The Martial God who Regressed Back to Level 2

Supernova.

A one-time buff that multiplies the effect of the Star buff by ten but penalizes the user by ceasing the divine power effect.

With the drastic efficiency reduction due to the absence of divine power, it was a method that should only be unsealed in desperate times.

However.

‘This is the time of desperation.’

Facing the giant Martial God in a one-on-one situation.

When else would he use the supernova if not now?

As Seong Jihan activated the supernova, his power increased dramatically.

The overwhelming momentum of the Martial God and Seong Jihan reached a balance momentarily.

[There were still more tricks up your sleeve?]

Seeing Seong Jihan, the Martial God’s eyes gleamed.

Even after amassing such power, the Constellation candidate still resisted to this degree.

Indeed, he needed to be eliminated now.

Whoosh…

Blackish-red light surged once more from the Martial God’s body.

More relics began to connect with him.

‘…About 500 weapons combined.’

In the sky, there were far more relics than just 500.

The Martial God connected with about that many and stopped.

He claimed to be using his full power but still seemed leisurely.

Or.

‘Maybe 500 is the limit for combining.’

Sss…

The Martial God grew even larger.

Seong Jihan who momentarily seemed equal when using the supernova started to falter again.

No matter how many buff methods he had, he couldn’t match the power accumulated through infinite regressions.

Moreover.

‘The longer this drags on, the worse for me.’

Supernova and Constellation mode.

Both had time limits as temporary buff methods.

In contrast, the Martial God still had plenty of relics left in the sky.

‘I need to use my full power from the start.’

Currently, Seong Jihan’s strongest methods were the Taiji Sword and Total Annihilation.

Although being dragged to Tuseong using Total Annihilation was a downside, he couldn’t let the Stats encoded red idle in the current situation.

Sss…

The Taiji emerged behind Seong Jihan.

The Dark Sword Eclipse slid into it.

When he pulled his hand out,

Whoosh…!

A massive black sword appeared in his hand.

A Taiji sword more than twice the height of Seong Jihan.

Originally a longsword, it had significantly grown due to supernova usage.

[A Taiji sword imbued with the essence of the void… Surely, you didn’t make this. Did the Black Administrator give it to you?]

Seong Jihan chuckled at the notion that he couldn’t have completed the sword.

“You don’t use the Taiji sword? Oh, maybe you don’t know how?”

[That’s a sword I don’t need.]

“I see, is that so?”

Swish.

Seong Jihan aimed the tip of the Taiji sword at the Martial God.

The giant black sword looked disproportionately large for a human to wield.

But against the enormous Martial God, its presence was insignificant in comparison.

– Isn’t the Martial God even larger now?

– Yeah, you can see the red eyes from far away, where to even attack?

– Seong Jihan has fought many giant creatures, but the Martial God is on a different level.

Stomping on the ground of Tuseong and towering over relics, the Martial God’s form.

Despite Seong Jihan’s massive sword, it seemed no more threatening than a toothpick.

And.

[I will leave only your right arm intact.]

Sss…

Blinding light flickered from the relics connected to the Martial God, which all attacked simultaneously.

The Martial God’s swift attack aimed at Seong Jihan from all directions.

‘Simultaneous execution of the Triad of Martial Mastery?…’

Mount Tai Suppression, Way of Immortals, Total Annihilation.

Three initial movements of Triad of Martial Mastery peppered Seong Jihan from all sides.

Basic techniques in combat, but when executed by 500 relics simultaneously, the destructive force was immense.

Sss…!

While the Taiji sword blocked the frontal attacks,

Swoosh!

It couldn’t cover the rear attacks rushing towards him.

– Oh no…!

– Seong Jihan’s body… is it sliced?

– The Martial God just attacked once!

Slicing, splitting, penetrating Seong Jihan’s body.

The simultaneous Triad of Martial Mastery techniques demonstrated overwhelming power.

Fortunately, despite the brutal onslaught,

Sss…

Seong Jihan’s body quickly regenerated as if time were reversed.

“…Simultaneous use of Triad of Martial Mastery 500 times, huh.”

Eternity had exceptional regenerative power, allowing Seong Jihan’s body to restore even during mutilation.

“It’s literally crushing with sheer force.”

[As expected, you won’t die easily. But that regeneration…]

Sss…

The relics moved again.

[Can it keep functioning after hundreds and thousands of deaths?]

The combined Triad of Martial Mastery techniques rained down upon Seong Jihan.

Except for the Taiji sword, nothing seemed to block these attacks.

Even the spatial mastery of Martial Soul couldn’t resist the Martial God’s overwhelming power.

Standing still would result in continued mutilation.

‘I need to get close.’

With the Taiji sword, Seong Jihan charged forward.

To reach the Martial God while the buffs lasted, Seong Jihan launched himself.

The Martial God’s bombardment continued towards Seong Jihan.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

His body repeatedly pierced and regenerated.

Finally, Seong Jihan succeeded in narrowing the gap with the Taiji sword.

[You withstood all these attacks and reached here. You got some drive.]

Sss…

The Martial God’s form briefly flickered.

[But there’s no need to meet you head-on…]

All connections to the relics were severed, and his presence vanished.

The hard-earned distance narrowed through brutal bombardment.

But his opponent, despite possessing much superior power, chose not to fight head-on.

Instead.

Whoosh!

From afar, another connection of blackish-red light.

The giant figure of the Martial God re-emerged there.

‘Did he… really run away?’

Despite having such overwhelming power?

Seong Jihan frowned in disbelief as the distance widened once more.

* * *

The battle between Seong Jihan and the Martial God.

A fight expected to be intense turned out to be far different from the viewers’ expectations.

– Wow… crazy, he’s running away again to avoid getting hit by the black sword.

– Disconnects from the weapons, shrinks, then regrows far away; fighting on home ground is advantageous.

– Isn’t he supposed to be the Martial God? Fighting like this is shameful.

– Huge but quick, like seriously?

The Martial God kept retreating whenever Seong Jihan closed in.

For humans cheering Seong Jihan, this cowardly tactic of the Martial God was infuriating.

– Intent on taking no direct hits at all… holding immense power but cautious.

– Seems like he’s wearing Seong Jihan down.

– The sword is imbued with a terrifying power. No wonder he avoids it…

– Entering the realm of the Martial God, Seong Jihan’s fate is almost sealed.

– An unpredictably rising human falls here…

Cowardly as it seemed, retreating far away with overwhelming strength demonstrated the Martial God’s tactical superiority in alien viewers’ eyes.

And.

‘If I’m dragged around like this, the buffs will expire.’

After witnessing the same tactic twice, Seong Jihan realized this was not sustainable.

Moreover.

[Void decreases by 10.]

Maintaining the Taiji sword was depleting the Void stat.

[Stat ‘Eternity’ decreases by 1.]

Due to countless mutilations and regenerations, the Eternity stat was also diminishing.

If this dragged on, he risked self-destruction.

‘Should I shake him with the World Tree ignition device?’

The device that caused the Martial God’s actions against orders.

As Seong Jihan considered taking it out,

Swoosh!

His body was pierced again.

Taking it out now risked the Martial God’s Triad of Martial Mastery techniques breaking it.

Even earlier, the solar core had disappeared with a mere gesture.

He needed a sure means of protection before taking it out.

‘Protection means…’

Blocking incoming attacks and taking some hits, Seong Jihan pondered.

Until now, he relied on Eternity’s regeneration and Martial Soul, focusing on offense rather than defense.

Now, he needed strong defense to fend off Triad of Martial Mastery techniques and utilize the ignition device.

That would allow him to hinder the Martial God.

As he looked for ways to fend off the Martial God’s onslaught,

‘…Let’s try that.’

Whoosh!

He lit a white flame.

[That’s… a flame?]

Seeing the white flame, the Martial God momentarily hesitated.

Seong Jihan infused it with the energy of life.

The white flame turned red, transforming into sacred flame.

The fire began to emit destruction codes in all directions.

[You’re even using sacred flame…]

The Martial God’s relaxed demeanor changed.

The Triad of Martial Mastery techniques rushed hastily towards Seong Jihan.

Ssss!

The Martial God’s assault was blocked by the destruction codes created by the sacred flame.

On the contrary.

Whoosh…

The sacred flame continued to expand its reach.

As long as Stat red and life energy were supplied, the sacred flame would keep growing.

But.

[No need to spare the right arm, the hand’s seal preserved… no more need for restraint.]

Snap…!

After the sacred flame spread,

The Martial God enhanced the Triad of Martial Mastery techniques beyond their previous form.

500 relics launched various trajectories of attack, compressing the expanding sacred flame.

‘So he was holding back earlier, prioritizing the hand.’

Indeed, the Martial God seemed to weaken the attacks until now, trying not to destroy the administrator’s hand.

‘The difference in power is overwhelming.’

Seeing the limited expansion of the sacred flame, Seong Jihan looked up.

The relics powering the Martial God.

So far, constrained by the supernova time limit, his target had been the main body of the Martial God.

‘The Martial God can’t be pursued in this state.’

Seeing the attacks intensify with the sacred flame spread, Seong Jihan was convinced.

The Martial God had more reserve power.

If he kept attacking against the time constraint, he’d end up just chasing.

Instead, it seemed better to destroy the relics empowering him.

He could attempt to shake the Martial God with the ignition device later if that failed.

‘Let’s save the sacred flame and target the relics for now. If that doesn’t work, use the ignition device.’

Seong Jihan swiftly decided and ascended towards the sky.

Whoosh!

As he moved towards the relics,

[Where do you think you’re going?]

relics unconnected to the Martial God moved simultaneously.

Unable to launch coordinated attacks like those linked to the Martial God.

But penetrating on their own, each celestial weapon’s attack was formidable.

Sssss…

The Taiji sword shielded Seong Jihan’s front, blocking all the attacks.

The Taiji sword reliably guarded the front.

As Seong Jihan ascended swiftly, he swung the massive sword at the relics.

Then.

Ssss…!

Momentarily blocking the Taiji sword’s attack, the relics started to crack under the pressure.

[This guy…!]

And soon.

The brilliant celestial weapon shattered, releasing immense power.

Indeed, it was the energy supporting and strengthening the Martial God.

‘Even shattered, its power was this great, originally much stronger.’

The spreading force touched the sacred flame multiple times.

[Stat ‘Martial Soul’ increases by 20.]

[Stat ‘Red’ increases by 15.]

Absorbing the celestial weapon’s energy through sacred flame, Seong Jihan’s stats increased.

‘…Stats increased like this?’

Seong Jihan’s eyes gleamed seeing the stat rise.