Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan

Chapter 284

Theo’s breath caught, his throat tightening as though an invisible hand had gripped his neck. The pressure wasn’t unbearable—yet—but with every step closer to the monolith, it intensified.

So there’s no guardian, but they’ve set up this cursed trap?

Theo scowled, his frustration mounting. Yet his irritation wasn’t just from the suffocating atmosphere; it was from the sheer unfairness of the situation.

With a guardian or enemy, there was at least the chance to fight back or evade. But this? There was no opponent, no spell to counter, no battle to be won. It was pure, unrelenting oppression—a trial of endurance against a faceless force.

Is Loddy unaffected?

Glancing at Lodbrok, Theo noted her calm, unperturbed expression as she strode forward with ease, seemingly unaffected by the oppressive environment.

“Why the long face?” Lodbrok asked, tilting her head with mild curiosity.

Nothing. Just check the monolith for anything written on it, Theo transmitted telepathically, unwilling to expend more breath than necessary.

Lodbrok’s expression soured briefly, but she complied, stepping closer to the monolith and carefully examining it. Her sharp gaze swept over the stone’s surface before she turned back to Theo.

“There’s nothing here,” she said, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Nothing?

Theo frowned, his narrowed eyes fixed on the monolith.

There’s no way. They wouldn’t go to all this trouble with these traps and then leave nothing.

The oppressive aura grew stronger as he neared the monolith. It wasn’t just to deter them; it was a clear attempt to stop anyone from reaching it. That alone confirmed there had to be something there.

The system said, ‘A worthy soul has knocked on the door.’

The thought struck Theo suddenly. Could Lodbrok be unqualified? Was that why she didn’t sense the trials or discomfort?

He turned his gaze toward the monolith, mentally measuring the remaining distance.

About six steps.

Taking a deep breath—or as deep as the suffocating air would allow—he steeled himself and stepped forward.

CRACK!

A sharp pain shot through his neck as the pressure redoubled, nearly bringing him to his knees. The sensation wasn’t just uncomfortable; it was maddeningly invasive, like hands tightening around his throat.

But Theo pressed on.

Six steps. Six monumental strides that felt like crossing a mountain range. With each step, the burden grew heavier, his body screaming in protest.

First step.
The air became thick, suffocating him entirely.

Second step.
The weight crushed him, his lungs burning as the remaining air was forced out.

Third step.
His vision blurred, blood vessels bursting in his eyes.

Fourth step.
The world disappeared into darkness, his senses failing one by one.

Why… am I walking?

By the fifth step, Theo’s mind wavered. Every ounce of willpower was focused on simply moving forward, but the overwhelming weight and suffocating void made him question why he was even trying.

Still, he pushed forward, taking the fifth step through sheer inertia. He stopped, just one step away from the monolith, his body trembling as the suffocating weight eased slightly.

“...!”

He became dimly aware of Lodbrok shouting something, but her voice seemed distant, muffled. Theo, as if in a trance, reached out and took the final step.

Thunk.

His hand brushed against the cold surface of the monolith.

FWOOSH!

Suddenly, he was no longer in the oppressive chamber. A vibrant meadow stretched before him, filled with colorful flowers swaying gently in a warm breeze. The golden sunlight and the soft rustle of the wind were soothing, almost hypnotic.

It felt like paradise, an ethereal reprieve from the harsh trials he had endured. For a moment, Theo was tempted to lie down and sleep, to bask in the serenity as if it were his reward for surviving the ordeal.

Then he noticed the figure standing at the center of the meadow.

Who’s that?

It was difficult to determine their gender or identity, but the figure seemed to belong here, seamlessly blending into the dreamlike scenery. Yet as their eyes met, Theo’s heart skipped a beat.

Not human…

The figure’s gaze was otherworldly, their luminous eyes exuding a magnetism that transcended the mortal realm. They radiated an overwhelming purity that felt almost unnatural.

Theo opened his mouth to speak, but the figure raised a single finger to their lips, silencing him with an enigmatic smile. A ring on their hand caught the sunlight, its gemstone flashing brilliantly.

"Shh."

The single syllable resonated like a whisper in Theo’s mind. The figure turned away, and as they did, the idyllic meadow shattered like fragile glass, returning Theo to the harsh, suffocating void.

“Was that…?”

Before he could finish his thought, the aftershock of his journey hit. His body, now back in reality, convulsed violently. The sudden return to normal atmospheric pressure caused excruciating pain, as though his entire body were rebooting.

“Get a hold of yourself!”

Lodbrok’s voice cut through the haze as she pressed her hands to his chest, casting healing magic with an urgency he hadn’t seen before. Her typically composed face was now tense with concern.

“Do you have any idea how close you were to dying?! You touched the monolith and collapsed—what were you thinking?”

Theo sat up slowly, his body still trembling.

“Did… did anything happen after I touched it?”

Lodbrok frowned. “The monolith emitted a brilliant light when you touched it. Did you do something?”

Theo’s hand instinctively went to his right hand, where he felt a sudden, searing pain.

SSSSSS.

The smell of burning flesh filled the air as smoke rose from his hand. Theo hissed in pain as his skin cracked and split, forming what appeared to be a glowing, fiery rune. The symbol etched itself onto his hand, blazing red before finally dimming.

At the same moment, a shadow passed over them. The monolith behind them, now fractured and crumbling, emitted a final burst of light. The beam of energy condensed into a single point before taking shape.

Clink.

The light faded, revealing a crimson ring that fell to the ground with a soft sound. Its gemstone glowed faintly, etched with the same rune that had appeared on Theo’s hand.

[???’s Ring]

• Type: Relic.
• Requirements: None.
• Effect: Information locked.
• Unlock Conditions: ??? must be ???.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen something like this…

Theo examined the cryptic description. The fragmented information was as frustrating as it was intriguing, but one thing was certain—this ring was important.

As he studied it, a vague familiarity tugged at his memory.

I’ve seen this before… somewhere…

Before Theo could pinpoint the memory, a strange voice whispered in his mind.

"Shh."

The whisper erased the thought as quickly as it came, leaving Theo staring blankly at the ring as if seeing it for the first time.

“What now?” Lodbrok asked, glancing at the monolith’s remains.

As if in response, a system prompt appeared:

[Do you wish to exit ‘Mystery’?]

Without a word, Theo nodded. The dark space began to collapse, swirling into itself as his vision inverted.

FWOOOSH!

Theo’s body was flung back into the abyss, plummeting once again in freefall.

***

Within the pitch-black sanctum of the temple, the First Apostle stood silently, gazing at the shattered monolith. He carefully lifted the fragments, his movements uncharacteristically gentle.

The soft clatter of broken stone echoed as he scooped up a handful of the shards, holding them as if they were sacred relics.

GUUUOOO—

The ground beneath his feet trembled, the air around him vibrating with an almost oppressive energy.

CRUMBLE.

The shards in his hand disintegrated into fine dust, scattering into the void. His cold, piercing eyes scanned the area, searching for traces of those responsible.

After a moment of deliberate examination, his gaze fixed on one specific spot in the vast expanse of the temple.

“...The Death Gate, is it? Like vermin slipping through cracks,” he muttered.

The Death Gate—an infamous entrance. The narrow, treacherous path leading into this sanctum was located on a cliff known as the "Broken Ascension." Powerful, unrelenting winds perpetually roared there, making it nearly impossible for anyone to climb. Even placing a hand securely on the surface was a feat in itself.

No one would dare try entering through such a path, he thought.

It was an unthinkable route for any intruder. Most would be dissuaded by the extreme conditions or the lethal traps and enchantments laid along its path. Yet, somehow, someone had not only navigated the impossible terrain but had shattered the sacred monolith and escaped.

The First Apostle’s expression hardened. This temple was hallowed ground—a divine sanctuary for communion with their god. Even entering uninvited was a grave sacrilege. To destroy something within these sacred halls was an unforgivable act.

The punishment for such a transgression will be absolute.

Moreover, the failure wasn’t solely the intruder’s crime. The First Apostle silently chastised himself for not fulfilling the will of his god.

Not long ago, the Nameless Sovereign had foretold this disaster, and in response, the First Apostle had taken precautions. He had pulled the Second Apostle from the depths of ruin, assigning them to guard one of the temple’s more accessible entrances. While not as fortified as the Death Gate, it was far more likely to attract intruders.

The First Apostle himself had remained vigilant at the hidden entrance used by apostles, ensuring its sanctity. Yet it was all in vain. The intruder had chosen the least likely path, defying every expectation and evading every precaution.

Futility, he thought bitterly.

He wasn’t even angry anymore. The failure weighed on him like an empty void, a dull ache of disappointment that even rage couldn’t fill.

“Is this the destined flow of events… or is that wretched fool resisting the divine order?”

He closed his eyes, feeling the colossal current of fate swirling around him. As his thoughts raced, seeking answers, they yielded nothing but uncertainty.

“If this is truly your sacred will,” he murmured, bowing reverently, “then I shall obey.”

The First Apostle rose, his gaze lingering on the ominous path of the Death Gate for a long moment. Then, with deliberate steps, he exited the shattered temple, his presence fading into the void.