《Regression Of a Low-Ranking Knight》


 Betrayal

    < Humanity couldn''t defend the world >


    < The destruction of world will now commence >


    As the heavens voice announced that everyone started to panic, they didn''t know what to do in this situation.


    "Did they fail? But how? I was pretty sure that they defeated the dragon lord, then how did it happened?"


    Those thoughts started to swirl around his mind, those thoughts slowly started to consume him as whole.


    As the weight of confusion and despair settled upon him, he couldn''t shake the nagging question: how had humanity failed? He had witnessed the valiant efforts to defeat the dragon lord, seen the sacrifices made by countless brave souls. Yet here he stood, amidst the ruins of a world torn asunder.


    Memories of the battle flashed before his eyes ¨C the clash of swords, the roar of fire, the cries of the wounded. But amidst the chaos, there had been a glimmer of hope, a belief that victory was within reach. So how had it all gone so terribly wrong?


    He paced back and forth, his mind racing with possibilities. Had they underestimated the dragon lord''s power? Had they been betrayed from within? Or perhaps there were forces at play beyond their comprehension, forces that sought to see the world burn.


    As he grappled with these questions, a sense of urgency began to build within him. He couldn''t afford to dwell on the past, not when the future of humanity hung in the balance. With a steely resolve, he vowed to uncover the truth, to seek out those responsible for this cataclysmic failure.


    Drawing his sword, he set out into the desolate landscape, determined to reclaim what had been lost. For though the world may have been destroyed, the spirit of humanity would endure.


    As one of the proud knight from the Lionheart guild, I was ready to fight the minions of dragon lord.


    I charged towards the minions as they used their magic and swords to attack humans around them, me and some of the fellow knights from the Lionheart guild were the first line of defense against the encroaching darkness. We moved as one, our swords and shields not just weapons but symbols of the hope that humanity was not yet defeated. Each clash of metal, each parry and thrust, was our refusal to yield to despair.


    Despite the overwhelming odds, we started make some progress in pushing back the minions. But as low ranking knights our power was not enough to completely push those minions back.


    As my comrades fell one by one, I was the only one remaining. I take my sword and gripped it tightly on my hand then I took an oath. "I swear upon my honor and the memory of those who have fallen, that I will not rest until the darkness that threatens our world is vanquished," I declared, my voice ringing out with determination.


    Then I charged forward and faced the horde of minions before me, their twisted forms a grotesque mockery of life. Though fear gnawed at the edges of my resolve, I pushed it aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.


    The minions surged forward, their weapons gleaming in the dim light, but I held my ground, meeting their onslaught with a fierce determination. Each blow landed with the force of desperation, fueled by the memories of all those who had given their lives in defense of humanity.


    As my battle was going on, I was at a losing end I started to spew blood from mouth. But I wasn''t ready to give up, I muster the last ounce my strength and called upon the power of knights mark.


    Knights mark was the power source of every knights, it was blessed upon us pitiful humans by the heavens voice. Each one has its own set of powers. And there only a few can be chosen by the heavens voice, and those who don''t get chosen have nothing to fight against the dragon lord''s minions.


    But the greedy humans found a way around it, humans created artificial knights mark and supplied it amongst the aspiring young one''s.


    I was also one of those guys, who only got artificial knights mark. My knights mark only increase my strength and speed by 7%.


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    With the last dregs of my strength, I tapped into the artificial Knight''s Mark coursing through my veins. Though it paled in comparison to the true power bestowed by the heavens, it was all I had in this desperate moment.


    As the energy surged through me, I felt a newfound vigor coursing through my limbs, my muscles bulging with enhanced strength and my movements quickening with newfound speed. With a renewed sense of determination, I fought back against the minions with a ferocity born of desperation.


    Each strike landed with increased force, each movement executed with precision and speed. The minions, taken aback by the sudden surge in my abilities, faltered for a moment, allowing me to gain the upper hand.


    But even as I fought, I knew that this artificial power was not enough to sustain me for long. Already, I could feel the strain on my body, the energy draining away with each passing moment. I knew that if I did not end this battle quickly, I would succumb to exhaustion and the minions would overwhelm me.


    With a final, desperate push, I unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one fueled by the last vestiges of my strength. The minions, sensing my weakness, redoubled their efforts, but I refused to yield. With a mighty roar, I struck down the last of my foes, their twisted forms collapsing to the ground in a heap.


    As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded, I collapsed to my knees, my breath coming in ragged gasps. Though victory had been won, it had come at a great cost. My body ached, my vision swam, and I knew that I had pushed myself to the very brink of exhaustion.


    But as I looked upon the battlefield, littered with the bodies of fallen minions, I knew that my sacrifice had not been in vain.


    As I was finally catching my breath, i heard footsteps behind me. I looked back while each bones in my body were breaking.


    As I looked back to who it is, I saw the high ranking knights from other knight orders. They were a group of 12 knights.


    While blood covering my eyes I couldn''t properly see their faces, I only knew who they are from the emblem on their Armor.


    One of the knights started to speak, "Oh there really is an alive one here"


    With great effort, I forced myself to rise to my feet, my muscles protesting with every movement. Despite the pain coursing through my body, I stood tall before the group of high-ranking knights, refusing to show weakness in their presence.


    "What brings you here?" I managed to rasp, my voice hoarse from exertion and the taste of blood lingering in my mouth.


    The lead knight stepped forward, his armor gleaming in the dim light. "We''ve been tracking the movements of the dragon lord''s minions," he explained, his voice grave. "We sensed a disturbance in this area and came to investigate."


    I nodded, understanding dawning on me. "The minions were relentless," I replied, my words punctuated by a cough. "But I managed to hold them off... for now."


    The high-ranking knights exchanged a knowing glance, their expressions grim. "You''ve done well, young knight," the lead knight said, his tone respectful. "But the battle is far from over. The dragon lord''s influence spreads like wildfire, and we must do everything in our power to contain it."


    I clenched my fists, determination burning bright despite the pain. "I won''t stop until the darkness is vanquished," I declared, my voice steady despite the exhaustion threatening to consume me.


    The high-ranking knights nodded in agreement, their resolve matching my own. "Then come with us," the lead knight said, extending a hand. "Together, we will face whatever challenges lie ahead, and we will emerge victorious."


    With a nod of gratitude, I clasped the lead knight''s hand in mine, feeling a surge of camaraderie wash over me. Though the road ahead would be treacherous and fraught with peril, I knew that as long as we stood united, we would have a fighting chance against the darkness that threatened to consume our world.


    At that exact moment I felt something cold inside my body, I looked back to see what was that and found out that a sword has been pushed into my heart.


    With a gasp of shock and pain, I stumbled backward, the cold steel of the sword piercing through my chest. Agony lanced through me, searing through every fiber of my being as I collapsed to the ground, clutching futilely at the blade lodged in my heart.


    As the world began to blur around me, I struggled to make sense of what was happening. Betrayal? In the midst of battle, surrounded by allies, how could this be?


    Through the haze of pain and confusion, I saw the figure of the lead knight standing over me, his expression twisted with malice. "Foolish knight," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "Did you truly believe you could stand against the might of the dragon lord?"


    My breath came in ragged gasps, blood bubbling from my lips as I fought to speak. "Why?" I managed to choke out, my voice barely a whisper.


    The lead knight''s laughter echoed in my ears, mocking and cruel. "Why? Because it is our destiny, our rightful place as servants of the true power in this world," he spat, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism.


    With a final, agonized gasp, I felt the darkness closing in around me, swallowing me whole as the world faded to black. Betrayed, defeated, and alone, I succumbed to the darkness, my last thoughts consumed by the bitter taste of betrayal and the haunting question of how humanity could have failed so utterly in the face of such overwhelming evil.


    As my consciousness started to slip away, I started to think back, "if I was more stronger I could atleast save my comrades, if I was chosen by the heavens voice I could have atleast stop these traitors, if I could get another chance to make things right..."


    But as darkness enveloped me completely, swallowing me whole, my consciousness started to fade away then I saw an image in my mind, a broken thread floating above the endless void of darkness. As I looked at that thread, it slowly started to connect, and a flash of light emerges from it.


    My eyes got blinded by the light that emanating from the thread, then slowly everything become white.


    When I opened my eyes, I was standing with other people, everyone was shouting and screaming in panic.


    I couldn''t believe my eyes, I rubbed it again and again, then I started to pinch my self to make sure I wasn''t dreaming. But the chaos around me remained real, the panicked shouts and frenzied movements of the people confirming that this was indeed happening.


    I looked around, trying to make sense of my surroundings. It seems that I was trapped inside a cube with others like the day when heavens voice send everyone one on the earth to the tutorial world but that was 12 years ago.


    But I was sure that I died after the high ranking knights betrayed me and sold themselves to the dragon lord.


    "Did the heavens voice responded to my final request?" I muttered to myself, my voice barely audible over the cacophony of noise.


    As he pondered over the situation, he clenched his fist to and promised himself that this time he would get chosen by the heavens voice and take revenge on the traitors.


    The atmosphere in the cube was tense, filled with uncertainty and fear. People scrambled around, searching for answers, but none seemed forthcoming. As I observed the chaos unfolding around me, a sense of determination settled within me. If I had indeed been granted a second chance, then I would make the most of it.

 First Mission

    As he stood in the cube he started to reorganize his thoughts, he was hoping to change the events that would happen in the near future.


    As he were thinking about those, a crack opened in the sky and a figure clad in white and gray cloths appears came inside from the crack.


    "Damn spectator, so I''m really back in the past huh" I think that to myself.


    Those who are in a panic saw that and some of them started to pray, they were telling about how the god descent into the earth to save them.


    But none of them knew that these damn spectator is nothing like those gods, he is merely an onlooker send by those who are above hierarchy of universe.


    That being started to talk cryptically, as they heard the voice everyone started to have severe headache, it then smiled and adjusted speaking manner.


    <I''m here to explain about the tutorial world to you>


    As the being, known to me only as a Spectator, began its explanation, the tension in the air grew palpable. Its adjusted speaking manner made the words clearer, but the knowledge it imparted weighed heavily on us all.


    <The realm you now find yourselves in,¡± it began, its voice echoing strangely as if from everywhere and nowhere at once, ¡°is a crucible. Here, you will be tested, challenged beyond the limits of your current understanding. Not all of you will emerge victorious. Indeed, many will fall. But those who prevail will find themselves imbued with strength and abilities far beyond those of ordinary mortals.>


    Its words sent a ripple of murmurings through the crowd. Some faces turned pale, others set in determined lines. The Spectator¡¯s eyes¡ªthough it was hard to tell if it had eyes in the conventional sense¡ªseemed to scan the crowd, as if assessing each individual''s worth.


    < You will face trials,¡± it continued. ¡°Monsters, puzzles, and perhaps the most dangerous of all, the darkness within your own hearts. Greed, envy, fear... these can be just as lethal as the most ferocious beast.>


    I listened, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and resolve. This was my second chance, a redo of the terrifying ordeal that had led to my death and the betrayal by those I had considered allies.


    <As you venture forth,¡± the Spectator¡¯s voice snapped me back to the present, ¡°remember, the choices you make will not only determine your fate but the fate of this world. The power to change the course of history lies within each of you. Choose wisely.>


    <Now to see your attributes say Panel out loud, with the panel you can see your attributes and achievements in this tutorial world. The more you gain the more you get after the tutorial.>


    As everyone was in a state of panic, he was still composed, "Panel? Huh this brings back old memories." He thought to himself.


    "PANEL" he shouted, As he voiced the command, the space before him shimmered, and the Panel materialized with a quiet hum of energy. It hovered in the air, a slate of light and data that seemed both alien and familiar to him. The Panel was crisp, its display clear, showing a detailed list of attributes and potential for growth. It was a direct line to understanding his current capabilities and a map for what he might become.


    [ Name: Azriel


    Class: None


    Level: 1


    Experience: 0/100


    Strength: 10


    Agility: 10


    Stamina: 10


    Endurance: 10


    Achievements: None


    Skills: None ]


    As his panel opened, he heard others shouting the same things as him. As everyone confirmed their panel that spectator waved its hand and another display appears infront of everyone.


    The new display that appeared before everyone was a vast array of weapons, each glowing softly with an inner light that suggested they were no ordinary arms. This arsenal floated before the crowd.


    [ Select Your Weapon for the Tutorial World ]


    The weapons varied widely in shape, size, and apparent purpose. Swords that gleamed with razor-sharp edges, bows with strings that hummed with potential energy, staffs adorned with crystals pulsing with arcane power, and even more exotic weapons that defied easy classification. Each weapon seemed to call to those best suited to wield it, resonating with the very soul of the would-be warrior.


    Azriel scanned the array thoughtfully. His past experience had taught him the importance of choosing the right tool for the job. More than just a matter of preference, this choice would likely set the tone for his entire journey through the tutorial world.


    The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    He remembered the pitfalls and challenges he''d faced previously, the encounters that had cost him dearly. With that hard-earned wisdom guiding him, he reached out towards a weapon that was like his soul in the previous life, a sleek double-edged sword.


    He selected that sword and swing it, feeling the weight of it in his hand, the balance just right. The sword hummed with a faint energy, resonating with his own inner strength. As he gripped it firmly, a sense of determination washed over him, steeling his resolve for the trials ahead.


    With his weapon chosen, Azriel turned his attention back to others, everyone was choosing their weapons in hurry.


    After everyone chose their weapons the spectator once again spoke, <May the weapons you chose serve you well in the challenges to come.>


    As the Spectator finished talking, the crack in the sky began to close, the figure clad in white and gray slowly fading from view.


    Everyone was even more panicked in this situation, some guys take advantage of this and try to become the leader of the group.


    while others huddled together, seeking solace in numbers. Azriel watched the chaos unfold with a mixture of apprehension and determination. He knew that in this new world, alliances would be crucial, but he also understood the dangers of blindly following a self-appointed leader.


    Moreover he knew that if he blindly trust anyone he will be backstabbed by them like his previous life.


    As chaos unfolded, a giant screen appeared on the sky, Azriel looked at it and said while smiling. "if my memories were right the first mission would be to survive against the Tier one monster hoard."


    As Azriel was thinking about that the transparent screen on the sky was filled with the mission details, to confirm if his memories were right he looked at it again.


    [ Mission: Survive Against the Monster Hoard


    Objective: Withstand the relentless onslaught of the monsters and emerge victorious or escape to the safe zone.


    Time Limit: 8 hours


    Rewards: Successful completion of the mission will grant valuable experience points. ]


    As he confirmed the mission matching to his memory he decided to make this first mission worthwhile.


    *Creak.....Creak*, with a creaking notice the barriers of the cube began to tremble, causing a fresh wave of panic to sweep through the crowd. Some participants screamed in terror, while others clutched their weapons tightly, their knuckles turning white with fear.


    Azriel felt the adrenaline surge through his veins, his senses sharpening as he prepared for the imminent onslaught. He knew that the Tier One Monster Hoard would test their strength, their courage,


    As the barriers of the cube began to crumble, Azriel took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come. He glanced around at his fellow participants, seeing the fear and uncertainty reflected in their eyes.


    As the barriers lifted, he quickly ran out from the cube, he looked back and saw many people were still planning to stay at that place thinking that it might be the safe zone.


    As he ran to the forest he saw a humanoid figure with Ash blue colour skin coming towards him while holding a wooden mace, he quickly knew what kind of monster was that.


    It was a Grulock, a Tier One monster known for its brute strength and relatively simple attack patterns. Despite its basic tactics, a Grulock could easily overwhelm the unprepared or the unwary with sheer physical power.


    Azriel''s heart raced as the Grulock spotted him and let out a guttural roar, charging towards him with surprising speed for its size. He tightened his grip on his double-edged sword, recalling every detail from his previous encounter with such a creature.


    He remembered the key to defeating a Grulock was agility and precision. Brute force alone wouldn''t be enough; he needed to outmaneuver it and strike at its vulnerabilities.


    As the Grulock swung its massive wooden mace, Azriel darted to the side, avoiding the blow by mere inches. He could feel the rush of air as the weapon passed, a reminder of the narrow margin for error.


    He countered, slashing at the Grulock''s arm, aiming for the tendons to impair its ability to wield the mace effectively. The sword cut through the creature''s thick skin, leaving a deep wound. The Grulock howled in pain and rage, swinging wildly in its agony.


    Azriel didn''t give it a chance to recover. He moved behind it, avoiding another clumsy swing of its mace, and struck again, this time targeting the back of its knees to hamper its mobility. With the Grulock now slowed, he could see the fear in its eyes a wild, animalistic fear of death.


    Taking advantage of its reduced mobility and distracted state, Azriel delivered a final, decisive blow to the nape of its neck, severing its spinal cord. The Grulock collapsed, lifeless, to the ground.


    Breathing heavily, Azriel stood over the creature, his heart still pounding in his chest.


    As he panted after finishing of grulock he recieved experience points for defeating it and was halfway through the Level 2.


    As he was resting he remembered how powerless is he right now, he didn''t want only to survive and face the traitors and dragon lord without anything, he wanted to obtain knights mark this time. Then he heard a Wolf''s howling and cries coming from the direction of the cube.


    He looked back and then decided to venture further into the forest, he was hoping to reach a higher level quickly as possible.


    As he moved cautiously through the forest, Azriel kept his senses alert for any signs of danger or opportunity. He remembered from his previous life that certain areas of the forest were home to creatures with valuable experience points. Defeating these creatures could expedite his leveling up, getting him closer to obtaining the Knight''s Mark.


    Suddenly, a rustling to his left caught his attention. Azriel tensed, readying his sword as he turned to face the new threat. Out of the shadows emerged a pack of Dire Wolves, their eyes glowing with a menacing light. He knew these creatures were more formidable than the Grulock, working together with terrifying efficiency to take down their prey.


    Azriel¡¯s mind raced as he assessed his situation. Fighting a pack would be risky; even with his skills, the odds were against him. He needed a strategy that could thin their numbers quickly or dissuade them from attacking.


    He remembered a trick that one of his allies in the previous life told him about how to deal with a Wolf''s pack or any enemies with numbers.


    Azriel recalled the strategy, isolating and dealing with enemies one by one, using the environment to his advantage, and exploiting any weaknesses in the pack''s coordination. Dire Wolves, though fierce, relied heavily on pack tactics. Disrupting their coordination could throw them into disarray, providing opportunities for him to strike.


    With this plan in mind, Azriel began to move, positioning himself so that the trees and terrain would funnel the wolves into approaching him one or two at a time, rather than all at once. He used his agility to dodge the first few lunges, leading the wolves into a narrow passage between two large trees where their numbers wouldn''t give them an advantage.


    As the first Dire Wolf leapt towards him in the confined space, Azriel met it with his sword, the blade slicing through the air and finding its mark. The wolf yelped in pain and fell, momentarily blocking the path for the others. Azriel didn''t pause, immediately turning to face the next wolf.


    He kept moving, always aware of his surroundings, using the terrain to his advantage. Whenever possible, he struck at the wolves'' legs to impair their movement or aimed for more lethal blows if he found an opening. Slowly but surely, the pack''s numbers began to dwindle.


    As the fight went on, Azriel found himself relying on more than just his physical skills; he was tapping into the strategic mindset he''d honed in his past life. He predicted the wolves'' movements, dodged with minimal effort, and struck with precision. The fight was a brutal dance, and Azriel was leading.


    Finally, as the last of the Dire Wolves lay defeated, Azriel took a moment to catch his breath, surveying the aftermath. His strategy had worked. He was tired, yes, and he had sustained a few minor injuries, but he was alive. More importantly, he had gained a significant amount of experience from the encounter.


    As he checked his Panel, he saw his experience points had increased dramatically, bringing him close to reaching Level 4.


    Even though his increased stats, he was still tired the sword was heavy and he felt like the exhaustion is catching upto him, his eyes started to close automatically. Yet he was struggling to be stay up.


    He didn''t have the years worth of physical strength anymore, so he needed to be stronger to catch up to his previous self more likely to surpass his previous self.