14 13 – Reversing Time and Maximizing Level!
I finished dinner at 7:30 p.m. I was sitting not far from a campfire and leaning my back on the base of the massive Dragon Hourglass. I was staring at the flickering flame silently.
Right now, I could confidently say that I was the strongest in this world. Hell, I felt confident with my chance if I ever faced Fitoria in a fight. Still, I did not become complacent. So what if I was stronger than Fitoria? I was certain that the World Eater was still stronger than me.
"I can't relax yet. At least, I have to max out my level first. If I recall correctly, Naofumi's level after his ascension into Godhood in the web novel was 999+, and his stats were maxed out at 9,999+. I can truly relax and enjoy this Isekai experience after I maxed out my level. My stats could follow afterward. So, how could I quickly max my level out?" I pondered.
I suddenly remembered the Dragon Hourglass Sand Sword and its unique ability, Time Reversal. I recalled that in the Spin-Off; the Reprise of the Spear Hero, Motoyasu was trapped in an endless time-loop due to that unique ability, yet he kept his progress.
"Time Reversal is triggered by the death of the Holy Heroes. If I reversed the time to my awakening in the summoning chamber, the high-level monsters that I have slaughtered would be alive again. I can farm them for EXP." I squinted my eyes. "Should I test it?"
After careful consideration, I made up my mind. I would kill one of the other Heroes to trigger Time Reversal. I then expanded [Map] and searched for the location of the other Holy Heroes.
"They are staying in the inn in the castle town. Hmmm… Naofumi is together with Bitch, having dinner. Motoyasu and Itsuki are there as well."
I shrunk [Map] and stood up. I then teleported to the forest outside the castle town. After I appeared in the forest, I activated [Stealth] and went to the inn where the other heroes stayed. Under the effect of [Stealth], I was like an invisible man. People did not notice me even though I passed in front of them.
Finally, I arrived at my destination. I entered the inn and was greeted by the crowded bar. I quickly found the other heroes.
(So? Who is going to be the sacrifice?)
I quietly pondered while alternating my attention between the three heroes.
As I guessed, Naofumi was together with Malty. They were having dinner.
Motoyasu was flirting with his gaggle of a harem; those girls were giggling and acting flirty.
Itsuki was looking smug as his sycophant followers stroked his ego.
After a short consideration, I put Naofumi aside. I carefully weighed my choice between Motoyasu and Itsuki.
(You know what? Let's use a coin toss to decide this.)
I took out a silver coin from [Storage].
(Head for Motoyasu, and tail for Itsuki.)
I tossed the coin and grabbed it. When I opened my hand, the tail was facing up.
(Itsuki is it? All right, I'll wait until he returns to his room.)
I, under the effect of [Stealth], stayed in the corner as I waited for Itsuki to go to his room.
Naofumi left first. Motoyasu was next. Finally, Itsuki left to call it night. I carefully followed after Itsuki.
When Itsuki opened the door, I slipped into his room. My coat accidentally touched his body.
It couldn't be helped. The space was small. Still, it was better than bumping him outrightly.
"Huh? What was that?" Itsuki blinked, looked at his feet, and turned his gaze around. He shook his head to regain his composure and then mumbled under his breath, "Maybe just my imagination."
I calmly watched him until he entered the room. He locked the door and went to the bed. He was presenting his defenseless back at me. Since it was like that, I unsheathed the Legendary Sword and beheaded him from behind without hesitation.
His head got separated from his shoulders. Blood splattered, and I carefully dodged it. When I stole a glimpse into his expression, I saw his bewildered expression. He died a painless death. Good for him.
I waited for Time Reversal to get triggered.
A moment later, the world lost all colors. A window popped up on [HUD], displaying four icons; sword, spear, bow, and shield. The bow icon was blinking with a red light.
Then, the world plunged into darkness.
※※※
I opened my eyes and found myself in the summoning chamber. I stood up and checked my surroundings.
(Same chamber, same mages, same Itsuki, Moto...huh?)
I stopped my inner monologue when I saw the spear in Motoyasu's arm. That was not the basic form of the Legendary Spear.
It was the Dragon Hourglass Sand Spear, the variation from absorbing the red sand of the Hourglass of the Dragon Era. Just like the variation of the Legendary Sword in my hand.
(Shit!)
I immediately beheaded Motoyasu before he regained consciousness. This was for my survival.
I did not know which loop this was for Motoyasu. I was afraid if this was his loop in which he killed Ren to check out the mechanism of Time Reversal. Since I was inhabiting Ren's body, I could be murdered by him!
Although he was powerful, his level was only around 350, and his stats were around the stats of level 500. My attack could easily penetrate his defense. What's more, he was still unconscious.
[You have leveled up...]
Killing this version of Motoyasu made my level grow by 4. I finally reached the level 500 mark.
"S-Sword Hero! What have you done?!" One mage shouted, flustered.
Naofumi and Itsuki jolted awake. When they saw the headless Motoyasu, they became dumbfounded before staring at me in fear.
I ignored the commotion.
The world lost all colors as time froze. The pop-up window with the Legendary Weapon icons appeared. This time, the spear icon blinks and flashes red.
Then, the world turned dark.
※※※
I woke up again. I immediately turned my gaze to Motoyasu. I felt relieved when I saw the basic form of the Legendary Spear.
(...it's a pity that I couldn't kill the mobs in the previous loop.)
I sighed and mused silently.
Indeed, it was a pity. I only grew three levels from beheading Motoyasu. If I killed the high-level mobs on this land, my level should have grown more.
I hurried myself to stand. Then, I slaughtered the mages. Thanks to my 4 digits [Speed], I could kill them in an instant. They couldn't even be able to scream.
Afterward, I activated [Stealth] and exited the summoning chamber, leaving the still unconscious heroes and the corpse of the mages. I quickly climbed up the stone step and jumped through the first window in the stone wall.
The wind blew my blue jacket and hair. I'd noticed that my [Black Wyvern Lord Armor Set] had disappeared when I woke up in the previous timeline.
I safely and silently landed on a rooftop. I then went outside the castle town, entering the field. All the while, I expanded and inspected [Map].
(Good! It isn't reset!)
As I stood alone in the field, I made a connection with the dragon vein underground and began spamming [Meteor Shower] at the areas full of high-level mobs.
Although I could connect my magic to the dragon vein when I was in the summoning chamber, having my feet on the ground gave me a better result.
I could see black dots falling from the sky far away. I waited until the dots hit the ground, and then I sensed a vibration in the ground.
Notifications spammed my [Log], but I disregarded it; my focus was on [Map] as I searched for survivors. When I found survivors in the aftermath of [Meteor Shower], I stopped more meteors until there were no survivors.
My level increased to 666.
I went back to the castle and searched for the other heroes. I found them in a corridor; they were arguing with some knights.
"When we woke up, those guys were dead! There was no Sword Hero or whatever besides the three of us! I swear!" Motoyasu spoke to the knights.
I immediately went to behead him.
After the previous loop, I held a grudge for 'Motoyasu Kitamura.' If not because of his alternate version that possessed Dragon Hourglass Sand Spear, I wouldn't waste drops and EXP on the previous timeline.
"Spear Hero!!!"
"What happened?!"
The knights clamored when in their perspective, Motoyasu's head just got detached like that.
Naofumi and Itsuki were dumbfounded.
I just stood not far from them and waited for the Time Reversal to get triggered again. They did not see or sense me due to [Stealth].
What a broken skill...
The pop-up window appeared, the time froze, and then the world turned dark.
※※※
I woke up and repeated the previous run.
This time, my level increased to 776. In the previous timeline, my level grew by 165, but it was only 110 levels now.
It looks like my level up was slowing down as my level got higher.
I found the flustered heroes searching for the knights and beheaded Motoyasu once again. Time Reversal got triggered, and I looped back in time.
I kept repeating the loop and the cheat power-leveling method.
On the fourth loop, my level increased by 74. I was Level 850.
On the fifth level, I was almost killed by Itsuki who equipped Dragon Hourglass Sand Bow and tried to kill me as an experiment. I only leveled up once despite killing Itsuki, whose level was 350+.
On the sixth loop, my level increased by 49. I was Level 900.
On the seventh loop, my level increased by 31. I was Level 931.
On the eighth loop, my level increased by 10. I was Level 941.
On the ninth loop, my level increased by 3. I was Level 944.
On the tenth loop, my level increased by 1. I was Level 945.
After that, it took several loops to increase my level. I went all out and became very dedicated to power-leveling. I wanted to max out my level.
Still, it became a chore; I was so done with it, so on the 49th loop, I began dropping meteors on the other nations. Devastating all capitals in this land finally maxed out my level at 999+.
I also went to what was left from the devastated Q'Ten Lo to get the Sakura Stone of Destiny to unlock Sakura Stone of Destiny Sword. Of course, I immediately strengthened it to the max. I had enough material, after all.
[Sakura Stone of Destiny Sword (AR) (0/500) (Awakened) | unique ability unlocked: Spirit Blessing, Status Chain, Blossom Blaze | equip bonus: Spirit-binding Full Release, Sealing Resistance (Absolute), skill: "Sakura Sphere of Influence"]
After that, I dropped meteors on Melromarc to kill the other Holy Heroes, so I could trigger Time Reversal.
And so, I began a 'New Game+' with Level 999+ on my 50th loop.
