Bloodhound's Regression Instinct-Chapter 229
Chapter 229
Rumble!
The combined power of a hundred Yans was truly formidable.
“...I didn’t think it would actually work.”
A strange phenomenon was occurring where the Dragon Fang had struck. A hole, like a shattered window in midair, had formed, and immense mana was swirling within it. Even without knowledge of this space, it was clear that the mysterious hole connected to the outside world. This realization applied not only to Yan, who cast the Dragon Fang, but also to the ninety-nine Yans who supported him with their mana.
Whiiiiish!
“...”
“...”
The only sound that filled the hall was the eerie whistling of wind escaping from the unknown hole. The silence was broken by the Yan who had split the space.
Thud!
“Ugh! Cough, cough!”
He collapsed to the ground, vomiting blood. The other Yans’ gazes darkened as they watched.
“I never thought someone just like me would step up and do something like this.”
“Exactly. If you’re a Yan, shouldn’t you be securing results or clues from behind the scenes?”
The surrounding Yans clicked their tongues in agreement. Observing, planning, and executing—that was the most efficient and least harmful method known to Yan. Stepping forward without knowing anything would only result in benefiting others, just like the one lying there. The Yans scoffed at the fallen Yan and shifted the topic.
The space had been breached, so it was time to move on to the next stage.
“...So, what do we do now?”
“Hmm, no matter how you look at it, only one person can go through that hole.”
The hole they had created together was already absorbing the surrounding mana to repair itself. If it continued to close...
“The time limit is thirty... no, five minutes?”
They had only five minutes to escape. And they instinctively knew that only one person could pass through that hole. For some reason, they were certain of it.
‘I’m the real one. I can’t let the fakes escape.’
‘If it’s not me, no one will achieve the goal.’
‘I have too much to do. I can’t be held back here.’
Everyone believed they were the real one, so there was no room for compromise.
Shing. Shing.
Clench.
Without a word, the Yans all took the same action. They drew their Ascalons from their waists or gripped the daggers strapped to their backs. frёeωebɳovel.com
Saaa!
A chilling killing intent filled the hall. They glared at each other, gradually raising their auras. They had all given their all to break the space, so they were equally low on mana. It was a very fair fight. Their skills, mindsets, mana, and weapons were all identical. With a time limit in place, they couldn’t just observe the situation like before; they had to fight for their lives.
The killing intents of the Yans intertwined and expanded. Despite this, their expressions remained cold and determined. They were resolved to find and exploit any opening to kill their opponent. Some Yans gripped their Ascalons and scanned their surroundings, while others searched for targets to throw their daggers at.
As the suffocating silence settled, a painful laugh broke through.
“Heh, heh.”
The Yans’ gazes turned to the source of the laughter. It was the fallen Yan. The Yans frowned at him.
“Has he gone mad?”
“He stepped up for no reason and is about to disappear; of course, he’d go mad.”
As the Yans looked at him with cynical faces, he struggled to his feet and looked around.
“Idiots.”
The sudden insult made the Yans furrow their brows. But his next words made their faces harden.
“Only one person needs to get out of here. Why fight and risk not making it out at all?”
“What?”
“All the Yans here have the same memories, experiences, and power. So what are you afraid of?”
His words struck a chord with the Yans. As he said, everyone here was the same. There was nothing different about them.
“So, whoever gets out, it doesn’t matter. Everything will be the same. Hey, you.”
Yan called out to another Yan who was looking at him with a stern expression.
“Speak.”
“What’s your goal?”
“To take down the leader and eliminate any other threats to ensure the safety of my father and those around me.”
“And you?”
Yan pointed to another Yan.
“Ultimately, to dethrone the emperor...”
“And after that?”
“To rest peacefully.”
The words were different, but the goal was the same.
“See? It doesn’t matter who gets out. So what are you afraid of?”
At that moment, one of the Yans stepped forward with a stern expression.
He asked in a rigid voice, “So, you don’t mind dying as a fake?”
“Pfft!”
“...?”
“Ah, sorry. I didn’t think I’d ever consider that.”
Yan, who had burst into laughter, straightened his back and smiled at the one questioning him.
“I don’t care about that. I just bet my life on the method with the highest probability of success. That’s how I’ve always lived.”
The one who asked the question frowned in frustration.
“Sacrificing yourself for someone else?”
“Sacrifice? No, it’s just choosing the option with the highest probability.”
“Can you prove it?”
“Prove it?”
Yan spread his arms wide. The other Yans’ gazes darkened, understanding the meaning behind the gesture.
“Fine, let’s see if you’re all talk or if you really mean it.”
The questioning Yan kicked off the ground.
Thud!
Even as he flew, he didn’t hide his aura. The killing intent of a third-rank superhuman poured towards the open-armed Yan.
“...”
Yan remained motionless, exposed to the fierce killing intent. His gaze was fixed solely on the approaching Yan and the dagger in his hand.
Zzzzt!
The dagger, imbued with energy, reached Yan’s vicinity in no time. The attacker seemed to ask with his eyes:
-You can dodge and live, but if you stick to your useless resolve, you’ll die.
“Huff.”
Yan took a deep breath, staring at the approaching death. He could dodge and survive, but...
‘That would be meaningless.’
If everyone started claiming to be Yan, there would be no answer. No one would be able to leave this space. To gain something, you must give up something. Yan truly believed this. The only thing to give up here was oneself. Thus, by abandoning the self (自), one gains the I (我). This body would disappear, but Yan would continue towards his goal, reaching the desired conclusion.
Yes, this was truly the most Yan-like thing to do.
Flash!
As light burst from Yan’s eyes...
Stop!
The body of the attacking Yan, holding the energy-infused dagger, halted. The dagger, which seemed ready to tear through his throat, only managed to slightly graze his skin.
Drip.
Blood trickled from the wound near his neck, dripping down. The injured Yan frowned.
“What are you doing?”
He spoke as if it was nothing, but it was an action taken with immense resolve. Yet, this seemed like a mere joke!
He was genuinely angry.
“If we continue like this, we’ll all die! Don’t you understand what that means?”
Was he afraid of killing someone with the same face? But then, seeing the faces of the other Yans, he realized he was wrong.
“...You’re the one who should go.”
The Yan who had attacked retrieved his dagger and smiled slightly. The other Yans also looked at him with calm eyes.
“Yes, you need that kind of resolve to overcome the challenges ahead.”
“When you get out, make sure to achieve it.”
“Our dream, no, our goal.”
At that moment, the bodies of the Yans began to turn into golden dust, which flew towards Yan.
Whoosh.
The dust touched his skin, glowing as it was absorbed. Yan’s battered body began to heal. The torn blood vessels from the earlier Dragon Fang attack started to mend, and his wounds closed.
“Take care of Father.”
The Yan standing in front of him also smiled bitterly. Soon, he too turned into golden dust and was absorbed into Yan’s body.
Yan stood there, stunned by the unexpected turn of events. He had resolved to die, but now he was the one to leave. And this overwhelming power coursing through his body...
‘Have I... surpassed the wall?’
Besides the mana given by his other selves, he felt a new strength. It seemed he had gained an understanding of the self (自我) and crossed the previously unseen barrier. Or rather, he was on the verge of it. He had grasped a clue about the ‘domain,’ but hadn’t fully comprehended it.
Yan looked at his now-healed hands. Unlike before, when they were in tatters, new flesh had completely grown.
“Heh.”
No matter what, I will reach my goal.
With that thought, Yan lifted his head. The hole had shrunk to barely allow one person to pass.
Thud!
He kicked off the ground and leaped towards the hole.
* * *
Swish.
Yan closed his eyes against the blinding light as he emerged from the hole. When he finally adjusted and opened them again, he saw a scene identical to the one he had just left. There was only one difference: the ground beneath his feet was covered in strange symbols. These symbols glowed with a white light, which was now gradually fading.
Yan realized that these symbols had caused the phenomenon he had just experienced.
“So, this is celestial script (天文).”
To think that something impossible for most magic or illusion arrays could be achieved with mere symbols. It was a technique worth coveting.
Just then...
Step, step.
“...What trick did you use?”
Aquinas approached with a twisted expression. Yan tore his gaze away from the celestial script and looked at Aquinas, whose face was set in a grimace, as if he had been insulted.
Aquinas glared at Yan, who remained silent, and shouted, “How did a mere human pass the ‘trial’?!”
