Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

The black line cutting across the white neck was undeniably crafted by human hands. Yet, it showed no signs of disturbance or imperfection. It was as if it had been refined through countless repetitions like a master artisan’s work.

To the observers, it appeared as a finished fight. No, more than that, they expected a fountain of blood to spurt from the neck at any moment, making everyone pale with dread.

But,

“Ho.”

“Oh my.”

Among the spectators of this duel, only Shimun and Yujeong had their eyes sparkling with interest.

“My goodness!”

Olivia was the only one who reacted normally.

“We must, immediately treat… huh?”

However, her shock quickly dissipated. The reason for that was simple.

Clang.

The sound of metal scraping against metal emanated from Go Malsuk’s neck. Precisely, from the black line running across her neck. Upon hearing that sound, Park Jinwook immediately thrust his dagger, intending to follow up with consecutive attacks.

Shwaa!

“Tsk.”

He clicked his tongue shortly and then, Kicked off the ground, somersaulting backward with graceful movements, he retreated.

Tap.

Then, he let out a chuckle of disbelief. It wasn’t surprising.

“Well, damn…”

“Defensive Aura… Malsuk, didn’t you just recently reach Diamond rank?”

Defensive Aura, a technique utilizing the tangible form of inner energy, was particularly challenging. Unlike focusing aura on weapons, it required enveloping the defense point directly with the aura, making it one of the more difficult techniques of energy manipulation.

‘She precisely blocked the attack point with aura.’

Blocking the attack point so precisely with aura wasn’t an ordinary feat. Especially, considering it was an SSS-Rank trait, Night’s Blessing, used for a surprise attack.

Exhibiting such control over aura in that situation was almost a talent. A faint trace of frustration appeared in Park Jinwook’s eyes.

‘Considering just the attributes, this is a disadvantageous fight for me, so I tried to overpower her early on…’

Combat factions and assassination factions. A match-up notoriously disadvantageous to the assassination faction. Hence, he intended to deliver a severe blow and lower her morale right at the start.

‘I completely messed it up.’

He had not only failed but also heightened his opponent’s guard. However, despite his frustrated internal thoughts, “Malsuk, you… you’re pretty good.”

Park Jinwook responded as naturally as he could manage. The only saving grace was.

“Hmph! You muscle-head, I almost thought my neck was gone.”

Go Malsuk, oblivious to Park Jinwook’s true feelings, responded nonchalantly.

“You weren’t seriously trying to kill me, right?”

Rubbing his nose, she flashed a simple smile.

‘Simple-minded. Yeah, that’s more like Malsuk.’

Park Jinwook sighed in slight relief.

“Hmm, I was half-serious.”

“What? You crazy maniac! Is your brain made of muscle too?! This is just sparring!”

“I know, and you told me to go all out.”

“Regardless…! Ah, screw it! I’m going to use my kill moves now, got it?”

“Go ahead.”

Provoking Go Malsuk’s temper skillfully,

“Then I’ll go all out. Be careful.”

Hiss.

The SSS-Rank trait, Night’s Blessing.

Park Jinwook immediately cloaked himself in it, slipping into stealth mode.

“Damn it.”

Go Malsuk cursed briefly and clenched her fists. She looked at the window on the wall, specifically at the evening sunset tinted purple outside.

‘Why did it have to be at a time that suits him perfectly…?’

True to its name, Night’s Blessing’s power exponentially increased as it got closer to night. Therefore, the twilight hours were naturally advantageous for Park Jinwook.

Moreover, ‘The sun is just starting to set. As time passes, that muscle-head will only get stronger.’

It wasn’t quite night; it was ‘evening’.

If he maintained stealth and simply kept up light harassment, dragging out the time, it was a setup that could only benefit Park Jinwook.

As expected from a named assassin who had been a top-rank Diamond rank for many years, Park Jinwook would undoubtedly know this fact.

Sure enough.

Whiz.

At the sharp sound of air being pierced, Go Malsuk immediately dodged sideways and threw her enchanted fists forward.

Clang.

A short, intense metallic sound resonated.

Throwing knives.

Then,

Whiz whiz.

Sharp sounds of piercing air followed as more throwing knives flew at her.

Skillfully, the knives came from multiple angles, each aiming for a vital point, and flew with precise timing like a well-tuned machine.

“Dammit!”

Realizing she couldn’t block them all, Go Malsuk used:

Heavenly Demon Divine Art (天魔神功).

Heavenly Demon Supreme Step (天魔君臨步) Suppression (抑制).

Boom!

She stomped heavily, scattering the suppressing force of Heavenly Demon Constellation Step in all directions.

Despite their menacing trajectory, the throwing knives easily crashed to the ground.

Snap snap!

However, Go Malsuk’s face didn’t lighten up.

Obviously, ‘I can’t afford to exhaust my demonic energy already…’

Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

Being the martial art of the Heavenly Demon, a divine-king-class Constellation, its depth and power were significant. However, it had the downside of consuming a lot of demonic energy.

Therefore, unless the situation was certain, it was best not to recklessly use the techniques and steps included in Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

Did he know this due to having lived together in the same guild for so long?

Whiz whiz!

Park Jinwook continuously hurled throwing knives and the aura of night at her, frustratingly, without even using much aura, giving away no hint of his presence.

“Damn! That muscle-bound freak!”

Go Malsuk finally erupted. She refrained from using the techniques of Heavenly Demon Divine Art but,

“Are you not coming out?!”

Boom!

She scattered demonic energy all around, desperately trying to find any clue of his hidden location. But, Jinwook persistently adhered to his mechanical attack pattern.

Whizz!

Stuck in such a battle of attrition, the defensive side inevitably became disadvantaged.

“Aaah!”

As more minor wounds accumulated on Go Malsuk’s body, she screamed,

“Damn it! This is the worst sparring ever!”

She ranted angrily, veins bulging in her neck, but that was it.

“Oh. Thanks for the compliment.”

The response was Park Jinwook’s voice hidden within the aura of night. At his infuriating reply,

“Argh!”

She looked like she was about to explode, channeling demonic energy through her entire body and emanating it in all directions.

But that was it.

‘Damn! I can’t get carried away.’

Despite her boiling emotions, she held onto her rationality, keeping her senses as heightened as possible and staying wary of the dark aura enveloping her like the night sky.

‘Even though time is on his side, if I move recklessly, I’ll ultimately lose.’

Night Hunter Park Jinwook.

He was of a different caliber compared to the other Diamonds she had faced. Not only was he among the top-rank of the top Diamonds, but he was also a named assassin.

While previous friendly sparring matches made it clear, ‘Objectively, he surpasses me in all aspects—specs, experience, you name it.’

Knowing Park Jinwook’s capabilities well, Go Malsuk bit her lip.

‘The only thing I can possibly outdo him in is a head-on fight.’

Therefore, ‘I need to push for a direct confrontation.’

She didn’t entertain doubts about how. With her experience in battle, as a player, and the senses to see through that damnable stealth, she had a way to break through it all at once.

However, ‘Damn, I really don’t want to go through that pain…’

The method to harness that power was incredibly grueling.

Eventually,

“Hah.”

She let out a small scoff. She glanced off to the distant, yet clearly visible audience stands, where one man caught her eye.

‘Damn. Have I really gotten soft living comfortably?’

Recalling what that man had provided for her over time. Experience buffs worth billions, yet in high demand, invaluable gear support, and stat-enhancement elixirs that couldn’t be bought even with money.

That wasn’t all.

She had met some of the top-ranked players in South Korea.

Although their relationships might have been somewhat strained, he also had the backing of an invincible association president with political connections.

And as is the case in any country, but especially in South Korea, these relationships subtly bolstered her status. Go Malsuk was acutely aware of this effect in real life.

‘From struggling as a Silver Troll to this… life has gotten better.’

She had enjoyed privileges far beyond what an ordinary player could ever dream of.

Therefore, ‘Even if I have nothing, I’ll exhaust myself physically if I have to.’

She couldn’t just keep receiving without giving back. That’s why, even after just reaching Diamond rank, she had so eagerly appealed to Shimun and now faced Park Jinwook.

‘I may lack money, but I don’t lack pride, damn it.’

If she wanted, she could have easily risen to prominence as a promising member of a major guild. Had she forgotten all those things instilled in her since childhood, and discarded even this shred of pride?

But she hadn’t. Whether it was misplaced pride or just plain stubbornness, she couldn’t say for sure.

But one thing was clear:

‘I can’t live indebted.’

If she gave, she gave. She could never just live by taking.

That was, “I am Go Malsuk!!”

The driving force behind the existence known as Go Malsuk till now.

Thus,

Crack!

“Wh-what!?”

This body of hers.

No.

Even if it was the only body she had, she had to exhaust it to its fullest extent.

“Malsuk, have you lost your mind! Why are you self-harming out of the blue!”

Only by doing so could she live as her true self.

The moment she realized that, From the chest she had pierced with her own hand,

“Aaaaaargh!!”

Something indescribable surged along with the pain.

『You are deeply synchronizing with the SSS-Rank trait, Heaven-Slaying Star.』

『The activation conditions of the SSS-Rank trait, Heaven-Slaying Star, will be improved moving forward.』

Messages she could barely read appeared.

Fwaaah!

Her world turned crimson.

***

Thud!

Shimun sprang up from his seat. He wasn’t the only one.

“Malsuk!”

“Oh my!”

Even Yujeong and Olivia, who were beside him, rose to their feet with startled eyes. It wasn’t just because Go Malsuk had thrust her hand into her own chest during the sparring.

Of course, the initial shock had begun with her startling act of self-harm. But the current astonishment was for an entirely different reason.

“What is this aura…?”

Even Ranker Yujeong felt the hairs on her skin stand on end from the intensely overwhelming aura.

No, calling it intense didn’t fully capture it. The aura was so vividly crimson, as if blood had vaporized into essence, filling the entire sparring ground.

Amazingly, sizzle!

The dark shroud of night energy that had earlier enveloped the arena began to be devoured, as if another presence was claiming its territory.

Naturally, Shimun, who had memories of his past life, knew well what this was.

‘The Heaven-Slaying Star activating properly already…’

The SSS-Rank trait, Heaven-Slaying Star.

A trait on par with his brother Kim Shihyuk’s SSS-Rank trait, heavenly Martial Body. No, in terms of offensive power, Heaven-Slaying Star even surpassed Heavenly Martial Body when fully activated.

This phenomenon signaled its proper activation.

Of course.

‘Although it doesn’t feel as refined as Malsuk from my past life…’

In his past life, Malsuk’s aura had a subtlety akin to the divine radiance of transcendent beings or a Constellation’s halo.

Currently, however, Malsuk’s Heaven-Slaying Star was like a dense blood mist, irregular and chaotic, devouring everything around it.

Despite this, Shimun’s shock had a singular reason.

‘The proper awakening of Heaven-Slaying Star shouldn’t be until after reaching Master Rank…’

Based on his past life, the period when Go Malsuk could handle Heaven-Slaying Star ‘properly’ was at Master Rank.

But now she, who had just reached the initial stage of Diamond rank, was already awakening it properly?

‘This is just like Malsuk.’

Achieving this with nothing but her own body, especially after going through ‘that incident’ in his past life, where she had no one to rely on.

The continuous support she had received until now was clearly paying off. If she continued to grow at this pace, ‘She’ll be as strong as Shihyuk or Yujeong.’

She would become a powerhouse to rival top Rankers and the twin vanguards of South Korea, Kim Shihyuk and Lee Yujeong.

Proving this,

“Kaaargh!”

Fwaaah!

Her demonic energy flared up as fiercely as the vivid blood-red mist.

“Found you! You damn muscle pig!”

Encasing her entire body with the aura of Heaven-Slaying Star, she instantly, Banished the night energy and located the hidden Park Jinwook within it.

“Gasp! H-how?!”

“Die already!!”

Bzzzzz!!

The tremendous aura condensed in her fist in an instant.

Shimun and Yujeong,

“Oh no!”

“Malsuk!”

Leapt from the spectator seats simultaneously,

BOOM!

An enormous explosion engulfed the sparring ground.

TL’s Corner:
That’s the main girl right there.