Everyone Else is a Regressor - Chapter 42

◈ Everyone Else is a Regressor (42)

Chapter 9. Didn’t I Also Change Jobs for the Second Time? (2)

-Contractor, a really strong one is coming. Warn the others to retreat immediately!

“Everyone retreat from here――!”

The moment Lucy warned him with her shrill voice, KiJun immediately raised his voice and shouted.

The soldiers who had been cutting the necks of the undead drawn in by KiJun’s aggro heard his shout and promptly retreated, but the problem lay with some mercenaries who were mixed among the soldiers, too engrossed in collecting undead heads for the bounty.

“These guys, why suddenly tell us to pull back? Don’t tell me you’re planning to take all these creatures for yourself?”

“We haven’t caught them all yet. Let’s share them fairly, shall we?”

“These ones are mine already, what do you mean retreat? That’s not happening!”

Thinking that KiJun was trying to clear the area around him to take down the remaining undead and claim the rewards, the mercenaries, lured by the promise of easy money for hunting, were reluctant to let go of the opportunity.

It was not incomprehensible.

Those who clung to each undead head were those who struggled with their regular earnings, and if they were Summoneds, they needed to perform well in this quest to secure points.

“Boom!”

“Argh!”

Although KiJun understood their situation, it seemed the undead leaping over the wall targeting him were not so understanding.

Among the mercenaries, one who stubbornly tried to cut down the undead attracted by KiJun was crushed by a large, black, and heavy sphere that fell from the sky, his body smashed to bits.

Then, an even larger shadow covered the wall.

“Kwaang!”

Everyone except those who had already moved to a safe distance were equally―― turned into scraps of flesh, blown away along with the undead that had crowded around KiJun.

KiJun, with Adamant activated, stood with a stern expression, blocking the black magic spikes that burst out with the undead’s landing.

It was fortunate that he had recovered about half of his spirit power and mana during the fight, but… the opponent was far too strong.

“If only my level had increased.”

He tightened his grip on the shield in his hand, looking around for another shield to hold in his free hand―― but there was nothing satisfactory.

A wooden shield that would break easily was not enough to withstand the power of Moonlight Blood Fang, and the large iron shields were so unbalanced it was better not to use them at all.

“Looking… for a way to run?”

The voice, like wind seeping through a door gap, oozed out of the rolling sphere.

KiJun then realized the true nature of the sphere that had initially crushed the man was not a sphere, but the head of an undead.

“There is… no escape. The Grim Reaper has… pronounced death upon you.”

The giant shadow picked up the rolling head.

The headless knight, mounted on a black ghost horse with no legs, looked down at KiJun.

Holding the head in one hand and a lance for charging in the other, the knight’s imposing presence was truly terrifying.

-The Dullahan Blood Knight has pronounced your death. You cannot flee the battle, and the chances of receiving a fatal blow are high. However, your legendary Charisma almost completely nullifies this!

-[Unbreakable Internal Clock (L)] strongly resists physical and mental interference.

-Resistance success. [Adamant (L)] receives a positive adjustment.

Despite the knight’s appearance, KiJun felt almost friendly towards him due to the buffs he had kindly given.

As he got used to the influence of his Charisma, which popped up here and there, and his Unbreakable Internal Clock, which now not only resisted debuffs but often turned them into buffs at a high rate since reaching the legendary level, he almost looked forward to enemies casting debuffs.

But that wasn’t all.

-The title [The Last Hero (L)] activates, enhancing all abilities by 30%.

KiJun had figured out the Dullahan was of the dark/evil attribute at a glance, but was surprised to see it treated as a boss monster.

Could The Last Hero apply its title effect not just to boss monsters, but to any ‘boss-level’ entity?

“Transcender of Limits didn’t activate? So the Dullahan is a Rare grade race.”

“Still, it’s not an opponent to take lightly. The Unique grade Lizardman I met before entering this castle felt much weaker than this one.”

Can a Rare grade race be stronger than a Unique grade race?

Of course, it can. KiJun himself is a Rare grade race.

While race grades do give significant bonuses to basic abilities and racial traits, titles, statuses, skills, racial traits, and combat situations can easily overturn the advantage.

This Dullahan that had just appeared, being a boss-level entity, was likely to have a powerful title, making its status far beyond that of a regular Rare grade monster.

Moreover, the castle wall was currently engulfed in a thick aura of death.

Normal mana weakened, while dark mana surged with power.

It was an ideal situation for the Dullahan, draped in darkness and death, to gain strength.

“But I’ve also enhanced Adamant, and the effect of The Last Hero has amplified my strength. Plus, I can wield Light Magic, the complete opposite of darkness… It’s worth a try!”

As KiJun finished his thoughts and adjusted his stance, pointing the end of King of the Well aggressively, the head in the Dullahan’s hand scoffed.

“A human who doesn’t know how to properly use a shield. You’re an unworthy opponent for the Knight of Bloody Thorns, but I have no choice. I’ll quickly finish you off and fill this wall with death!”

Unaware that his Death Sentence had not fully affected KiJun, the Dullahan arrogantly shouted and charged towards KiJun on his ghost horse.

The tip of the giant lance in his hand, stained with blood, stretched out, attacking KiJun’s head faster than he could perceive――.

“Kwaang!”

With a dreadful collision sound.

Bright flames on KiJun’s shield formed solid fangs and deflected the lance head-on.

Unable to withstand KiJun’s strength, the lance was repelled into the air, and the astonished face of the Dullahan flew past in slow motion.

At that moment, the ghost horse, losing its master and panicking, was deeply scratched on the side by the sacred flames formed fangs.

“Kuueee!”

The ghost horse, having sustained fatal wounds from the searing light and flames, vanished from sight.

Seeing the Dullahan collapse, rolling on the ground in an instant, KiJun smirked chillingly.

“Now we’re on the same level.”

“You dare harm my beloved steed during my moment of inattention?!”

Furious, the Dullahan charged at KiJun, pounding the ground.

Knowing KiJun’s strength, his lance was lighter but much quicker and sharper.

KiJun parried with his shield, but at that moment, not only the lance but also dozens of black spikes erupting from the ground pierced him.

“Ugh?!”

“I’ll show you why I’m called the Blood Knight! This is my true power, granted by my lord’s grace through a stronger class!”

Was he bragging about just having undergone a second job change?

Enraged, the Dullahan swung his lance, causing spikes to surge from all directions!

KiJun gritted his teeth, fending off the spikes while closing the distance, but of course, he couldn’t deflect all of them.

The Dullahan laughed gleefully with each new wound on KiJun’s body.

“You’ll drown in a sea of blood! Your death will bring me greater feats!”

“Shut up――!”

KiJun, wielding the brilliantly flaming King of the Well, swept away the black spikes and kicked the Dullahan’s arm powerfully as he lunged forward.

His target was not the lance, but the head held calmly in one hand.

“Ha ha ha! Did you think detaching my head would do anything? My head is my most potent weapon!”

The head, having levitated, spun and rapidly fell towards KiJun’s head.

The head, concentrated with the Dullahan’s power, sprouted black spikes like a chestnut burr, a truly hair-raising sight.

KiJun, countering, grasped the shield with both hands and shouted.

“Ur, Lucy――!”

-Kiiit!

-If we kill this one, the level will surely rise!

Salutaris― the Savior’s power enveloped his entire body, rapidly circulating mana and spirit power.

Fuelled by the emerging mana and spirit power, the two spirits also poured in their full strength.

Though his body, close to its limit, showed signs of collapse, for this moment, the concentrated mana and spirit power on his shield reached the realm of legends.

“A gap…!”

“Get lost!”

The Dullahan’s body, able to move separately, lunged with the lance, but KiJun, having saved [King of the Well (U)]’s option of blasting wind, forcefully pushed him back.

And the next moment.

“To die is… just the same…”

“You’re the one dying!”

“Crack!”

KiJun hurled the massive fang of light in his hands with all his might, perfectly piercing the Dullahan’s head plummeting towards him.

Then, he smashed it down to the ground with his shield!

“Ugh, aaagh…!”

The Dullahan’s head, crushed under the shield, let out a pathetic groan of agony.

However, KiJun, ready to lose everything to ensure its death, summoned even more light and flames!

“Aaaargh!”

Brilliant holy fire soared alongside the Dullahan’s dying scream.

As the cracks on his body deepened and his strength ebbed, KiJun pondered pushing further, but then he saw the Dullahan’s body, blown away by the wind, melting in midair.

He had successfully killed the Dullahan by targeting its core – the head.

Immediately, rewards for slaying a boss-level entity found him.

-Your level has reached 14, increasing Strength (U) by 2, Dexterity (L) by 1, Endurance (U) by 1, Mana Power (L) by 3, Spirit Power (L) by 2!

-Fire Spirit Magic(R) has reached level 48, Slaughter (R) level 5, Moonlight Blood Fang (L) level 3, Lucy (L) level 4, Adamant (L) level 2, Salutaris (L) level 4! Endurance (U) 1, Spirit Power (L) 1 increased!

-You have achieved one of the quest’s key goals. Witnessed by all, the quest reward will be significantly amplified!

His battered body, after three consecutive level-ups, returned to a state better than ever.

Crossing limits could lead to breakdown, but overcoming them made one stronger and more resilient.

The evenly grown legendary-grade skills further proved this.

-Stop glamorizing such reckless actions! I’m really going to get angry!

“Sorry, Lucy. But now I’m in perfect shape. I can safely deal with even scarier foes.”

-Ugh, you really won’t back down until the very end.

Lucy, exasperated by KiJun’s relentless behavior but inwardly finding his victory over the Dullahan impressive, retreated.

Then, a shadow cast over KiJun’s head again.

Looking up, he saw a knight clad in shining silver armor――Tolchi was looking at him.

“An impressive battle, Jun. You truly are a magnificent warrior.”

“Tolchi… thanks.”

“He dropped this.”

Tolchi handed over a black breastplate, presumably retrieved from where the Dullahan’s torso had fallen.

A full plate drop was unexpected, but among them, a breastplate was highly valuable!

KiJun was startled by this unexpected gain and took it.

Naturally, he lifted the shield that had been pressing down on the Dullahan’s head, feeling something else beneath it.

“Huh…?”

His eyes widened at the sight.

“What’s this?”

“Aaaargh!”

But KiJun didn’t have time to closely inspect his loot.

Beyond the devastated wall, black hair creeping up suddenly covered the ground, then…

“At last, the time has come, my enemy… I will kill you all here!”

A disfigured undead face, weeping blood, screamed.

It was the Banshee, whose cry inevitably led to death, revealing herself.