Chapter 1: Regression (1)

The sun had set, and the moon had vanished into the darkness, leaving only a black sky above a hill that was covered in countless corpses.

Step, step.

A young man walked amid the mountain of bodies, teetering dangerously.

Death.

Mangled and crushed bodies, spilled guts, and cerebral fluid littered the ground as far as the eye could see.

Ooooong!

At that moment, a ray of starlight shone down upon him, lighting up the darkness.

“Well done, Awakener Lee Shin-Hyuk.”

A woman with silver hair down to her waist slowly descended from the sky. Her dress, made from starlight, fluttered in the air.

The blood-soaked young man called out to the woman—no, the goddess.

“... Vega.”

Vega, the Goddess of Lyra, coldly looked down at him. Among the many constellations that lit up the night sky, she was the most brilliant Celestial.

“You have killed the Heavenly Demon and saved this world.”

She spoke without emotion, seemingly reading words off a piece of paper.

“... Saved?”

Lee Shin-Hyuk’s lips curved into a smile. He then burst into laughter, making his shoulders shake.

“Kekeke.

Did you just say I saved this world?”

Thud!

He violently stomped on the ground. With a cracked voice, he growled, “Cut the bullshit!”

Tears rolled down his cheek.

“I didn’t save this world! Everyone died at the hands of that

monster!

I failed to protect them!”

He fell to the ground and let out a painful cry.

Thud.

“The apostles of the twelve Zodiacs! The Seven Stars! Even those damned Celestials!”

Tens of thousands of Awakeners joined forces. Even the Celestials who had fought and competed with each other every day joined hands just to kill the monster known as the Heavenly Demon, and yet...

“E-Everyone... ended up being devoured...”

He helplessly hung his head.

His mind kept vividly replaying the monster tearing apart their army and single-handedly devouring a Celestial.

“Even so, you managed to slay the Heavenly Demon in the end.”

Gentle apostles, brave warriors, virtuous Celestials, and countless others had to sacrifice themselves during the battle.

“Awakener Lee Shin-Hyuk, you have killed the Heavenly Demon.”

Lee Shin-Hyuk raised his head and blankly stared at the fallen Heavenly Demon, whose heart had been impaled with a spear. Lifeless blue eyes were peeking from behind the white mask covering his face.

Lee Shin-Hyuk nervously gulped, then called out the monster’s name.

“... Heavenly Demon Kwon Oh-Jin.”

Demon of the Sky, Master of the Black Heaven, Vicious Predator. Though he went by many names, he commanded only one emotion.

Fear.

Overwhelming, absolute fear. The very name “Heavenly Demon” terrified this entire world.

It hadn’t always been like this, though. In the past, Kwon Oh-Jin was just an Awakener like Lee Shin-Hyuk, perhaps even weaker.

However, Kwon Oh-Jin had awakened the Black Heaven, a power that could absorb the Stigmas that the Celestials had bestowed upon Awakeners. Using his newfound ability, he consumed an immense number of Stigmas and eventually devoured even the Celestials who owned those Stigmas, covering the hill in their corpses.

The end of this planet called Earth had come.

The goddess spoke once more, her low-pitched voice bringing him back to his senses.

“Awakener Lee Shin-Hyuk, you have killed the Heavenly Demon and saved this world. In accordance with the Star Oath, I shall grant you one wish.”

Lee Shin-Hyuk’s cold eyes began to burn as his dry lips pried open.

“Send me... back to the past.”

Vega’s eyes widened.

“What? You want to regress?”

“That’s right.”

“Do you really want to relive that horrible past all over again?”

Lee Shin-Hyuk gritted his teeth.

“It’ll be different this time.”

He would do everything to turn things around.

“

Hmmm

.”

The goddess squinted at him.

“So you wish to become a Heaven-Defying Star.”

The human before the goddess was essentially asking to become a Regressor, the only being that could go against the fate of the world and rewrite the pages of a story whose ending had already been set in stone.

“The fate of the world is difficult to change.”

“I know.”

“Your new future may become even more painful and hopeless than this.”

“I will change that fate.”

“There will be no more second chances.”

“One is all I need.”

Lee Shin-Hyuk’s eyes burned with intense determination.

“...”

The goddess closed her golden eyes, which seemed to reflect the stars. After a moment of deep contemplation, she looked back at Lee Shin-Hyuk.

“Alright. Following the Star Oath, I will send you back in time.”

Lee Shin-Hyuk clenched his fist tightly.

“One more thing.”

“Only one wish can be granted through the Star Oath.”

“This isn’t a wish. I have a proposal for you, Vega. Give me the Stigma of Lyra.”

The goddess’ golden eyes wavered.

“You know, don’t you? Humans cannot bear my Stigma.”

Just as she said, humans could not withstand receiving the Stigma of Lyra, much less use it, due to how great her power was. Not even the Heavenly Demon could obtain it.

“Even though you’re the hero who killed the Heavenly Demon, you only have one in a thousand chances to live through the process. No, you don’t even have one in ten thousand.”

“If I can’t even handle that risk, then there’s no point in going back to the past,” Lee Shin-Hyuk replied firmly.

Vega closed her eyes once more and fell deep into thought. Afterward, she walked toward him.

“Alright, Heaven-Defying Star. I will bestow you my Stigma.”

She placed her hand on Lee Shin-Hyuk’s shoulder.

“According to the Oath, you will receive it the moment you travel to the past. Once you do, I will come find you myself.”

“You’ll come find me?”

How? If she turns back time, won't her memories disappear as well?

“That’s right. Although only you will remember this world, bearing my Stigma will allow me to confirm that you are a Regressor.”

Her Stigma would essentially let her past self know that he had come from the future.

“If you can survive receiving my Stigma, my past self will make you my apostle.”

“That’s... a little reassuring.”

The stiff corners of Lee Shin-Hyuk’s mouth relaxed.

Although he had said that he felt reassured, in reality, he felt as if his heart was about to explode.

Countless Awakeners longed to become an apostle of Vega, one of the North Stars.

“Then I’ll start chanting the Oath now.”

“Wait.”

Lee Shin-Hyuk turned around and walked toward the Heavenly Demon.

“

Haaa

.”

With a trembling hand, he grabbed the pure white mask covering the Heavenly Demon’s face and pulled it off, revealing the face of a young man with slightly droopy eyes.

“So this is what Kwon Oh-Jin looks like.”

He looked far too meek and gentle for someone who had terrorized the entire world.

“...

Hmm

?” Lee Shin-Hyuk’s brows furrowed slightly. He squinted and examined the Heavenly Demon’s face.

Have I seen him before?

He searched through his cloudy memories, but nothing came to mind.

Well, not like it’s important.

All that mattered now was that he had identified the Heavenly Demon.

Kwon Oh-Jin hadn’t always been this strong.

He only quickly grew powerful when he started using the Black Heaven to consume Stigmas. Before that, when he first appeared in the world, he was just one of the many common Awakeners.

I will return to the past and kill Kwon Oh-Jin.

If Lee Shin-Hyuk could kill Kwon Oh-Jin before he could become the monster known as the Heavenly Demon, then...

I’ll be able to save them.

The things he had lost, the people he couldn’t protect, and the countless regrets he had.

“We don’t have much time left, Awakener Lee Shin-Hyuk.”

Lee Shin-Hyuk nodded and stood up.

I don’t know anything about him other than his face.

Fortunately, he knew where Kwon Oh-Jin had first registered as an Awakener. As long as he knew what Kwon Oh-Jin looked like, he could simply wait there, find him, and kill him.

“Okay. Send me back to the past.”

Lee Shin-Hyuk walked back toward Vega. Afterward, a giant beam of light enveloped him.

Heavenly Demon.

The bastard had taken everything from him.

I will kill you.

Shin-Hyuk fell unconscious.

***

Ah...

Lee Shin-Hyuk felt as if he was floating through the vast sky. Memories of the day that he had lost everything flashed through his mind, including the Heavenly Demon looking up at the bright blue sky with an evil smile.

“The sky is so dark.”

The sun was shining down on them, and not a single cloud was in sight, yet the Heavenly Demon’s question made it seem as though the sun didn’t even exist.

“Don’t you think so?”

The Heavenly Demon

laughed so hard that his shoulders shook. Only then did Lee Shin-Hyuk realize that in the monster’s hand was the decapitated head of his younger brother.

No... W-Woo-Hyuk...

Lee Woo-Hyuk was an Awakener so powerful that a Celestial of the twelve Zodiacs had chosen him. Unlike Lee Shin-Hyuk, his foolish brother, he was also intelligent and wise. Nevertheless, the Heavenly Demon still managed to kill him.

With tears rolling down his face, Lee Shin-Hyuk screamed and pleaded.

“Why?! Why are you doing this to me?!”

The Heavenly Demon smirked brightly and threw Lee Woo-Hyuk’s head at Lee Shin-Hyuk.

“I don’t know.”

The Heavenly Demon’s blue eyes behind the pure white mask darted toward him.

“Maybe if you hadn’t abandoned me there that day, none of this would’ve happened?” said the Heavenly Demon.

Lee Shin-Hyuk burned with anger. Soon, however, an intense wave of pain washed over him, disrupting the floating sensation that he had been feeling.

“

Aaagh!

”

Ring!

[The Stigma of Lyra is being bestowed upon Lee Shin-Hyuk.]

[Lee Shin-Hyuk’s Stigma of Pyxis will be removed.]

[Warning! The Stigma is too powerful. Lee Shin-Hyuk’s body is collapsing!]

[Lee Shin-Hyuk is entering a state of energy deprivation.]

Along with a clear ring, a blue message appeared before his eyes. However, before he could read it, blue sparks blazed through his flesh and burned him, sending incredible pain coursing through him.

“

Aaargh! Keough!

!”

Crackle!

At that moment, he heard a very familiar and unforgettable voice.

“W-What the hell? What’s wrong with him?”

“... Ah.”

What’s going on?

Lee Shin-Hyuk looked up with trembling eyes.

The Heavenly Demon was standing right in front of him, looking no different from the one he had unmasked. There was no doubt about it. After all, he couldn’t and shouldn’t forget his face.

“

Ugh

.”

The moment he saw him alive and breathing, a wave of maddening emotions washed over him.

[Emotional disturbance is intensifying Lee Shin-Hyuk’s energy deprivation!]

Why was the Heavenly Demon right in front of him? Why did he have to find the enemy who had taken everything from him as soon as he returned to the past?

“

Aaargh! Kuuugh!

”

Lee Shin-Hyuk collapsed, his limbs shaking as if he were having a seizure.

Craaack!

He jerked wildly with each flash of blue sparks.

[Lee Shin-Hyuk’s energy deprivation is making the Stigma of Lyra run out of control!]

[Lee Shin-Hyuk’s physique has been completely destroyed.]

Crack! Crack!

Lee Shin-Hyuk, who seemed to be having a seizure, started to twist and turn.

“

Khaaa! Aaaargh!

”

Blood rushed up his throat and gushed down his chin. As he was dying, the goddess’ warning flashed through his mind.

-

You only have one in a thousand chances to live through the process. No, you don’t even have one in ten thousand.

There was a very good explanation for all this.

I guess I couldn’t be that one in a thousand.

A sinking sensation crushed him as his consciousness flickered in and out. He could no longer even feel the agony that shook his flesh.

“Why couldn’t I...”

Lee Shin-Hyuk took his last breath.

***

“What the hell?! What’s wrong with him all of a sudden!”

As Lee Shin-Hyuk collapsed due to a seizure, Kwon Oh-Jin grabbed him by the collar.

“Hey, breathe! Breathe!”

Of course, Lee Shin-Hyuk’s death didn’t really make him sad. Having only met him a few hours earlier, they hadn’t spent enough time together to develop any affection for each other.

However, the problem wasn’t Lee Shin-Hyuk’s death.

“At least kill those monsters first before you die, you bastard!”

A horde of two-star monsters had surrounded them.

The monsters let out a low, beastly cry as they glared at him.

“

Grrr

.”

Kwon Oh-Jin wouldn’t have cared that Lee Shin-Hyuk died during a fight, but his death had left him alone at such a critical moment!

“Damn it! Damn it!”

Kwon Oh-Jin wasn’t an Awakener who could fight monsters.

“Is there anything I can do...?”

Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do. The fate of a powerless commoner like him surrounded by a horde of monsters was pretty obvious.

Still...

He couldn’t allow himself to go down without a fight.

Kwon Oh-Jin searched Lee Shin-Hyuk for anything useful.

“This is...?”

The Stigma on Lee Shin-Hyuk’s left chest caught his eye. Having never seen anything like it before, he instinctively touched it.

Ring!

[Initiating the Black Heaven’s first transformation!]

[The Black Heaven is absorbing the Stigma of Lyra!]

“Huh?”

Black Heaven?

Krrr!

Before he could figure out what it was, black smoke flowed from his fingertips and covered Lee Shin-Hyuk’s Stigma.

“

Agh!

Graaaagh!

”

Crackle!

Blue sparks then surged through the black clouds and enveloped him.

“Shit! This fucking hurts!”

To exaggerate a little, it felt as if his balls were exploding.

“

Gaaaaaa!

”

Kwon Oh-Jin spent some time screaming and twisting in pain.

Ring!

[Kwon Oh-Jin has completely absorbed the Stigma of Lyra.]

[The Stigma is too strong!]

[The power of the Stigma will be adjusted to match the Black Heaven’s transformation.]

A blue message appeared in front of him, and his pain eased.

“

Haa! Haa!

”

After catching his breath, he stood back up. Still in disbelief, he reached out to the blue message in front of him.

This is...

Only Awakeners could see messages like this.

Why can I see this...? Have I Awakened?

Confused, he touched his left chest and felt what one could call the symbol of an Awakener—a Stigma.

This Stigma was just on that guy’s chest...

He narrowed his eyes as he examined the mark with his hand.

Oong!

The air before him cracked open, and a brilliant starlight poured down.

“

Hmm

, I’m sure I felt my Stigma around here somewhere.”

A woman with silver hair as beautiful as the Milky Way emerged from the starlight. After looking around with her sparkling golden eyes, she approached Kwon Oh-Jin.

“You bear my Stigma even though I have never given it to anyone? That means...”

What? What does all this mean?

The woman stared at him for a moment before nodding.

“Heaven-Defying Star. The one who goes against destiny. The savior of a world fated to end...”

What was this woman talking about?

“You must be a Regressor.”

“... What?”

No, he wasn’t.