Chapter 1. Regression

A new world was created by a God who wanted to enjoy watching his creations fight to the death with each other to kill his boredom.

If you fight and kill, you will be rewarded.

If you are lazy, you will die.

The god named the eccentric world <Abyss> and began to slowly pour into it the life forms he created.

***

“As I expected, only one of us can return to the past. Should we decide by voting?”

Keldian, one of the four people who were standing near the crystal and who was holding a golden book, muttered as he examined the crystal.

<Erkanian’s Space-Time Crystal>

A divine artifact that is rumored to have mystical powers to send someone back in time.

This was the last hope of humanity, which had entered the Abyss 50 years ago and was now about to perish.

A man holding a huge sword responded,

“I’ll go. The strongest person should go.”

Keldian scoffed at his words.

“Kang Tae, you’re just a lucky guy who became strong through runes and items alone. I’m a better choice.”

Eres, the woman next to him with a platinum crown, intervened,

“Keldian, I acknowledge your intellect, but how many times has it gotten us into trouble with it? I’m more suitable.”

Keldian stared at Eres and laughed.

“Eres, you’re too soft. After all we’ve suffered under your command, you’re not qualified either.”

In the middle of the dispute, the three of them suddenly stopped and looked into the distance.

Huge dragons that flaunted their massive bodies flew at a breakneck speed.

Eres, the woman of the temple where the crystal resides and the true owner of it, opened her mouth with a bitter expression,

“It’s not the time to argue.”

The fact that the dragons were flying here meant that all the death squads sent to buy time had been annihilated.

Now, the four of them were the last survivors of humanity.

The Golden Dragon Tribe was a first-class ruling species even in the vast Abyss.

Under the current circumstances, they alone were no match for such dragons. It had been a struggle just to get to this point.

Eres sighed with a regrettable face, then spoke as she looked at the black-haired man sitting in the corner.

“It may seem unjust and cruel, but there’s no other choice. Hansoo, you’re the one who must return to the past. Everyone agrees, right?”

Keldian made a slightly reluctant face, but soon sighed as well.

However, Kang Tae opened his mouth with a boastful expression,

“Huh. It really can’t be me? I’m confident I’ll do well.”

“…”

“…”

“Alright. Don’t look at me like that. Petty bastards.”

Kang Tae growled with an extremely pitiful face.

Hansoo then let out a sigh, with an exhausted look.

“Can’t I rest now?”
50 years had passed since all humanity was taken to the Abyss and a great war with the species there began.

The human survivors had to fight rigorously every day for 50 years.

Every day.

For 50 straight years.

Just to survive.

‘I’ve fought for too long.’

Hansoo shook his head.

He even had thoughts as if it’s alright to just give up and die like this. However, Eres responded with determination,

“You are the one who must go.”

The four people here, including herself, made it this far because they were the most outstanding of the 7 billion people.

They had confidence to do better if they went back in time, so they wanted to have a second chance.

But deep down, everyone knew it.

Hansoo was the right one for it.

The ruling species of the Abyss were so powerful that there was no absolute guarantee that they could defeat them even if they returned to the past.

However, it was not the same for Hansoo. He had started 20 years later than them and here he was, shoulder to shoulder with them.

If he had unleashed his unique potential earlier, even just five years earlier, the present would be different.

Hansoo looked at the three and said,

“Tell me something. I should at least listen to my friends’ last wishes, right?”

He didn’t care what others said, but how could he ignore their words in this situation?

As Hansoo watched the three with a sorrowful and tired expression, Kang Tae was the first to speak,

“You. If you have the chance to acquire my runes and items, just take them all and use them.”

“Huh? Shouldn’t I give them to your past self?”

Hansoo seemed slightly surprised.

Kang Tae monopolized so many items and runes to the point that he was nicknamed Fate Maker.

In fact, this caused a few internal strife.

“Yes, it’s better that you use them instead of me. If you’re going to do it, do it right..”

Hansoo nodded at those words.

“Eres, what about you?”

“Don’t be too cold with people who come to you just because you consider them a nuisance and take care of them, please.”

“I’ll try.”

“Oh come on, you have a chance to become the hero of humanity. You think how wonderful it would be if you treated others well. Listen to your leader for once.”

“It all depends on the circumstances.”

“Hmph…”

Eres grumbled. Hansoo turned his back on her and asked Keldian lastly,

“Keldian, what do you want me to do? Remember I’m not as smart as you. I also don’t think I can collect all the skills you use.”

Keldian responded with a serious expression,

“Not much. Once you return to the past… eliminate those ‘cockroaches’ who will only be a problem during the great war. And make sure to kill the Mad Monarch. That is my request.”

Hansoo nodded and Keldian smiled in satisfaction.

Keldian then raised his book and began to mumble something.

A bright light shot out from the huge crystal and enveloped Hansoo as he vanished into the light.

‘We’ll finally rest.’

There was a part of them that wanted to return to the past, but there was also another part that wanted to rest.

They didn’t know what their true desire was, so they would rather go than regret it.

Since this was literally the last chance.

But once the decision was made and he left, they realized their true desire.

Rest.

Now they felt relieved, and at the same time they felt sorry for Hansoo.

‘Good luck. We trust you.’

As they watched Hansoo disappear completely, the three of them smiled with a mixture of sadness and comfort. Shortly after, the power unleashed by the Golden Dragons engulfed them from the sky like a tempest.