The Martial God who Regressed Back to Level 2

‘He loses his composure whenever Ashoka is mentioned.’

Seong Jihan’s eyes sparkled as he observed the Martial God’s reaction.

Suffering great defeat at Ashoka’s hands must have left a lasting impact.

Every time Ashoka came up, the Martial God would react violently.

‘I’ve healed my broken body using the Golden Wheel. But the authority I used hasn’t been restored.’

The fierce battle with Dongbang Sak had pushed him to his limits.

The administrative authority he received from the Green Administrator was now mostly exhausted.

Of course, the stat Blue itself had significantly developed compared to when he first encountered Dongbang Sak.

‘But at this level, I still can’t defeat him.’

Seong Jihan, who had been thoroughly battered by Dongbang Sak, assessed the situation coldly.

His opponent was the strongest Martial Artist, even called the Administrator of Martial Arts.

Against him, a simple fighting spirit alone wouldn’t secure victory in this battle.

‘The Golden Wheel has only two uses left.’

Most of the administrative authority was consumed.

And the power to rewind his body by 24 hours to a specific point in time using the Golden Wheel,

He could only use it two more times.

Although his outer appearance was restored, internally, he had almost exhausted everything he had.

‘The distortion in Martial Soul. I should raise the threshold from 40 to around 45, but then…’

While Seong Jihan calculated the remaining administrative authority,

[Ashoka… If his legacy still holds influence, could it be… that you can use infinite regression as well…?]

The Martial God’s head, still materialized, muttered in a serious tone.

“…What?”

[Come to think of it, it’s strange. How did you grow so strong compared to the beginning…?]

“I wonder?”

Seong Jihan shrugged his shoulders.

Flash…!

The two eyes of the snake shone brightly.

[So far, I could never understand your choices.]

“……”

[Even when I offered you a generous proposal, you rejected it as if seeking a fight. I thought you had a hidden plan, but seeing your battle with Dongbang Sak, it became clear. You were easily overpowered multiple times…!]

Well, he did have a plan on his end, but,

Dongbang Sak was just a monstrous freak.

Seong Jihan felt like revealing the truth briefly.

‘Wait. It seems there’s a misunderstanding. I might as well play along.’

He decided to leverage this misunderstanding.

“…So, what’s your point?”

[You wanted this situation from the beginning. To enhance your power.]

“You think I wanted this? Dongbang Sak attacking and smashing my face?”

[Yes. As a result, you’ve grown immensely stronger than before. You chose battle to enhance your power, trusting Ashoka’s capability…!]

He first invaded and then claimed that rejecting his offer to pay 10,000 GP for each victim was part of his design to orchestrate this conflict.

Seong Jihan was bewildered by his reasoning.

-Right?

-I wondered why he fought Dongbang Sak, but it was to enhance his power.

-His power has indeed grown tremendously.

-Why would an Administrator care so much about subordinate species’ life and death…?

-So his real intention was growth, rejecting a good proposal on purpose.

Viewers from other galaxies seemed to agree with the Martial God’s inference.

For beings like Administrators, fighting Dongbang Sak to protect humanity seemed beyond their comprehension.

From their perspective, the Martial God’s reasoning was more logical.

[Indeed, every time Dongbang Sak used Blue, you grew stronger… Blue Administrator. From the outset, this was your plan?]

There’s no way he would have fought Dongbang Sak to protect humanity.

With that premise assumed, the conclusion about Seong Jihan’s intention seemed fitting.

Seong Jihan contemplated.

‘That misunderstanding isn’t bad.’

The Golden Wheel could only be used two more times.

Dongbang Sak’s powers, bound by the administrative authority, were running low.

In this situation, the Martial God’s misconception was favorable to Seong Jihan.

‘I can’t keep dragging this out. He’ll insist Dongbang Sak use the Taiji Sword if this misunderstanding continues.’

Despite appearing fully recovered, Seong Jihan’s workload left little room for prolonged battle.

He hoped the Martial God would cling to this misunderstanding.

That way, the Martial God might order Dongbang Sak to draw the Taiji Sword.

What a smart opponent wouldn’t fall for easily.

“You were hypothesizing…?”

Seong Jihan had to take a dismissive stance toward the Martial God’s reasoning.

“Are you just making baseless speculations as an observer who didn’t participate?”

Swoosh…

The Taiji rose behind Seong Jihan.

“Dongbang Sak, let’s continue our battle.”

He drew out his black sword again.

Anyone could see he was diverting the topic, eager to resume the fight quickly.

Despite his recent defeats, he was overflowing with fighting spirit.

“…Indeed, it is peculiar.”

Dongbang Sak stroked his beard, staring intently at Seong Jihan.

“Master, may I raise the power limitation higher? Now that his body has stabilized, I need more strength.”

He asked the Martial God.

* * *

[Can you become stronger without using Blue?]

“…I’ll try.”

[Effort is inconsequential. Is it possible or not? That’s all that matters.]

The snake gleamed its eyes from Dongbang Sak’s head.

[If you amplify Blue and grow stronger, it only benefits the Blue Administrator…]

“……”

[Resolve this within your current power.]

“Understood.”

Even if Dongbang Sak amplified his power further, it would only enhance Seong Jihan’s strength thanks to Blue.

The Martial God’s decision carried logical reasoning.

Of course,

‘It’s a pity Blue’s amplification is limited… but thank goodness.’

Seong Jihan felt a bit relieved.

“Then… let’s begin again.”

Swoosh…

Dongbang Sak began to summon the sword of light again.

The suffocating pressure resumed, enveloping the surroundings.

Even if Dongbang Sak’s distortion was capped at 40,

His transcendental strength remained unchanged.

Moreover,

‘The light sword technique has progressed.’

Initially, he couldn’t combine them, wielding a beam of light instead.

Now, he compressed 10 light swords,

And sent the rest to surround the area.

The light swords seemed to encircle Seong Jihan, before plunging into the sea.

‘…What is this?’

As Seong Jihan stared at the swords plunging into the sea, perplexed,

“I’ll do my best within the limits of my power.”

Dongbang Sak raised his hand.

Then,

Bubbling,

The seawater began to boil, creating bubbles.

Shooow!

Water erupted and surged forth.

-What is this…?

-Is that… a sword?

-How many are there?

-The whole area is surrounded…

Seong Jihan found himself entirely encircled by water-formed swords.

Then,

Hundredfold Storm Sword

The name of the martial art surged to Seong Jihan’s mind instinctively.

The name of a martial art never registered in his Fundamental Divine Arts,

Suddenly it appeared out of the blue.

‘Is this a martial art I naturally learned through Martial Soul?’

Dongbang Sak, whose powers were always copied by the Martial God through Martial Soul,

Was Hundredfold Storm Sword another one of those?

‘But why this technique now?’

Seong Jihan couldn’t comprehend it.

Of the martial arts Dongbang Sak displayed during their battle,

The Hundredfold Storm Sword was the most flamboyant but the least practical.

Rather,

‘That incomprehensible light sword or the blue-white sword pressing through the light was more threatening.’

When a technique was copied through Martial Soul,

It signified that the technique is within comprehension.

Seong Jihan too could mimic the Hundredfold Storm Sword immediately through the power of Martial Soul.

Instead of focusing his strength, spreading it out this way,

Might be grand in scale but not efficient.

However,

[Hundredfold Storm Sword… A new martial art within such a short time. See, isn’t this sufficient power?]

The snake on Dongbang Sak’s head watched, seemingly satisfied.

‘He should be stripped of the Martial God title.’

This technique might be effective against a group.

But it wasn’t efficient for focusing power on an individual.

Yet the Martial God believed this technique would be enough to overpower his opponent.

Even after watching the battle from Dongbang Sak’s perspective, was his judgment that limited?

‘Of course, it would be problematic if a blue-white sword formed within this Hundredfold Storm Sword…’

It was always a risk to anticipate.

Seong Jihan’s focus shifted to the sword held by Dongbang Sak.

‘The sword with only 10 light swords combined. It’s the weakest I’ve seen.’

Dongbang Sak discarded thirty light swords into the sea for the Hundredfold Storm Sword,

Leaving the current sword in Dongbang Sak’s hand notably weaker.

‘I must sever that sword.’

If he couldn’t sever it despite its weakened state,

The Martial God wouldn’t order Dongbang Sak to draw the Taiji Sword.

He must sever that sword and decisively press the threat.

Therefore,

‘There’s no alternative…’

Pook!

Seong Jihan drove his Taiji Sword into his left face.

-Huh?

-He stabbed himself in the face…?

-His face just healed, why stab it again…!!

Just as when it shattered before, the void engulfed Seong Jihan’s face quickly.

Dongbang Sak furrowed his brows seeing this.

“Ruining your newly healed face yourself…?”

“It’s easily restored anyway.”

Despite the Golden Wheel having only two uses left,

Seong Jihan, conscious of the Martial God, feigned nonchalance as if he could restore it anytime.

Swooosh…

His left eye and cheek were engulfed by the void.

It quickly spread to his mouth.

Just before the void covered his mouth, the corner of his lips curled up.

Whooooosh…!

The void surging from his face connected to his Taiji Sword,

Amplifying its power intensely like before.

“Hasn’t the sword become stronger?”

“Indeed.”

“But the Hundredfold Storm Sword… It’s a feeble attempt.”

As Seong Jihan looked around, lifting his sword,

[Dongbang Sak… What are you doing!? Attack now!]

Swooooosh!

In response to the snake’s command, the Hundredfold Storm Swords launched simultaneously.

“I will sever them all in one go.”

With a single movement of his sword,

The entirety ahead of him was severed.

Thousands of Hundredfold Storm Swords,

The light sword in Dongbang Sak’s hand,

And even his arm.

“….”

Splash!

His severed right arm fell into the sea, Dongbang Sak turned to glance at it.

To think his arm was severed by a sword.

‘So this is what being cut feels like.’

He was always the one cutting others.

This feeling is quite unfamiliar.

Dongbang Sak raised his right hand to stroke his beard.

‘Ah, I forgot, my right hand was severed.’

He used his left hand to touch his chin.

In the distance, Seong Jihan was preparing to swing his sword again.

‘In this state, I have no means to counter…’

The diluted Hundredfold Storm Sword,

And his severed arm did not regenerate quickly.

In his current state, it seemed difficult to withstand the next attack.

Seong Jihan, having grown stronger through continuous battle, even shattered his own face to amplify void,

Was now completely overpowering him.

However,

There remained one thing that could reverse this situation.

[…It can’t be helped.]

The Martial God was well aware of it.

[Draw the Taiji Sword, Dongbang Sak.]

“…Understood.”

As the command fell,

Whoooosh…

As though waiting for this moment, Taiji emerged behind Dongbang Sak.