Surviving without God

[You have died]

[Counting death records]

[28/99]

[Life cycle reset detected]

[Trait: Unique skill “Godslayer” — “Deicide” available]

[Trait: Unique skill “???” — “Reading” available]

Gunther stood in absolute emptiness, stunned. A tingling sensation ran across his entire body from the overwhelming emotional whiplash. It felt as if he had plunged into the deepest pit of hell and then barely managed to claw his way back out.

“The Vanguard of the Dark Night... gave me its divine dignity?”

Then the countless penalties he should have received had instead been converted into rewards? But why? Why would the Vanguard of the Dark Night go so far to help him? Even if Gunther denied his own narrative and was in the process of fading, it still defied logic.

...No, more importantly: what had become of the Vanguard of the Dark Night itself? If regression occurred, would the entity reappear? Based on past experience, that would be the correct assumption, but... for some reason, Gunther had a bad feeling.

Go forward, Gunther. Go and bring an end to this dark night.

Damn it. Gunther grabbed his splitting head and stared at the message that appeared.

[#28 The life of one who hung over the abyss]

[Without realizing it, you were charging at full speed toward the edge of a cliff. However, at the very last moment, a deity who favors you threw you a rope, barely saving your life. Advice: do not expect such luck to happen twice. It is time to accept that not everything in this world proceeds according to your calculations.]

For the first time in a long while, the status window spat out biting criticism. Gunther silently acknowledged it. This time, he had been too careless.

“Karma Judge... Scales of causality...”

...A far more terrifying creditor had set its sights on him than he had anticipated.

“If not for the Vanguard of the Dark Night...”

His chances of clearing the scenario would have been virtually zero. Imagining the horrific future that had nearly befallen him, Gunther lifted his gaze forward again.

[Calculating Karma...]

The most important phase of regression had begun. The amount of Karma earned in this life would completely determine the difficulty of the next cycle.

Ding-dong!

[Karma for the 28th life: 10,111]

[Current Karma: 6,300]

[Accumulated Karma: 17,317]

...For the first time, it had exceeded ten ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) thousand.

Gunther’s eyes widened. Seeing a five-digit Karma value, he felt a slow wave of relief rise from deep within his chest. Of course, considering all the hardships since Valloren, it would be hard to call himself fully satisfied. But it was enough.

Enough to cross the minimum threshold.

The threshold that would allow him to survive the next cycle without the “Karma Judge.”

But at that moment... Gunther received an unexpected benefit.

Ding-dong!

[Accumulated Karma has exceeded 15,000]

[Changes detected in privilege “Partial Co-Regression”]

“Partial Co-Regression.”

This feature, unlocked upon reaching 1,000 accumulated Karma, allowed him to choose one person and preserve their state (stats, skills, affinity) after regression. At first glance, it seemed useful, but in reality, Gunther had rarely used it.

First, regression cycles weren’t long enough for allies’ stats to differ significantly. And more importantly — without memory retention, it was just an empty shell. Calling it “co-regression” was meaningless...

Ding-dong!

[Privilege name “Partial Co-Regression” has been changed to “Co-Regression”]

......?

— You may select one individual to receive the memories of the previous cycle.

— The target may be changed with each regression.

— However, the same individual cannot be selected in two consecutive cycles.

※ Karma Cost: 100 (cost increases with repeated transfers)

...Shock upon shock. A fundamental question arose in his mind.

“...So full regression wasn’t just my unique ability?”

Recalling the Rhombuses’ words that only he was special, Gunther reread the description window carefully. Soon, he realized the trick.

“This isn’t regression.”

The target doesn’t “regress together” with him. They simply receive memories of the previous cycle. It might sound similar, but the difference was absolute. Gunther narrowed his eyes.

“If something like this is possible... what is the true mechanism behind regression? Memory transfer only...”

Doubt grew. But regardless, this ability could provide immense help. Two people carrying knowledge and experience from a previous cycle. That alone would create variables beyond imagination.

“.......”

Even after finishing the calculations, Gunther couldn’t take his eyes off the flickering message.

“Receive memories of the previous cycle...”

Until now, in every life, he had always been alone. Dying dozens of times, starting over dozens of times, carrying the burden of memory alone.

But now, there would be one person to share that weight.

Gunther gave a silent nod.

— Indeed... an excellent privilege.

A massive influx of Karma and a new ability acquired. Now two questions remained. The location of the save point. And the price the Vanguard of the Dark Night had paid by placing its dignity on the scales.

[The value of the dignity offered by the Vanguard of the Dark Night exceeds the target’s current Karma debt]

[Balance inverted]

[...Excess converted into reward]

He had definitely seen that message before dying. But now, no separate notification appeared.

Flash!

Only the blinding light of Return After Death shimmered in the distance. It seemed the Vanguard’s gift could only be verified after regression.

That left one final decision.

Choosing the target for the upgraded “Co-Regression.”

“Who should I choose?”

Scenes from just before his death flashed through his mind.

The rescued Grand Admiral. The divided First and Second Units. Levain preparing to fire. Mikhela hesitating after hearing his plan to release the Judge.

...Who should receive the memories to most effectively overcome the next cycle?

As the light approached, Gunther hesitated for a moment.

Then—

“...Huh?”

A strange, daring idea crossed his mind.

What if he chose that person?

Of course, there was no guarantee. He might waste the chance — and 100 Karma — for nothing. But if it worked...

— ...This makes sense.

The corners of Gunther’s lips lifted faintly. This was a rare opportunity: low risk, absurdly high return.

“Let’s try it.”

Gunther relaxed and looked straight ahead. After all, until now, he hadn’t had this ability at all. So why not shake the board?

[You have selected “■■■” as the target for Co-Regression]

[100 Karma deducted]

Flash!

The light of regression swallowed Gunther.

***

When he opened his eyes, the first thing Gunther did was look around. A lowland stretched beneath his feet. Cold wind stung his cheeks. And in his ears—

Click.

The sound of Levain assembling his rifle. Everything was confirmed.

“...Right before the shot at Verion.”

As expected. Thinking about it, his save points had always been placed in the harshest moments. At the exact point of death, or just before it.

But this time... this cruel placement would become the key to victory.

At that moment, a confused voice rang out beside him.

— H-huh? Why, why did everything suddenly stop? H-hey?

Mikhela’s tail trembled slightly. The Labyrinth, having gone out of control, must have frozen without explanation. But Gunther had no time for her.

Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong!

Because, just as he expected, notifications began pouring in.

Ding-dong!

[A fragment of a shattered deity remains within you]

[Stigma bearer status confirmed. Stigma: “Oath of Night” fully awakened]

Clang—clang!

The sound of chains drowned out everything, making Gunther’s head spin. At the same time, the patterns of fangs and chains on his shoulder rapidly spread across the entire left side of his body.

[You have grasped the essence of “Shadow Step”]

[Shadow Step Lv. 5 (MAX)]

[Chance of absolute evasion greatly increased]

[New legendary skill unlocked]

[“Domain of Night”]

Rank: Legendary

Description: You declare a designated area as a domain of eternal night. Upon activation, light loses its power, and shadows begin to stir. Within this domain, the following effects apply:

— All stealth and evasion stats are greatly increased.

— Enemy senses are severely dulled.

— Probability of mental instability in enemies increases.

— The user may freely move between shadows.

— Distance and duration of “Shadow Step” are greatly increased.

— Within the domain, the user’s speed and reaction improve.

※ This domain is a barrier inheriting part of the authority of the Vanguard of the Dark Night.

A sharp thrill ran down his spine. And it wasn’t just from obtaining a legendary skill — it was the intoxicating rush of everything unfolding exactly as planned.

[It is time to accept that not everything in this world proceeds according to your calculations.]

That was what the status window had said. But it couldn’t be helped. This was the nature of a Regressor. Always calculating. Always reading the game. And in the end — betting everything.

Only that could grant victory against an enemy as overwhelming as Luthien.

“Everything is going exactly according to plan.”

Gunther knew the history of the Vanguard of the Dark Night better than anyone. And that meant he knew exactly what kind of growth would follow after absorbing fragments of its divinity.

Extended teleport range. Increased evasion in darkness. Authority over night that dulled enemy senses and warped their perception. All of it would become his shield.

Tap—tap!

Gunther dashed forward just five seconds after regression began. Levain and Mikhela, stunned, shouted after him.

— M-Mister Gunther?!

— Gunther!

And it was understandable — he was running straight toward the cliff. The height alone was enough to make a normal person’s breath catch. But Gunther, already airborne, had his eyes locked on a single target.

Verion Heinz.

“...Did it work?”

Burning mana, Gunther’s body plummeted downward with explosive acceleration. With Verion’s absurd perception, he should have sensed the threat immediately. And yet, Verion stood frozen in place.

“Of course it did...!”

The next moment, Gunther dove straight down. Levain and Mikhela’s outstretched hands flashed somewhere to the side. He felt bad for frightening them, but he couldn’t stop.

There was no time to explain.

Gunther extended his hand.

[Domain declared: “Night”]

The light vanished. It was already night — but the moment the skill activated, another darkness descended upon the world.

Not even moonlight could pierce it. Starlight was swallowed the moment it touched the boundary. A color that reflected no light. A black abyss that erased all contours.

Gunther suddenly recalled a term from Earth.

Absolute darkness.

A substance that absorbs all light, reducing objects to flat shadows.

Within that abyss, Gunther raised his hand again.

— I offer this as sacrifice.

Normally, such declarations weren’t necessary. But given the scale of the offering, formalities felt appropriate.

Ding-dong!

[You offer 5,000 Karma to the King of Ninety-Nine Defeats]

[The King of Ninety-Nine Defeats gazes upon you]

[The eyes behind the visor slowly open]

[After a brief silence, the King adjusts his grip on his sword]

[The chains binding him loosen]

Why conserve Karma? If he couldn’t defeat Verion here — the vessel of the Cult of Trust’s full power — there would be no next chance.

With this regression, he would conclude Act 2, Chapter 2 — “The Distorted Sea”!

[-----------------]

Further system messages were swallowed by a blinding flash that filled his vision. But Gunther could feel it.

The Stigma of the King of Ninety-Nine Defeats on his right hand — “The One Who Raises His Head” — pulsed and expanded with overwhelming force.

Euphoria. A sense of absolute power.

And below... he saw Verion. He only began moving after Ardel’s frantic shouts, and even then, his movements were sluggish, uncoordinated. Something was wrong. The sharpness and madness Gunther had seen in the previous life were dulled.

Gunther repeated to himself:

“Of course it did.”

[Do you wish to select Verion Heinz as the target for “Co-Regression”?]

A companion dragged into this cycle with him.

None other than Verion Heinz.

That meant the memories of the previous life — of being caught by the incomprehensible Judge and torn apart hundreds, thousands of times, only to be restored and shredded again — all of it had been transferred directly into his mind.

Gunther remembered his first death. The shock of disbelief. The terror that froze his body after a single experience.

But what if hundreds, thousands of deaths were compressed into a single instant?

Could even the most fanatical inquisitor endure that?

Especially within “Night,” where mental debuffs were amplified to their limit?

— Verion Heinz! — Gunther roared.

The answer would come the moment his blade struck.

WOOOOOSH!

The greatsword of despair descended in a straight line.