The Martial God who Regressed Back to Level 2

Chapter 659:

“Is there any progress?”

In response to Jiang Shang's question, Seong Jihan answered with what he had observed.

“I was monitoring the being remaining on our server. Even though Urd and Id have died, their avatars are still intact.”

“Hmm... So avatars remain even after the main body dies. Those bastards, their lifespans were indeed long.”

“In addition, there's a presence called the Data Administrator... I suspect it might be the Black Administrator.”

“Was the Black Administrator supposed to be the Data Administrator...?”

Stroking his beard and contemplating Seong Jihan's words, Jiang Shang slowly opened his mouth.

“Son-in-law, what are our plans going forward?”

“Plans, huh... First, we need to find a way to control the transcendent being here. I intend to examine the Ark's devices thoroughly.”

“That’s true.”

If there was a way to manipulate the transcendent being through the Ark, Urd would have already done so.

Since that didn’t work, she must have continuously created servers and devised some strategy.

‘Thinking back to when she struggled while watching defiled mixed world... this seems to be the method she was seeking.’

Certainly, seeing Seong Jihan, acting as a ‘normal person’ must have shattered Urd's perspective.

She asked for just one opportunity and found an answer before dying, but she died in frustration.

‘Indeed, what method did Urd intend to overcome the transcendent being with?’

There was room for speculation.

During the last struggle, the 'Isolates' were flying in from all directions.

Urd's goal was probably to absorb their unique abilities.

‘Hmm. If she had absorbed all the Isolates' abilities, she might have had a way to counter the transcendent being.’

However, the Isolates had all disappeared while trying to complete the Clock of Light.

At that time, without the clock being completed, they would have ultimately been devoured by the transcendent being, so nothing could be done.

Still, it felt a bit disappointing now that safety was assured.

“...I wonder if this wasn’t the intention.”

Seong Jihan organized his thoughts and conveyed them to Jiang Shang.

“That’s certainly a plausible theory. Then, how about hearing it directly from her?”

“To hear from her directly?”

“Yes. Isn’t Urd still active on the server? She might not know everything since she’s an avatar, but she should have some information.”

“Hmm...”

Was he suggesting they asked Urd in the server what the main body intended to do?

“That could work, though.”

“Would Urd answer me directly, especially since I killed the main body?”

“If you can extract an answer, that’s enough. Yes... whatever means necessary.”

Jiang Shang gave a cold smile.

Was he suggesting torturing her to extract the answer?

‘Hmmm. It seems Urd is almost immune to pain...’

Urd didn’t even flinch at the level of physical pain.

Getting answers from someone like her wasn’t going to be easy.

“She’s completely transcended physical pain. It’s not easy to think of a way to extract an answer.”

“True. Pain means nothing to her. Instead... how about this method?”

“Do you have a good idea?”

“To imprison her in the Prison of Time.”

“Prison of Time?”

Upon hearing that, Seong Jihan widened his eyes.

Jiang Shang continued his explanation.

“If you reverse her ability—time reversal—she’d be overwhelmed... Even if she’s an avatar, wouldn’t it be desperate? Especially since she knows better than anyone how those imprisoned in the Prison of Time are treated.”

“Hmm...”

“Of course, this assumes that your ability surpasses that of the avatar.”

“That’s something I can’t guarantee.”

Even though he collected and absorbed all the Ark’s clocks, he couldn’t assert that his ‘Time Reversal’ ability was definitively superior to Urd’s avatar.

‘Still, I think the method Jiang Shang suggested would work best on Urd.’

If she was defeated by her own ability and trapped in the ‘Prison of Time’ that eternally replayed painful moments, she wouldn’t be able to hold on.

‘Is there any way to further enhance the time reversal here?’

Seong Jihan continued to examine the Ark's devices.

Not long after,

Ziiing...

A new window appeared before his eyes.

[Advanced Photonic Organ Creation]

He had seen the creation of Photonic organs in Yggdrasil.

However, the one from the Ark’s device came with the modifier ‘Advanced.’

How excellent must it be to be labeled as ‘Advanced’?

‘But it’s quite coincidental. When I mentioned wanting to enhance time reversal, this came up…’

[Automatically matched to the user’s needs. The Ark's device has at least that level of functionality.]

‘It responded to my needs? But why doesn’t anything related to suppressing the transcendent being show up?’

[Does the Ark even have functions like that?]

Seong Jihan nodded at the Red Administrator’s words.

Since he wanted to enhance time reversal, it precisely offered the Advanced Photonic Organs.

‘So, if I absorb the Photonic organs, I can induce random enhancements to time reversal.’

When absorbing them in Yggdrasil, he had to absorb white light within a range that could be covered by the ‘White Light’ stat.

Over the defiled mixed world, there was no need to worry about such limitations.

Seong Jihan activated the organ creation.

Paaaat...!

There was a flash of light from the device, and several spheres of pure white light appeared.

“That’s...”

“Those are Photonic organs. They look pretty much the same despite being called ‘Advanced.’”

“Hmm. The power of light contained within them is intense... You plan to absorb those?”

“Yes. To imprison Urd's avatar in the Prison of Time, we must enhance it as much as possible.”

Seong Jihan said that and held the spheres of light in his hands.

Then,

[Organs inside are evolving.]

[Stat ‘White Light’ has reached 10,000.]

[Photonic is progressing slowly, unable to contain all the power of light.]

[The power of light is being forcibly expanded.]

[Loading list of expandable abilities...]

The ‘White Light’ stat instantly reached 10,000, prompting an acquisition of more abilities.

‘I only absorbed one... there must be a reason it’s advanced.’

Feeling the power of light intensify within him and watching the messages, Seong Jihan,

“Hmm...?”

When the list of abilities appeared, he widened his eyes greatly.

He thought there might be some manifestation with a 5% success rate there, but...

‘...How many is this?’

Hundreds of light-based abilities were listed sequentially.

* * *

['Concealment' - Success Rate 50%]

['Severance' - Success Rate 50%]

['Ignition' - Success Rate 50%]

...

Endlessly countless abilities awaited Seong Jihan’s selection.

They all had a 50% success rate and were waiting for his choice.

‘...Could these be the abilities of the Isolates who attained enlightenment here?’

The Isolates, who became normal humans through Seong Jihan and were absorbed by the transcendent being.

He thought their abilities just oxidized in the air, but he didn’t expect them to emerge as expandable abilities like this.

‘Right now, I need to enhance the time reversal... Where is the manifestation?’

The manifestation, which always had a 5% success rate, ensuring expansion failure.

But now, only 50% abilities were visible, and there was no sign of manifestation at all.

Seong Jihan frowned after searching multiple times but not finding the ability he was looking for.

‘It won’t work. I have to activate the 50% ones at least.’

After all, the light abilities are being forcibly expanded.

Rather than being forced, activating them directly from here would be better.

As Seong Jihan thought that, he began selecting the 50% abilities.

Flashes! Flashes!

Light burst out from various parts of Seong Jihan’s body.

“...Son-in-law. Your body is gradually glowing?”

“The abilities of the Isolates that disappeared earlier are now in a state where they can be enhanced.”

“Oh. So you’re acquiring their abilities as well? Well done. Then, you’ll reach the state Urd was aiming for.”

“That’s true, but...”

Seong Jihan frowned as he observed the light bursting from various parts of his body.

By obtaining abilities like this, eventually his entire body would be composed solely of light.

‘...Something feels off.’

“Is this right?”

Seong Jihan stopped the organ absorption as half of his body had become luminescent.

The initial goal of enhancing time reversal had been achieved to some extent, but his body was rapidly becoming inhuman.

“Emperor. Can you see my face?”

“I can see it. To most humans, it would just feel like they're looking at the sun.”

“...As expected, is that the case?”

Well, if he could keep Server 4212 safe, he could endure his entire body glowing with light without any issues.

‘Although... continuing in this state doesn’t seem right.’

Seong Jihan didn’t dismiss the uneasy feeling.

It was best to stop here.

Having made up his mind, he spoke.

“I need to stop enhancing at this point and meet Urd’s avatar.”

“Hmm. Can we reverse and imprison her in the Prison of Time?”

“Yes.”

“That’s good confidence. Then, how do you plan to meet her?”

“First, let’s check if she’s inside there.”

Seong Jihan looked at the server access device in the center of the Ark.

Then,

Flash...!

Automatically activated, the Observation ability kicked in.

The surface of the access device became transparent, revealing its bright interior.

One of them was completely empty.

In the remaining one,

“Is it just a huge armor... And, it's missing a helmet.”

“Yes. It looks somewhat similar to that of the Black Administrator.”

In the server, the Black Administrator only had the helmet floating around. Is the remaining main body inside this access device?

“What do you think? Should we destroy it right away? Then, I’ll lend a hand too.”

Upon seeing the Black Administrator, perhaps out of excitement, Jiang Shang was fidgeting with his infinite sword.

Seong Jihan gave a bitter smile at that sight.

“Let’s consider that after we go to the server for now. We have things to find out from the Black Administrator as well.”

“Hmm... Understood. But are you planning to go to the server yourself?”

“Yes. I’m thinking of going with the empty access device.”

“What about this?”

When he pointed to the defiled mixed world, Seong Jihan responded as if it was no big deal.

“Since it’s currently in a stabilized state, even if I leave my position, it can be maintained to some extent. But just in case, I’ll leave quickly.”

“I see... Understood. I’ll guard this place.”

When Jiang Shang answered like that, Seong Jihan approached the server access device.

To him,

“...Ah. Also, just in case, please take a moment to say goodbye to your family.”

Jiang Shang said in a calm voice.

“Farewell...?”

“Yes. So that you have nothing to regret.”

Indeed,

Was it possible that connecting to the server this time might be the 'last'?

With a stern face, Seong Jihan nodded.

“...Understood. Let’s do that.”