fist against his own shadow.

THUNK-

His fist shattered space itself, striking with lethal precision.

Including the Perfect Ones, few could withstand such a direct blow from Jason. It was a completely overwhelming attack that should have obliterated the shadow instantly.

But it didn't end that easily.

“Countercurrent Requiem.”

The specter's palm moved slowly, yet it precisely intercepted Jason’s punch.

BOOM!

A shockwave rattled the air, shaking the ground beneath them.

As expected, the force was monstrous. But... aside from its shattered right arm, the shadow remained intact.

“It... managed to redirect his attack?” Kwang-Soo’s eyes widened in disbelief.

The specter’s palm, which had seemed almost motionless, had intercepted Jason’s fist at the last moment, redirecting the force. Its arm was sacrificed, but still, it had blocked Jason’s punch.

“I don't like this too much, but... I guess there’s no choice.”

Swish-

The shadow regenerated its right arm effortlessly. Flexing its regenerated fingers, Jason’s shadow then slowly turned toward the four.

“I wonder how long you’ll last!”

The four shadowy figures lunged at their original counterparts.

BOOM!

Se-Hoon, Jake, and Kwang-Soo all scattered in different directions. Jason, though, remained, exchanging blows with his specter.

Crash!

Jason’s fists rained down in rapid succession, skipping all unnecessary motions. But again, the specter's slow yet precise palm deflected each strike effortlessly. Their battle overturned the entire landscape in an instant, forcing the others to increase the distance from them even more.

Getting caught up in that is far more dangerous than dealing with this specter...!

The three just knew—even the slightest graze would shatter their bones or rupture organs.

Sprinting at full speed, Kwang-Soo only looked back once he had put enough distance between himself and Jason’s battlefield. Then, after assessing his opponent, he quickly reached a conclusion.

Rather than a perfect mimic of my skill set, it’s more like a perfectly tuned counter. If that’s the case...

He needed to first determine how the specter would react to his moves. Making a split-second decision, Kwang-Soo came to a sudden halt and unleashed his Celestial Infinity Blade.

SWOOSH!

Dozens of swords materialized in midair and shot toward his opponent like a relentless storm. Because the attack was to gauge his enemy’s capabilities, he had chosen variety over raw power—each blade bore a different technique, forming a complex net of strikes.

But Kwang-Soo’s specter just observed the approaching swords with an icy gaze and muttered, “Pathetic.”

With that, the specter raised their blade against the incoming barrage. At first glance, it seemed as if they would be overwhelmed and shredded to pieces.

But... reality turned out to be the complete opposite.

CLANG!

The moment they deflected the first sword, dozens of shadowy afterimages scattered, each executing a different sword technique to counter the remaining attacks.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The eerie spectacle resembled dozens of warriors moving in perfect unison, sending a chill down Kwang-Soo’s spine.

And that was when a realization struck him.

“Doppelganger...”

“Call me the Destroyer of Perception from now on.”

After saying that, the Destroyer of Perception casually flicked its sword and stretched as if warming up. To Kwang-Soo, there was something about its presence that was both familiar and foreign.

Kwang-Soo gripped the wooden box containing Celestial Night, his treasured sword, and narrowed his eyes.

“I thought you couldn’t stoop any lower... but I truly never imagined you’d go from a faceless monster to a lump of shadows. The world is truly full of surprises.”

Yet his mockery only elicited only an indifferent glance from the Destroyer of Perception.

“Don’t worry. There’s nowhere lower to fall now.”

“...What?”

“This is the ‘end.’”

Feeling the power surging from within—the force of the Harbinger Shard—the Destroyer of Perception began muttering to itself.

“I had a vague idea of how powerful a Harbinger of Destruction was... but this... is far more ominous than I expected. With such power, I could certainly kill even the Perfect Ones.”

“What are you talking about—”

“But I still don’t like it. All that nonsense about ending the world and whatnot...”

Squelch-

Out of the blue, the Destroyer of Perception’s shadowy body wavered briefly as if about to melt, which made it pause.

A beat later, it let out a quiet sigh.

“I guess this is a reminder for me not to forget my purpose.... I see there’s a flaw in this form as well.”

“...”

“Well, I suppose that’s enough talk. In the end, you know how we both only care about killing each other.”

At the Destroyer of Perception’s indifferent statement, Kwang-Soo’s expression twisted. Whenever they stood face to face, the thoughts he tried to suppress always crept back in.

Where did it all go wrong? How did things reach the current point? For decades, he had been searching for answers—and he never found them.

Yet, the conclusion was always the same.

“I’m going to end you here.”

Crack!

Kwang-Soo crushed the wooden box in his hands and gripped his beloved sword.

Woong!

From the shattered remains of the box, darkness as deep as the night sky spilled forth, cutting through everything it touched. Grass, trees, even the ground itself—everything around him was sliced apart by the encroaching darkness.

Celestial Infinity Blade: Celestial Night

The flowing darkness coalesced, retracting back into the box before vanishing completely, leaving behind a single jet-black sheath that looked as if it was a piece of the night sky itself.

Shing-

Kwang-Soo drew the blade from within.

Only one-third of the original blade remained; the rest was broken. To anybody, it was an incomplete weapon, unsuitable for battle.

But the moment it was unsheathed, pure black sword aura enveloped the blade, filling in the missing portion to reform it into a full sword.

WOONG!

The sheer sharpness exuded by the weapon threatened to sever everything in its path—the very reason that its wielder was considered the man closest to conquering a Tower of Heroes next.

Yet, the Destroyer of Perception simply observed.

“I’m sure I warned you to repair that sword... but you never listen.”

“...”

“Then since you continue to insist... I’ll just have to make sure I shatter it completely this time.”

The Destroyer of Perception extended its shadowy sword outward. As its power surged, its form began changing.

Celestial Infinity Blade: Celestial Night

A sword almost identical to Kwang-Soo’s own appeared. The two had learned from the same master, and yet... they had chosen entirely different paths.

The two of them tightened their grip on their blades and steadied their breath.

CLANG!

They simultaneously kicked-off powerfully, clashing in the middle. Kwang-Soo wielded dozens of sword auras as auxiliary attacks, while the Destroyer of Perception scattered shadowy echoes to counter them.

Having fought countless battles over the decades, both fought without restraint, unleashing their full strength from the very beginning.

And as a result, the winner became clear almost instantly.

SHATTER!

“Tsk...!”

The Destroyer of Perception’s sword effortlessly shattered Kwang-Soo’s. Kwang-Soo’s sword techniques, while formidable, lacked the raw power of Celestial Night itself. Without it, his flying swords could only ever serve as support.

In contrast, the Destroyer of Perception’s shadows wielded the Celestial Night with precision, imbuing it with both offensive and defensive means at its disposal—which made the disparity in power painfully evident.

This is bad.

Kwang-Soo hadn’t fully grasped the Destroyer of Perception’s abilities yet, but one thing was certain: whoever fell first would put their side at a severe disadvantage.

That was why he had attacked with full force from the start. But he was the one being overwhelmed.

His copy's power was far beyond expectations.

Do I really have to hold out until someone else beats their counterparts...?

Jason was too far away to see clearly, but he seemed to be properly holding his ground. Jake, however, was struggling against a shadowy figure wielding a massive black sword.

That left only one possible hope. Gritting his teeth, Kwang-Soo deflected an incoming strike and shifted his gaze toward Se-Hoon.

BOOM!

Across the battlefield, Se-Hoon was fending off an enemy wielding six arms—each holding a different weapon: twin spears, twin short swords, a longsword, and a war hammer. Se-Hoon seemed to be barely keeping up, forced into a defensive stance.

This is bad...

If even Se-Hoon was struggling, who could possibly break the deadlock? Kwang-Soo’s frustration grew.

“You seem distracted,” the Destroyer of Perception remarked, its calm voice cutting through the air.

Immediately, the onslaught intensified, forcing Kwang-Soo to grit his teeth.

I just need to hold on for now...!

If he could endure long enough, surely the chance to counterattack would come.

Meanwhile, on Se-Hoon’s end of the raging battlefront, he had come to a sudden realization.

CLANG!

It came when he parried two thrusting spears aimed at his vitals, feigning exhaustion.

Wait a second.... Was this guy always this weak?

This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶