The Regressor Can Make Them All-Chapter 348

Boom!

A fierce explosion erupted as the sparks created by the collision of Sung-Ha’s and the Flame Demon’s spears clashed, sending a pillar of fire surging into the sky.

The vortex of fire then split into two, each half coiling around one of the spears and concentrating at the tip.

Bang!

The initial analysis of each other’s abilities ended with the previous clashes. Now, with emotions boiled over, the battle was at its peak. The two wielded their spears with full force, drawing on every ounce of their power to overpower the other.

“Hup...!”

“Hmph...!”

Boom!

The explosive roars of their clashes echoed like artillery shells, creating residual sparks that whirled ferociously, trailing behind their spear blades. They formed a massive vortex of fire above the courtyard, filling the air with fiery embers that then spiraled downward.

“This is pretty intense right from the start...”

Watching from a distance, Se-Hoon’s eyes narrowed as he assessed the clash. The raging flames were enough to turn not just the building’s foundation, but also the surrounding area into a sea of fire.

It looks like Sung-Ha is at a disadvantage.

The Flame Demon, who had surpassed his prime by becoming a demon, possessed power that exceeded that of an ordinary S-rank hero. But while Sung-Ha struggled against that overwhelming strength, that wasn’t the pressing issue—it was technique.

Clang!

Sung-Ha twisted the shaft of his spear, laced with intense flames, and deflected the Flame Demon’s incoming spear with a light parry before closing in. However, even though Sung-Ha predicted and blocked it with precision, the Flame Demon adapted, flicking the spear shaft with his left hand deceptively casually.

Inferno Ring: Exploding Serpent

Fwoom!

Unnaturally twisting the spear’s trajectory with a small explosion, the spear curved like a living serpent and bypassed Sung-Ha’s defense to aim directly for his throat.

Startled, Sung-Ha leaned back and detonated embers underfoot.

Boom!

Thankfully, his accelerated kick struck the spear shaft just in time, narrowly redirecting the fiery blade as it grazed his chin. However, while he successfully defended himself in that fleeting moment, it came at a cost.

Rumble!

The precarious balance of the fire vortex had tipped slightly in the Flame Demon’s favor. Seizing the momentum, the Flame Demon unleashed another wave of relentless attacks.

“Ugh...!”

“You talk big, but I see no real improvement in you.”

The Flame Demon pressed his advantage mercilessly, pushing Sung-Ha into the defensive as he struggled to parry the storm of precise strikes. As the creator of the Inferno Ring, the Flame Demon’s technique was flawless, allowing him to exploit even the smallest gaps in Sung-Ha’s defense.

On top of that, the techniques the Flame Demon wielded contained unfamiliar moves, which were likely envisioned during retirement or hadn’t been passed down.

With this level of strength, he could aim to become one of the Ten Evils.

While Se-Hoon marveled from afar, recalling the Flame Demon’s infamous past alliance with Kwang-Soo, Sung-Ha was assessing the situation with a cold mind while locked in combat.

I can’t win in a direct confrontation.

Perhaps he could in the future, but both strength and skill were against him at the moment. He had tried disrupting the Flame Demon’s flow of attack once again, like during their earlier skirmish, but his opponent wasn’t naive enough to fall for the same trick twice.

Fwoom!

Each time Sung-Ha attempted to resonate his flames, the internal mana structures were violently disrupted, countering his plans. It was clear the Flame Demon had adapted and was crafting counters mid-fight.

Clang!

Yet, despite the gap in strength, skill, and experience, Sung-Ha kept swinging his spear with unwavering determination. He had resolved to not seek victory by borrowing power from others, whether it was from Se-Hoon or even his future self.

I will do this myself.

He had stepped onto the battlefield to prove his capability.

Spear blades grazed his cheeks, shoulders, and thighs; his flesh burned and agony coursed through him. Yet he pressed forward nonetheless.

Unfortunately, unlike his determination, his two short spears, once his fortress, were being broken piece by piece with ease due to the Flame Demon’s superior technique.

However, despite that, Sung-Ha suddenly relaxed the tension in his body.

...I’ve found it.

A single path through the midst of the onslaught had become clear.

Whoosh!

He deliberately let the Flame Demon’s blazing spear barely graze past him.

The Flame Demon’s eyes widened in surprise. Until now, Sung-Ha had always placed his fire mana spear in his left hand for offense and his darkness mana spear in his right for defense. The balanced stance was his hallmark.

But now, that hallmark of his had been completely reversed.

“...Is this the method you’ve found to counter me?” The Flame Demon chuckled darkly, almost amused.

Hadn’t he warned numerous times not to rely blindly on untested methods? The Flame Demon wasn't sure if it was defiance or desperation, but he didn't mind testing it.

“Then show me how pitiful this new technique is!”

The Flame Demon surged forward with renewed ferocity, his fiery spear slashing relentlessly.

Sung-Ha deflected the attacks one by one. He was clearly unfamiliar with his reversed stance, allowing the strikes to tear through his loose defenses and carve wounds across his body, yet he refused to revert.

How foolish...!

Seeing his persistence, the Flame Demon intensified his assault, creating a massive opening that allowed him to target Sung-Ha’s chest. He then immediately poured his power into a decisive strike.

Shadow Ring: Crescent Flame

Whoosh!

However, at that moment, a black ring suddenly appeared around the Flame Demon’s fiery spear blade before it was yanked downward.

“What?!”

As if by its own will, the spear was dragged out of his grasp, leaving the Flame Demon stunned.

And during that brief moment, Sung-Ha’s second spear shot forward with deadly precision.

Thud!

The spear destroyed a third of the Flame Demon’s neck. It wasn’t fatal for a demon, but it left him momentarily vulnerable. Quickening the regeneration, the Flame Demon reached to reclaim his spear—but something was wrong.

What... is this?

Darkness mana tightly bound the blades of Shadowgrief and Raging Flame, rooting itself deep within the two spears and holding them firmly in place. The ring of darkness mana had tightened itself around the weapons like an unshakable chain.

Gripping the spear shaft tightly, the Flame Demon tried to ignite the residual flame within it to break free.

Woon—

However, the pulse needed to detonate those residual flames was immediately intercepted and corroded by Sung-Ha’s darkness mana. His spear was trapped and his flames were nullified—the Flame Demon was left completely defenseless in the face of the Sun Piercing Spear arcing toward him.

Crash!

“Ugh...!”

Sung-Ha began a relentless and sharp onslaught, mirroring the Flame Demon’s earlier dominance. The attacks came with such ferocity that the Flame Demon barely managed to avoid a fatal blow to his vital points. Now the Flame Demon was barely holding his ground as he gripped the spear shaft tighter to regain control.

If he won’t let go of my spear, then I’ll just lift him with it and drive him into the ground!

The Flame Demon braced himself, ready to execute a counter, but before he could act, Sung-Ha noticed the subtle shift in pressure and released the ring of darkness mana without hesitation.

Whoosh!

Freed from its restraints, Shadowgrief shot upward, slashing through the air and throwing the Flame Demon momentarily off balance, which exposed his chest. Sung-Ha instantly thrust forward with both of his spears in a savage strike, seizing the opening.

BOOM!

“Urgh...!”

Though the Flame Demon blocked the attack with his spear shaft, the force of the impact had ripped his palms open, crushed his bones, and sent a shockwave tearing through his internal organs. It destroyed his stance completely, sending him back in a stagger.

Wasting no time, Sung-Ha took advantage of the new opening and reclaimed control of the vortex of flames that had been slipping away from him throughout the battle.

Now, seven-tenths of the swirling inferno was under Sung-Ha’s dominion.

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Seeing the flames roaring violently around Sung-Ha, surging and howling like a living entity, the Flame Demon’s face contorted in disbelief.

“How... how is this possible?”

How could such a hastily devised technique fit together so flawlessly? The Flame Demon was flabbergasted, his eyes wide with shock.

And he wasn’t the only one. Nearby, Se-Hoon’s expression also mirrored the same astonishment.

Isn't that the same technique the Mad Dog taught me?

Back when he had been struggling to learn the Inferno Ring, the Mad Dog had created a simplified version for him. It was an inferior imitation—never even tested in actual combat. Yet, in Sung-Ha’s hands, it had evolved into something far more refined.

Using the ring of darkness mana to disrupt the enemy’s flow of attack, creating openings to exploit.... He’s fully harnessing the characteristics of darkness mana.

Although it bore a resemblance to the traditional Inferno Ring, it was fundamentally a different technique.

As Se-Hoon tried to connect the dots with what he was witnessing, a possibility surfaced in his mind. Perhaps the Mad Dog, after killing Jin-Hyun and inheriting his teachings, had vowed to only use the original Inferno Ring. If that were the case, he might have discarded his own realizations, treating them as irrelevant.

“Whew...”

Meanwhile, as the two onlookers were reeling for their own reasons, Sung-Ha was steadying his stance, exhaling deeply.

Just now, he had been focused solely on defense when a natural stance came to him—one inspired by the sparring techniques he had observed from Se-Hoon and blended with the lessons gleaned from his future self. The exchange of blows had triggered a torrent of inspiration in his mind, flooding him with new ideas.

Just a little more...

The narrow scope of the Inferno Ring was expanding into something new. And as if responding to that transformation, his fire mana, Crimson Flame Soul, and darkness mana, Nightshade Soul, flowed out from his two hands. They were resonating together, forming a perfect harmony of two types of elemental mana.

Woong!

There was not a single gap in the balance of their resonance.

“Is he... growing?” the Flame Demon muttered quietly.

He could see it: Sung-Ha was absorbing all of the insights he had poured into the Inferno Ring and sprinting toward an even higher peak.

For the first time, the Flame Demon truly believed that his disciple might be able to catch up to him—perhaps even surpass him—making his silent gaze harden into determination.

Gripping his spear tightly, the Flame Demon unleashed his mana to its fullest extent.

“Don’t think you’ll surpass me so easily!”

Crack-crack-crack!

Dozens of skeletons erupted from behind the Flame Demon, their arms out like sets of wings. They were then covered in flames, creating a massive fiery wheel that shone with radiant brilliance.

Woong!

The wheel spun faster and faster, its energy amplifying endlessly. Even if it led to his complete destruction, Flame Demon poured in every ounce of power he had accumulated. Whether it was the power stolen from the Flame Sect’s defectors or his own burning soul, he poured it in.

Only then did he launch himself forward, his fiery spear burning like a miniature sun.

Inferno Ring, Ultimate Move: Grand Flame Wheel—Millennium Scorching Inferno

A massive blaze, seemingly capable of incinerating everything in its path, erupted towards Sung-Ha. Facing it, Sung-Ha pulled in all of the flames surrounding him and concentrated them around the Sun Piercing Spear.

Crack!

A foreboding sound rang out from the spear’s blade. But while he might have hesitated to push his weapon further in the past, fearing the risk of overloading it, he had no such hesitation now.

Woong!

The Sun Piercing Spear compressed its final blaze within its core, assisted by Shadowgrief. Together, the two forces then surged forward in unison, aimed directly at the all-consuming inferno in front.

The two attacks collided.

BOOM!

A massive pillar of fire erupted into the sky, obliterating the site where the Flame Sect’s old headquarters had stood.

Then, a delayed shockwave swept out toward their surroundings, letting out a second, ear-splitting roar.

KABOOM!

The forest was scorched to cinders. Thick, acrid smoke rose from the epicenter of the explosion.

And standing shakily in the middle of it all, Sung-Ha gripped Shadowgrief tightly as blood spilled from his lips.

“Cough...!”

Though he had overturned the disadvantage and blocked the incoming inferno, he clearly had not escaped unscathed. He was far from unharmed.

The Flame Demon, however... was floating in the air, seemingly untouched.

Sizzle.

His burnt flesh had regenerated in an instant, and the flame wheel behind him burned even more fiercely than before.

“Hahaha... Talk about a blessing in disguise.”

By pushing himself to the brink and unleashing his full power, the Flame Demon had not only stabilized his once-uncontrollable mana but also increased his overall output—Sung-Ha was not the only one who was growing through combat.

Grinning faintly, the Flame Demon marveled at his now-stronger self.

“So, the spear you recycled from the Sun Shooter has broken, has it? I was planning to destroy it myself when this was over. Convenient for me, I suppose.”

“...”

“Do you have anything else prepared for me? If not, this will be the end for you.”

Whirr!

Flames gathered at the tip of the Flame Demon’s spear, seeming even more intense than before.

In response, Sung-Ha slowly straightened his posture and spat out the blood pooling in his mouth. Then, he looked up at the Flame Demon with unwavering eyes and forced out his voice, “Stop making such a fuss... and wait.”

“Oh? Still so confident, are you? What are you going to do? Are you planning to beg that one behind you for help?” the Flame Demon sneered, mocking the idea of Sung-Ha relying on someone else.

“Yeah.”

“...What?”

Despite his mockery, Sung-Ha had replied so plainly, making the Flame Demon blink in confusion before instinctively glancing behind Sung-Ha.

“You see... I sent my spear for repairs just before this fight.”

Whoosh-

The smoke parted, revealing Se-Hoon with the broken Sun Piercing Spear embedded in his chest. Yet... his expression was eerily calm.

Soul Honing: Demonic Blood Art

Squelch!

Blood poured forth from deep within Se-Hoon’s heart, forming into a new spear. Its blade shone warmly, like the sun setting beyond the ridgeline, radiating a mournful yet dazzling brilliance. It pushed aside the surrounding heatwaves as it emerged.

Soul Weapon: Sunset’s Promise

Grasping the recreation of the final spear he had forged for the Mad Dog, Se-Hoon immediately assumed a throwing stance and hurled it toward the battered Sung-Ha.

Thwack!

Without even looking back, Sung-Ha caught the new spear midair.

“If you fail to finish it now, I’ll tell those two about how you were crying earlier!” Se-Hoon shouted.

“...You really are gifted with the talent to say the most dreadful things.”

With a faint smile, Sung-Ha twirled Sunset’s Promise in his hand; its sturdy and balanced form fit perfectly in his grip. He turned his gaze back to the Flame Demon.

Despite having ample chances to interfere, the Flame Demon had simply watched the entire exchange. And now, he met Sung-Ha’s gaze.

“Relying on a stranger... Have you no shame?”

For a moment, Sung-Ha recalled the lesson he had heard countless times: trust only your own power and achieve everything with your own strength.

But unlike the countless times before, he stood firm, ignoring it.

“He’s not a stranger to me.”

A shameless excuse, yet there was an undeniable sincerity in his words.

“...You’re better than I was.” The Flame Demon grinned bitterly in response.

With no other words to be said, the two gathered their strength once more.

On one side, the Flame Demon compressed his flame wheel into the tip of his spear, burning so intensely that the blade itself began melting.

On the other side, Sung-Ha tightened his grip around both Shadowgrief and Sunset’s Promise, checking his nearing-depleted mana. The only thing he had left was the strength imbued in the spear Se-Hoon had just forged.

I’ll still win.

If strength wasn’t enough, then he just had to turn to skill and ingenuity. Sung-Ha drew upon his two types of elemental mana, stirring them into resonance.

Woong!

But he did more than just sync the two; he forced them to unify into a single entity. It was a dangerous maneuver, as the conflicting natures of the fire and darkness mana could easily spiral out of control and potentially destroy his body.

Splatter!

Blood erupted from his wounds.

But despite the clashing forces wreaking havoc within him, Sung-Ha pressed on, searching for the Primal Source—the shared origin of all things.

“Urgh...!”

Yet that was no easy task, even with his unique skill, Complete Source Resonance.

Furthermore... the Flame Demon had just finished preparing his final strike, aiming his searing spear at Sung-Ha.

I need to decide now.

Continue searching for the Primal Source or settle for using a less refined technique? Standing at a crossroads, Sung-Ha stepped off on his path..

He violently clashed his two types of elemental mana together once more.

Boom!

Blood spewed from his mouth, yet amidst the havoc, he felt it—a resonance unlike anything before.

I found it...!

However, just as he was about to steady himself, his vision blurred. He had reached his limit.

Was I... too careless?

As he staggered, despair creeping in, Sung-Ha heard a sigh behind him.

“Hopeless, aren’t you?”

Before he could respond, a hand reached forward, overlapping his own.

Whoosh!

Without delay, a dark light surged from Shadowgrief, enveloping Sung-Ha with pure darkness mana—free of malice—and stabilizing his crumbling body.

Rejuvenated, Sung-Ha immediately resumed the harmonization of his two types of elemental mana.

Complete Source Resonance: Crimson-Nightshade Unison

Whirr!

A blazing flame intertwined with a shadowy black ring, fusing perfectly within Sung-Ha and imbuing Sunset’s Promise and Shadowgrief with unparalleled power.

With a blazing dark fire, a manifestation of the fused attributes of darkness and fire, Sung-Ha launched himself forward.

“It all ends now...!”

Seeing Sung-Ha rushing him, the Flame Demon unleashed everything in a radiant, scorching strike that encapsulated his strength, skill, and very existence.

Shadow Ring, Ultimate Move: Twilight’s Embrace

The crimson sun and black moon, drawn by the two spear blades, crossed paths.

BOOM!!!!!

Everything was erased. The area, which moments ago shone as brightly as midday, was plunged into darkness.

“Huff... Huff...”

On the now barren wasteland, the two warriors collapsed.

Gasping for air, the Flame Demon, his strength utterly drained, gritted his teeth as he forced himself to stand.

Crunch.

But he managed only a few steps before his legs gave out, crumbling beneath him. He collapsed once more, splayed across the ground, with his gaze fixed upward.

“...Ha.”

His final strike had been nullified by Sung-Ha's counterattack, which pierced through the heavens and erased the gathering storm clouds. All he could see now... was a clear night sky, glittering with stars and an unclouded moon.

Was the sky... always this beautiful?

Even though he had looked up at this same night sky countless times, he had never thought it looked so breathtaking. The question lingered in his mind until he realized the answer.

Fwoosh-

The flames eating away at his body from within—consuming even his life force—left no room for regeneration. His body was gradually disintegrating, the fire reducing him piece by piece to ash.

Death—the experience of approaching it was sharpening his senses, allowing him to see beauty in what he had once taken for granted.

If I’d known it would feel like this... maybe dying a little earlier wouldn’t have been so bad.

For the first time in his life, the Flame Demon entertained a thought so absurd it felt out of character.

At that moment, Sung-Ha staggered toward him, his body just as battered and broken. And yet, Sung-Ha stood tall, unwavering.

“...”

Lying motionless, the Flame Demon just stared at Sung-Ha. Then, his lips, barely capable of movement, parted.

“Humans... don’t change easily.”

The Flame Demon began saying whatever was on his mind.

“...”

“Even if you knew of my twisted nature from the very beginning... we would have ended up here, eventually. I’m sure of it, even now as death stares me in the face...”

He had spent his life building an identity, a philosophy carved into his very being. Changing such a thing overnight would have been no different from death itself. And that was exactly why the Flame Demon had charged forward until the end... despite knowing full well it would lead to self-destruction.

“Even at the end, I still believe strength is everything. What do you think, Sung-Ha?”

“Strength is a means to uphold one’s own life. But, it should never be the ultimate goal.”

“Do you think you can truly trust anyone else other than yourself?”

“No, not everyone. But I will find those I can trust.”

Crunch.

Sung-Ha quietly watched as each exchange of words chipped away more of the Flame Demon’s crumbling body.

“You plan to deny everything I’ve taught you...? To go against my will entirely?”

“Living by another’s will without question... is no better than living as a slave.”

Sung-Ha’s voice stayed steady. He didn’t hesitate in his answers to the last words of the man who had once been his master.

“I will live my own life. By my own will.”

“...I see.”

The Flame Demon—now visibly aged, his features worn—was far removed from the imposing figure he had once been.

“In that case... I have no reason to worry about you,” he said in a weary voice.

“...”

“Don’t you... ever live like I did.”

His gaze softened as he looked at Sung-Ha. Regret, sorrow, relief, and even a sense of liberation flickered in his eyes.

“That’s... the only thing I can give you...”

He had been a terrible master, unfit to guide anyone. He was an utterly twisted man. However, that nature of his was precisely why he was able to impart that one, final piece of wisdom with sincerity.

Maybe it was cowardice to pass it on, but at least he could give that one small gift.

Jin-Hyun closed his eyes, now ready to fade. But then—

“I don’t think that’s right,” Sung-Ha’s voice abruptly resounded..

“...What?”

“If that’s all you can give me right now, your name will vanish, won’t it?”

The unexpected response made Yeom Jin-Hyun’s closing eyes widen slightly.

Seeing that, Yeom Sung-Ha smiled softly.

“I’ll take your name. I’ve grown fond of it.”

Though their bond as master and disciple had been severed, not everything between them had been cut away. Surprised by Sung-Ha’s newfound eloquence, Jin-Hyun let out a faint chuckle.

“Thank you... Sung-Ha,” he murmured quietly.

Fwoosh-

With those final words, Jin-Hyun’s body disintegrated completely into ash, scattering into the wind.

In the now quiet night, Sung-Ha raised his head and gazed at the night sky: clear, devoid of clouds.

Yet, a few raindrops began falling quietly without a sound, as if the heavens themselves were shedding tears for an era that had finally set.