The Regressor Can Make Them All
Chapter 361

Chapter 361

This is the first time I have ever approached this close, huh.

Before him stood a dazzling white tower, stretching endlessly upward beyond the clouds. Its solitary presence, unaccompanied by any other structures, made it all the more striking.

Se-Hoon gazed at it quietly. Though he had visited the central plaza several times, it was his first time approaching the vicinity of the Tower of Heroes since regressing. Hastening his steps, Se-Hoon arrived closer and closer to the imposing structure until he finally arrived at its entrance.

Hmm. The security system is as robust as expected.

To most, the tower stood alone in an otherwise barren space. Se-Hoon, however, could see distorted pockets of spaces scattered discreetly around—obviously the workings of Ludwig’s spatial magic, designed to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering.

From a glance, the defenses were as strict as those of the Marduk Mansion.

Considering talented students could lose their lives with just one slip-up, I guess this much security is needed.

In the peaceful era, such a level of security was a given. To Se-Hoon, though, it felt somewhat unfamiliar. In his memories, the Towers of Heroes were systematically destroyed by the Harbingers of Destruction during the war, making such regulations lax.

It wasn’t about following procedures back then—it was survival at all costs.

In a world where the powerless were doomed regardless of their efforts, countless individuals climbed the Towers in desperation, just as the first-generation heroes once had. But among them all, only a few returned with immense power.

Yet they all still perished in the end.

Memories flashed through his mind as he recalled the faces of those who had once received equipment from him and marched to the battlefield. Some were likely currently living as ordinary citizens, while others had yet to be born.

The slew of fleeting images stopped Se-Hoon in his tracks, overwhelming him momentarily.

“Tsk... This never gets easier,” he muttered, shaking his head to clear his thoughts.

With the memories now put aside, Se-Hoon strode into the Tower of Heroes, the location he and Ludwig were to meet.

With no visible doors, Se-Hoon walked straight into the entrance hall that was spacious enough for ten grown men to stand side by side.

The interior of the tower unfurled before him, accompanied by a low, resonating hum reverberating through the space.

The interior was devoid of decorations, without even lighting fixtures. Yet there was no challenge to visibility, as a central golden staircase illuminated the surroundings.

It’s been a while...

The spiral staircase ascended endlessly, its golden hue almost glowing. It appeared ornamental at first glance, without only floating steps in place. In truth, however, the staircase was the true gateway in.

“This must be your first time seeing it in person.”

Waiting before the golden staircase, Ludwig gazed upward.

“The Staircase of Ascension, the Golden Spiral, the Path of Heroes... it’s been given many names. Which one do you prefer?”

Se-Hoon gazed at the staircase. Truthfully, the staircase was only for those who couldn’t fully perceive the tower to climb it. Those familiar with the tower usually bypassed it upon entry, so the staircase was seen only by first-timers or those with no intention of climbing.

“I prefer to call it the Hero’s Tomb.”

“...I didn’t expect that answer from you. Did Kwang-Soo teach you that term?”

“I learned it from a book.”

“Ah, I see. Must’ve been an old one.”

The term “Hero’s Tomb” was rarely used anymore, used nowadays only by the first-generation heroes. It originated from the idea that the Tower of Heroes was a graveyard honoring the heroes who risked their lives for humanity but never returned.

“Even though it’s much safer to enter now, casualties still occur. I think the term serves as a sobering reminder, better than a flashy name.”

“Hmm. Yes, you have a point. Many of the heroes today treat it as little more than a training ground.”

“Well, it’s one of those things that one can’t truly understand until they’ve experienced it themselves.”

By the time they did, however, it was often too late. Those who couldn’t overcome the challenges all died within the tower.

Reflecting on the grim reality, Se-Hoon realized he was more moved by Ludwig’s entrance speech during Babel’s opening ceremony than by the popular sentiment branding the Towers of Heroes as humanity’s hope.

What did he say again? “The final trial humanity must face before stepping into a new realm”?

What exactly was the force behind the Towers of Heroes—the Golden Ring—and what was it testing humanity for? Lost in thought as he stared up at the so-called Hero’s Tomb, Se-Hoon came back to his senses when Ludwig clapped his hands lightly, steering the conversation elsewhere.

“Time to get to the main event of today. Are you ready?”

“Ah, yes. Ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Good. Let’s move to the lab, then. Stay focused.”

With a light swipe of his right hand through the air, Ludwig conjured a golden keyhole. The keyhole then rotated ninety degrees and split open, and the moment it did, the empty interior transformed into a completely different place.

“What the...?”

Suddenly finding himself suddenly in a vast, temple-like structure set against an endless expanse of white, Se-Hoon glanced around in startled surprise.

“Come on in,” Ludwig said, gesturing for him to enter.

Following Ludwig, Se-Hoon entered the temple—or rather, the research lab—and very quickly found out why Ludwig had warned him to stay focused.

With just a single step forward, Se-Hoon suddenly found himself outside the entrance. Then, when he blinked, he was hanging upside down from the ceiling. All parts of the structure—including columns, walls, and floors—were shifting rapidly, like scenes in a slideshow.

This isn’t a lab; it’s a labyrinth.

Se-Hoon inadvertently let out a bitter chuckle. He had expected some level of security for the lab of a Perfect One, but what he was currently seeing exceeded all expectations. Even the smallest mistakes in spatial perception, footing, or focus would lead to immediate transportation to another area.

Not wanting to fall into one of Ludwig’s meticulously crafted traps, Se-Hoon heightened all his senses and traced Ludwig’s steps closely.

Then finally, after what felt like ten long minutes compressed into one, they arrived at the inner room of the lab. It was decently spacious, with a large bookshelf acting as a partition. Scattered around were various tools and documents, giving the place an antique charm, much like the furnishings in Ludwig’s office.

“Welcome to my lab.”

“It’s smaller than I expected.”

“It’s just the right size for one person. Let me give you a quick rundown of the essentials.”

Guiding Se-Hoon through the lab, Ludwig began explaining each piece of equipment. The devices, though simple to operate, all had complex purposes and potentially dire side effects.

“This is a Spatial Cross-Editor. It overlaps and edits spaces using Whitespace manipulation. It has to be handled carefully, as it may cause spatial collapses.”

“Spatial collapse...?”

“Think of it like a black hole. Though in your case, you could probably fix it by covering it with a Veil of Whitespace.”

Ludwig casually explained the dangers of the loom-like device. Aside from it, there were other bizarre tools that included scissors that could sever space and a measuring tape that isolated targets. Each and every was as formidable as it was fascinating.

Right. He was a Perfect One after all.

Realizing the significance of the lab he was standing in, Se-Hoon listened intently to every explanation, meticulously observing the equipment. Even the parts Ludwig brushed off could prove fatal to someone who hadn’t yet ascended the Tower of Heroes.

“No need to worry too much. With your skills, you’ll manage everything here just fine.”

“I hope so...”

“You don’t need to be so modest in front of me. Now, let’s move on.”

Leaving behind the equipment, Ludwig led Se-Hoon toward a golden pillar at the back of the lab. The pillar pierced through the ceiling, emitting a radiant light as clear as the midday sun. Aside from that, it looked like an ordinary pillar, but Se-Hoon could tell it was something extraordinary.

This is absurd...

Even a brief attempt to peer inside the pillar revealed an expansive space that kept unfolding infinitely. It was mind-blowing—a space so vast that only words like “limitless” could even begin to describe it properly.

“That’s the Tower of Heroes, isn’t it?”

“Correct. This is a compressed version, allowing it to be seen in the real world.”

Although it looked like a tower externally, the Tower of Heroes lacked a definitive shape since it created unique trials and worlds based on each ascender’s synesthetic mindscape. That was why Ludwig had used his power to compress it into a pillar that could be observed physically.

“I didn’t think you could actually compress the Tower of Heroes...”

“Even if it’s not entirely visible, as long as it exists as a space, it’s possible,” Ludwig remarked calmly. “I think you could manage it as well if you dedicate enough time.”

“How long did it take you to come up with this?”

“Hmm... I think just compressing it took me a good twenty years.”

Se-Hoon couldn’t help but let out a dry chuckle at that. Just the mere thought of doing something that took a Perfect One twenty years to accomplish felt absurd. Frankly, overpowering Ludwig and forcing him to do the work again seemed more realistic.

“So, what exactly am I supposed to do here?”

“I intend to entrust you with the task of restructuring this Tower.”

“Restructuring...”

Although Se-Hoon had somewhat been expecting those words ever since Ludwig mentioned “modifying,” hearing it directly still felt strange. It was a task Se-Hoon had no idea how to even approach, much less believe he was even capable of doing such a thing.

Judging by the setup, I’m supposed to tamper with that pillar somehow.... Is this even possible?

Seeing Se-Hoon’s expression grow more and more uncertain, Ludwig smiled and gestured forward.

“I think it would be faster to show you than to explain. Follow me.”

Approaching the pillar, Ludwig extended his hand toward it, explaining as he went. “What we’re seeing here is, strictly speaking, the skeletal structure. Depending on who enters, flesh is added to this frame, transforming it into a different space."

Swish-

With a wave of Ludwig’s left hand, a portion of the pillar split off, spinning independently.

“While it may look like it changes randomly to reflect the ascender’s synesthetic mindscape, there’s a hidden set of rules at work.”

Click!

The portion split and rotated, then realigning into place. What was once a plain structure transformed into a vividly detailed tower with dozens of floors.

“As long as you don’t tamper with those underlying rules, we can reconfigure the Tower to suit our needs. However...”

Thunk-

At the faint sound of something breaking, the tower’s golden frame flashed and reverted. But the exact point of failure was unclear, leaving both men staring at the restored structure.

Making a wry smile, Ludwig turned to look back at Se-Hoon.

“If you so much as touch it incorrectly, it resets like this. Do you see why I’m asking you to restructure it now?”

Staring at the restored pillar, Se-Hoon nodded.

“Yes. It’s clear that the design is far more important here.”

Modifying the structure to add new functionalities without interfering with the tower’s enigmatic rules was like crafting something out of unfamiliar material without breaking it—a daunting challenge for someone with no prior experience.

“That said... are you sure I can actually do this?”

Even if altering the structure was the primary focus, the process still involved spatial manipulation. There was a real risk of missteps, especially when dealing with such an intricate system.

Ludwig, though, was calm. “At first, I didn’t think you could handle it either. But after I saw that exchange between you and Wurgen, I changed my mind.”

While Ludwig’s own understanding of space surpassed anyone’s, Se-Hoon’s ability to combine and adapt it with the power of other Perfect Ones offered a different kind of approach.

“And you’re the only one in this world who can do that. That’s why, despite the objections I received, I brought you to this lab. Just do whatever you can. That’s all I ask.”

It wasn’t about success—as long as Se-Hoon could uncover even a single clue, that would suffice.

And having confirmed that Ludwig’s expectations were modest, Se-Hoon relaxed.

“Then I’ll do whatever I can, as you said.”

“Thank you. Let’s start with the basics of controlling the frame.”

Launching into an explanation, Ludwig taught Se-Hoon the fundamentals for manipulating the skeletal structure of the Tower of Heroes through the pillar. Thanks to his efforts over the years to stabilize the structure, the control process wasn’t overly complicated.

That was how, within an hour, Se-Hoon mastered the basics.

“That should do it. Now, give it a try.”

“Understood.”

Standing alone before the golden frame, Se-Hoon scrutinized its smooth, gleaming surface.

The immediate priority is... enhancing its connection to the outside world.

Just that would ensure students could ascend the Tower safely. Keeping it in mind, Se-Hoon began his first attempt to manipulate the frame.

Thunk-

Before he could make much progress, though, the Tower reset again. Undeterred, he tried several more times, but there were no tangible results despite the increase in time before each reset.

Hmm... This feels like I’m just digging a hole leading to nowhere.

The approach itself seemed fundamentally flawed. Frustrated, Se-Hoon paused his attempts, mulling over his next steps, until a thought struck him.

Wait, what if I use the power of Boundaries?

If he could isolate parts of the Tower using the power of Boundaries, it might allow him to bypass the influence of the rules. He saw no harm in trying, so Se-Hoon immediately drew a boundary line down the frame.

Boom!

With a thunderous roar, the line exploded and split the frame cleanly in two, straight down the middle.

“...”

“...”

Both men stood stunned at the unexpected outcome, and an awkward silence filled the air. Although Ludwig had told him to try anything, he might have gone a step too far.

It was to the extent that Se-Hoon even began wondering if he had just signed up to be Ludwig’s eternal slave. At that moment, however...

Woong!

The split frame suddenly glowed once more, and each half began restoring itself to its original size. However, the right side of the original underwent an additional transformation—it began darkening from the inside, turning black.

What in the world...?

Unsure of what was happening, Se-Hoon tensed and nervously watched the strange phenomenon unfold.

[The Towers of Heroes have been restructured.]

[Path of Divergence, ‘Unknown Rest’, has been unlocked.]

A sudden notification message he had never seen before, not even before the regression, popped up.

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