Return of the Frozen Player

- We don’t have much time, so I won’t bear around the bush. Partner, have you ever had a sense of déjà vu? Don’t you feel like we’ve encountered this situation before?

“Well, now that you’ve mentioned…”

‘All this does sound familiar. I mean, isn’t that what déjà vu is supposed to be?’

Seo Jun-Ho nodded. “This scene does feel familiar to me, but what’s wrong with that?”

Meanwhile, the werewolves next to him started running.

“What are you doing, Seo Jun-Ho? Run!”

“It seems that you aren’t as fast as us!”

‘I don’t know what’s going on, but let’s start running before anything else.’

Seo Jun-Ho’s figure blurred. He arrived ahead of the werewolves in the blink of an eye.

- Have you really forgotten everything, or are you just running away from the truth?

“...”

Keen Intuition’s chiding cooled Seo Jun-Ho’s mind, and the emotions that had unknowingly been buried in a corner of his heart started to surface like bubbles rising to the surface of the water.

Seo Jun-Ho asked in a low voice, “It is what I think it is?”

- It seems to be exactly what you think it is. The answer is obvious—just take a look at how frustrated you are.

Seo Jun-Ho bit his lips and demanded.

“Explain everything to me. How is this déjà vu and the current situation related?”

- The System never lies. Do you really think that Hero’s Mind would activate for no reason at all?

“...Damn it.” Seo Jun-Ho sighed as his brain made sense of the chaotic series of events.

‘A déjà vu, Hero’s Mind sudden activation, and Keen Intuition’s warning…’

It seemed chaotic at first glance, but the answer that Seo Jun-Ho had received after extrapolating was clearly saying that…

“Did we go back in time?”

- I reached the same conclusion after experiencing a deluge of emotions from you, partner.

Seo Jun-Ho shook his head and pondered.

‘This time, I’m not the one who is turning back time…’ Seo Jun-Ho looked around. If an ally turned back time, then something had definitely gone wrong. ‘In that case, then they would have already told us what had happened.’

However, the werewolves weren’t acting strange and were focused only on running. In other words, the regressor wasn’t one of his allies—at least, he wasn’t familiar with them.

‘What do you think about the possibility that there’s a Player who can turn back time among us?’

- The chances are very low. In addition, a Player with that kind of skill doesn’t just appear out of nowhere.

‘So it’s neither the werewolves nor the humans.’

In other words, there could only be one answer.

‘It’s that True Vampire…’ Seo Jun-Ho’s eyes shone sharply.

Meanwhile, Shin Sung-Hyun started waving his hands.

“Here! This way!”

“Everyone! Jump into the rift!”

“For the werewolves…!” Arnold cried out.

The werewolves picked up their pace, but a huge wall of ice suddenly appeared on the plain. The werewolves couldn’t slow down in time, and they collided against the wall of ice.

“Argh! My knee is fucked!”

“My forehead hurts…!”

“What’s going on? It hurts! It stings! Awooo!”

The werewolves blew on their wounds with tears in their eyes.

Skaya turned to Seo Jun-Ho and asked, “What is this?”

“I’m sorry for killing the mood, and forgive me because I’m going to do it again…”

Seo Jun-Ho then proceeded to send a message to everyone’s message window.

[This is Specter. I repeat. This is Specter.]

Seo Jun-Ho calmly faced the doubtful eyes of everyone on the plain.

[Operation Recapture Trium is canceled. All Players evacuate the city.]

***

Swoosh!

A man in a gray suit was looking up at a tree that was so massive that it seemed as though it was supporting the entire world.

The man in a gray suit was in a forest filled with the pleasant breeze of spring.

“It’s been a while...”

- How have you been, Gray?

“Nothing much has changed. Anyway, I should have told you earlier, but I’m sorry for the difficult time you had to go through.”

-Thank you.

The World Tree gently waved her branches.

- So, what brings you here today?

“I came here to ask you something. Do you have a minute?”

- I have enough time. Go ahead.

Gray nodded and got straight to the point.

“Is it really okay to leave the 6th Floor as it is?”

- Yes. It’s okay.

Gray didn’t know what to say in response to the World Tree’s firm and decisive reply.

- I think I know why you are here. It seems that the demons had granted them too much power.

“Their ability is much more powerful than we have presumed. Are you sure the Players will get through it?”

- It is amusing to see you show interest in a place that isn’t even in your jurisdiction.

For a moment, Gray felt as if the World Tree was scrutinizing him.

However, he only smiled gently in response.

“Well, you already know why...”

- I do know very well. I’m just surprised to see you this proactive.

“Well, Reiji isn’t the only one who wants to retire.”

- Will they manage to get through it?

“How would I know that?”

Gray shrugged.

“But I must admit, it is within my expectations.”

- I concur.

The World Tree truly felt the same as Gray.

- If you’re here because you’re worried about the 6th Floor, then I am telling you that you do not have to worry about it.

“You looked that far into the future?”

- Yup. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to make arrangements for player Seo Jun-Ho.

“Wow…”

‘As expected. She is indeed the mighty World Tree.’

Gray nodded and said, “I guess my worries were unfounded. Some of the Players are definitely… growing at a rate that exceeds our expectations.”

- They are part of nature as well. It is only natural for them to assimilate into the surrounding environment.

People would inevitably go toward a source of light…

Gray breathed a sigh of relief.

he World Tree’s words had truly relieved him of his worries.

“I feel a little relieved, thanks to you.”

- Don’t mention it.

The Tree of Wisdom, the World Tree, was confident of the Players’ chances, so Gray didn’t have to worry about them.

‘She probably gave some of her power to Seo Jun-Ho…’

The higher-ups would definitely discuss it once they discovered it, but it was better than the Players’ annihilation.

Gray repeatedly nodded. However, he seemed to have remembered something as he spoke, “By the way…”

- Yes? Go ahead.

“Hypothetically speaking, what if Seo Jun-Ho ends up clearing the 6th Floor without taking advantage of your arrangement?”

-...

The massive World Tree remained silent for a while. When a cold dew dripped down one of her branches and landed on the ground, the World Tree finally spoke.

- No, no way. There is no way they could get through the 6th Floor without taking advantage of my arrangement.

“The Players have always defied common sense, you know...”

‘That won’t be good. The arrangement I had prepared was only suitable for the 6th Floor, and it was only possible because I looked into that future…’

The World Tree’s branched drooped as she spoke.

- I’m not sure. It’s rare, but if it happens, then perhaps the flow of fate that has always been inscrutable to me would turn and twist once more.

It would be impossible to know whether the changes would be beneficial to the Players or not. The World Tree could only earnestly pray that she hadn’t made the wrong choice.

***

“Explain!”

Bang!

Mekenbo slammed the desk of the barracks made out of ice that Seo Jun-Ho had made on the spot in the middle of the plains.

He glared at Seo Jun-Ho and said, “What’s the reason? Did you get scared of the upcoming war?”

“Watch your mouth, Mekenbo,” Arnold warned in a low voice. He turned toward Seo Jun-Ho and asked, “Why did you do it?”

In Arnold’s eyes, Seo Jun-Ho wasn’t afraid of going to war.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to get rid of Paradox.

Seo Jun-Ho said calmly, “Keen Intuition said that we shouldn’t go.”

“Do you really think that I’ll be satisfied with that?!” Mekenbo went on a rampage once again.

However, Skaya and Rahmadat’s reactions were different.

“Keen Intuition?”

“It seems that there’s definitely something off here.”

Skaya and Rahmadat knew that Seo Jun-Ho’s Keen Intuition was reliable.

Seo Jun-Ho turned to the werewolves and asked, “Do you happen to know the word ‘regression’?”

“...”

The chiefs and Arch Warriors stared at each other, confused.

‘Regression? What is that?’

‘I-is it something delicious?’

‘I don’t think it’s food….’

‘I think I’ve heard of it in the city. Is it a religion?’

The unfamiliar word stumped the werewolves and chiefs.

Arnold spoke on behalf of everyone. “I’ve never heard of it. What is it?”

“Skaya.”

Skaya was a native English speaker and an engineer as well. Therefore, she could explain theories better than anyone else here. Skaya then explained the meaning of the word to the werewolves.

“In other words, it’s a power to repeat an event over and over again?” Arnold asked.

“It’s like that…”

“Stop it with those complicated words! You’re giving me a headache!” Mekenbo exclaimed and thumped on his chest to show that he was frustrated. “We’re here to ask you why you canceled the operation, so why are you suddenly talking about something else?”

“It’s because they’re related…”

In Another World, Seo Jun-Ho had experienced hundreds of regressions in a span of seventeen years. Therefore, it was no exaggeration to say that he was the most familiar with the feeling of going back in time.

“It was definitely the same feeling as back then.”

“So you went back in time because you failed?”

“No…” Seo Jun-Ho shook his head. “My ability to regress was only temporary. I don’t have it anymore..”

Seo Jun-Ho swept his gaze across the individuals in the barracks and asked, “I asked the Players who came up here just in case, but none of them could regress. So, let me all of you here. Is there anyone here who can regress?”

“Do you seriously think that one of us can regress?!”

“If that unbelievable ability doesn’t exist, then this situation wouldn’t have unfolded.”

“Exactly. The fact that no one among the werewolves or the humans can regress means…”

“It means that one of the enemies has the ability to regress,” Arnold said with a frown.

He quickly caught on to what Seo Jun-Ho was trying to say.

“Yes, and I think that it is True Vampire Tepes’ ability.”

“That’s ridiculous…”

“H-how are we supposed to defeat him if he can go back in time?”

“Damn it!”

The werewolves vented their anger by slapping the floor and the wall made out of ice. It couldn’t be helped, and they couldn’t be blamed.

The werewolves thought that they could finally reclaim their homeland, but the presence of an enemy with such a powerful ability shattered their hopes.

“Don’t worry…”

“Y-yes… Seo Jun-Ho regressed hundreds of times, right? He’s an expert in the field.”

“What does that even mean?”

“How are we supposed to defeat an enemy who just goes back in time whenever he gets defeated?”

“It’s possible to win,” Seo Jun-Ho answered in a firm voice, “To be honest, I was frustrated when I realized that Tepes could regress, but we still have a huge chance of winning.”

Hearing that, Skaya grinned and turned to look at Seo Jun-Ho with an expression that seemed to be saying ‘I knew you would say that, you idiot!’

Rahamadat blinked and scratched his head. “Huh? How?”

“Let me explain…” Skaya proudly stepped forward and explained, “There is a difference between Seo Jun-Ho’s ability to regress and Tepes’ ability to regress. The biggest difference is the level of the existence that handed over the ability to them.”

Seo Jun-Ho’s ability to regress came from the World Tree, a transcendent being.

However, it seemed that True Vampire Tepes’ ability was innate.

“There’s no way he could have gotten that ability from a transcendent.”

“That’s right. I think he only drank blood that strengthened his ability to regress.”

In other words, there was a difference in level between Seo Jun-Ho’s ability to regress and Tepes’ ability to regress.

Seo Jun-Ho glanced at the time on his Vita and asked, “Chief Arnold, how long was the operation supposed to take?”

“Speed is the key to the operation, so the operation is supposed to end in just two hours.

“That’s it. I think Tepes’ limit is two hours…”

Today’s dawn had to be the checkpoint, which meant that it was the limit of Tepes’ ability.

“And the biggest reason why our chance of winning is huge…” Skaya’s eyes shone brightly as she said, “An audience will no longer be excited about the magician’s trick if the trick has already been revealed.”

Seo Jun-Ho had discovered Tepes’ ability to regress. If Seo Jun-Ho’s assumption was true, then the allies only had one thing to do.

“Let’s start moving once again.”

Seo Jun-Ho stood up.

His message window started flashing once again.

[This is group B-7. As you said, the sewers have collapsed.]

[This is group H-10. There was indeed a bomb in the Vampire’s House.]

“From now on, this will be a battle of brains.”

The winner of this war would be the one who was always one step ahead.

‘And if it’s a battle of brains…’

Seo Jun-Ho slowly turned to someone.

“Hehe.”

‘Skaya Killiland is more dependable than anyone else...’