YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW [5]

Regressor's Instructions Manual Episode 998

You reap what you sow (5)

"Aaargh! Aaargh!"

The light continues to fall.

"Stop it, stop it, STOP!"

Led by Draktaris, the priests of Divine Order and the paladins relentlessly draw forth divine power.

With each step they take, the creature steps back.

The first row, they cast out the divine priest. The second, they memorize the spells. The 3rd row, they prepare for the next.

Like archers taking aim and shooting arrows, they unleash the rain of divine power.

The vanguard prepares for enemy assault, advancing step by step with raised shields.

The guardian knights raise their swords to eliminate the templar who has bargained with demons.

-To the wicked who sold their souls to demons, the divine mace of God!"

'He sure is full of resentment'

-To the wicked who sold their souls to demons, the divine mace of God!

-Punish that demon!

A tingling sensation courses through my chest. Even to someone experienced in theatrical productions like me, it looked well-arranged, almost as if it were a well-rehearsed play.

But it's not me.

The giant spider demon and the priests surrounding it. A confrontation between good and evil, light and darkness—wasn't this a commonly exploited theme?

As always, the scene unfolding before my eyes is no different. When the spider's legs lash out, some of the phantom priests are swept away.

Still, they neither fear nor retreat. Their faces bear the burden of a long-held grudge.

Finally, the joy of realizing they can achieve what they desire is mixed in as well.

-The divine mace! The divine mace!!!

Most importantly, I'm among them.

'Anyone can tell it's my work.'

"Grant him comfort... eternal rest...."

Muttering to myself, I watch as the rangers who escaped the maze gaze at everything before them with incredulous eyes.

"Honorary Cardinal..."

"How is this even possible..."

"What on earth..."

It's only natural for them to look at the honorary Cardinal who created this miracle with eyes full of admiration and yearning. How could they not, in this miraculous spectacle?

'Even I find it impressive when I think about it.'

"Hyung-nim, it's dangerous there, Hyung-nim! Come over here!"

"It's dangerous, Hyung."

"Honey! What are you doing over there!"

Heera Nuna, Park Deok-gu, and Raphael, all keeping an eye on this side, cause me to subtly take a step back. Nonetheless, this spectacular scene will remain etched in everyone's memory.

"Stop it! Stop!"

'What are you doing? This bastard...'

"Aaargh! Bahamut... you... Bahamut!!"

'Stop calling him. Seriously.'

"Save... me! Save me!!"

'What's there to save?'

"You shall be purified."

'You're not dying. It's being purified. So, accept it.'

"Aaaargh!!!"

The problem is that the struggling spider's endurance is higher than expected. Naturally, a sense of unease, stemming from an unknown identity, starts to creep in.

'Damn it.'

Thanks to Park Yeon joo's reports, I can roughly grasp how the situation is progressing. Various interpretations are possible, but based on the murals, it's reasonable to assume that Bahamut's demonic seed finally bloomed.

Whether it was Draktaris' remarks about the demon, the unique atmosphere of the phantom priests, rough expectations were possible, but executing it is a different matter.

'Foolish Bahamut bastard.'

I warned him not to obsess over power like that.

'Kim Hyunseong is a problem too.'

The story of the 4-star Bahamut becoming fearful of the 7-star Kim Hyunseong had spread, so it's likely that this led Bahamut to obsess over power again.

Considering how vividly Kim Hyunseong was depicted as an orange demon, he must have felt and understood the fear, though he might not admit it.

Bahamut ultimately lost the priest of prophecy, and attributed everything to his own incompetence.

In reality, he did nothing back then. In case the demon seed blossomed, he couldn't even move; after Kim Hyunseong appeared, his legs froze.

He overcame his fear and moved, only to be blown away by a gesture. It was undoubtedly a humiliation unfit for a hero of the continent; Kim Hyunseong probably felt like a mountain he had to overcome.

He might even have suffered from mental disorders like PTSD. He might have dreamed of a nightmare where an orange demon suddenly appeared and took everything from him... perhaps even triggered by seeing something similar to orange.

'In the end, he chose to become a demon unable to endure.'

He must have taken a different path than Draktaris. He probably did it to protect the priest of prophecy who would one day return, and to protect the underground Temple and the continent.

Superficially, it might sound dangerous, but I considered it beneficial for me. Since I already knew from Doom Hyunseong that Dark Evolution isn't cost-effective.

Though Skull Grey Hyunseong was powerful, he had limits. I assumed the same for the others, but...

'But why isn't he dying already?'

"These filthy bastards... these filthy priests!!"

"Damn it! Damn you all!"

'Heartless bastard... why this much...?'

'Why this much. He must really be afraid of dying.'

"Aaaargh! Aaaargh! I shall punish you all!"

'Completely transcended humanity, huh?'

'So, did the stats increase even more?'

Could there be another evolution route for Dark Evolution?

Just imagining Doom Hyunseong evolving like that was horrifying, but perhaps the path of Doom Doom Hyunseong's evolution was also open.

'Hyunseong won't change like the spider.'

Maybe he's a type like a wolf. Wait, he's crazy about griffin, it might be possible for him to transform like a griffin. Although I thought he could change into a more sinister form than Doom Doom Hyunseong, what's crucial isn't how Kim Hyunseong's visual changes.

'Something serious has happened...'

I can't estimate how strong Bahamut, who went through Dark Evolution, has become.

'Templar Simon isn't worshipping Bahamut. He seemed more like he feared Bahamut.'

I don't know if he was abused by that guy, but there were probably a lot of things.

'He's been watching everything. How Bahamut changes, how ruthless and dark he can become. Although the influence of demonic transformation might have caused him to say things that sound like his intelligence is regressing, fundamentally it might have been because of his fear of Bahamut.'

"It, it seems so severe. Even that spider... What could a person possibly transform into, like a spider..."

"...."

"Templar Simon is a hunter. Hyung."

'I know, too.'

'The Raids are progressing smoothly... It's a relief that there's almost no loss of allied combat power due to the phantoms, but... I can't be entirely happy.'

'Raphael, what are you murmuring about?'

The party's hunter opens his mouth.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Templar Simon is a hunter. The maze is his hunting ground, and he's the boss monster that shows the highest efficiency there. We have to judge that there's not much he can do when surrounded in such a wide space. Durability should be low, and if it's the divine power of the phantoms in the underground Temple, he shouldn't be able to withstand much and should fall. That makes sense. He must have evolved in that way."

"I think I know what you're saying."

"I don't know who this Bahamut he's talking about is..."

"Is he stronger than we thought?"

Raphael shakes his head. Seeing him looking at me quietly, it seems like he's satisfied with his judgment.

He seemed to be quietly hoping for a compliment, but there's no need to add a word.

'He's grown quite a bit too.'

It's not just his height; his head has also grown quite a bit.

"Bahamut! Bahamut-nim!!"

Since he fought against Draktaris, he must understand better.

"Indeed..."

Although it looks like they're endlessly clashing...

"His resistance is too strong."

Templar Simon is inherently cowardly. Of course, that doesn't mean he's weak. He's cautious, he wants to wait for the right time, and he wants to create the picture he desires.

Even if that form isn't the form he desires, it's undeniable that he considers it the most efficient form.

He chose sharp legs over massive arms and agility that can move soundlessly over durability.

As Raphael said, the maze was his home, and if the raid started there, it might have escalated to an uncontrollable situation.

We seized the advantageous battlefield, and although we were in a superior position, our party...

'That's what it is now.'

"Save me... I don't want to die... Aaaargh! Aaaargh!"

'Evil bastard.'

The creature with its body hunched over using its legs begins to climb the wall by pounding it with its legs and eventually goes up to the ceiling.

After curling up its mouth to its maximum, it starts to shoot out spider silk with a pop.

Even though a divine shield envelops the expedition, it pierces through the shield with a cracking sound.

The sticky, elastic spider silk even has an acid effect, which is unfair to us. It means he can create his hunting ground even outside the maze.

'Phase 2.'

"Are you analyzing, Hyung?"

I didn't bother to answer. As Raphael said, I was in the middle of analyzing. It was obvious, but I looked upward discreetly.

"Yes!"

'You catch on quickly.'

I immediately send an escape route to Raphael, and I see him following that path.

'Quite impressive.'

With just one sheet of paper's difference, avoiding the acidic spider silk, spinning in the air, it's unnecessary flamboyance, but it's quite impressive in its own way.

What can't be avoided is cut through. It was quite a mission that required concentration. Not only would touching the spider silk cause damage, but being tightly bound by it could lead to an instant retreat.

Even if you can't cut through it all at once...

'There's a possibility of being swept away.'

Still...

'It seems his performance has improved quite a bit.'

It's different from the bumpy ride he used to show in the past.

Although aligning Raphael vs. Templar Simon with Kim Hyunseong and Bahamut is originally nonsensical...

'You have to take what you can get.'

It's not bad since there's a sample. No, the more there is, the better.

And now General Jin...

It seemed like I met someone else...

Looking at him through the scope, I could see him sitting in a chair, flicking his fingers.

***

"Lord Bahamut is... on his way."

"...."

"...."

"Is that all you know how to say?"