Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

Silence.

Yes.

A ghostly silence descended across the area.

The Valkyries, with no further threats to contend with after Shimun’s promised, accurate Lightning Spear, and Go Malsuk and Nerelok, who had been watching the duel from beside them,

“……”

Even Karlok, who had unleashed a fearsome strike that distorted the very space around them, Everyone present in the Ascension Fortress fell into deep silence.

It was no wonder.

The tyrannical strike that should have shattered the two-meter-tall warrior into pieces and shaken the entire Ascension Fortress had vanished without a trace.

In this unbelievable situation, Karlok was the first to regain his senses.

“How on earth…”

All the innate energy and battle energy he had, and the power he had imbued into his mythical weapon, “You managed to block that… with just one hand?”

Barely, Karlok managed to force the words out.

However, for Shimun, who had displayed such an absurd amount of power, the situation didn’t seem to carry the same weight as it did for Karlok.

“I didn’t think I’d block it so perfectly either.”

Shimun replied with a small smile in his eyes.

“I was prepared to lose one arm as an experiment.”

Regardless of Shimun’s emotions,

“An… experiment?”

Karlok, shocked by the content of Shimun’s words, took an involuntary step back for the first time in his life as a High Orc.

However, ‘The restoration percentage of the Silver Arm has increased to 10% due to the divine absorption of Vrtra’s essence…’

Could it be the curious nature of an alchemist at work?

‘To think I’d completely block that strike.’

Shimun looked down at his right arm, which was glowing softly, his eyes sparkling.

‘Of course, the growth of the Dragonoid since then also played a part…’

Since clearing the Cradle of Indulgence, absorbing a part of Vrtra’s divine essence along with Nuada’s Silver Arm, the restoration percentage of Nuada’s Silver Arm had risen from 8% to 10%.

And the three types of resistance added to the Dragonoid had all increased by 5%. However, ‘Ultimately, it was Nuada’s Silver Arm that played the biggest role in blocking Parashuro.’

In a way, it prevented the backlash. The grown Dragonoid blocked only the auxiliary shock. All the direct offensive force of Parashuro was handled by Nuada’s Silver Arm.

‘If Karlok hadn’t activated Parashuro, as expected, my arm would have been torn off.’

Perhaps his entire upper body would have been wrecked, ending the promotion test right there.

The sheer power contained in the battle energy, innate energy, and the unique strength of a High Orc, Even by strength alone, it was more than capable.

In fact, it was fortunate that Karlok activated Parashuro.

‘He turned all of Karlok’s power into a divine divine attribute.’

Just as in the past, when Nuada had nullified the powers of Flame Emperor Shennong, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Shimun had effortlessly blocked Karlok’s strike that had become a divine attribute.

Of course, ‘I didn’t expect to nullify it completely, though.’

However, “Sigh…”

Unaware of these facts, Karlok could only sigh.

“Haha… haha…”

His sigh turned into a hollow laugh.

Soon, “Kahahaha!!”

It evolved into his characteristic hearty laughter. Karlok, with his hand the size of a lid covering his face, “Indeed… This is how it should be. My discernment was not wrong!”

He murmured with laughter and then looked up.

“Warrior! Karlok admires your might. Thus…”

Through the thick green fingers covering his face, “With everything I have, I shall bestow upon you the honor you deserve.”

As his red pupils gleamed, a scream more than a roar emanated.

Roar!!

That scream, was a power Shimun knew well.

‘That’s… Berserk.’

Berserk.

A power often seen in dungeons or raids, Exhibited by bosses who relied more on instinct than intelligence when pushed to the brink.

While typically displayed by beast-type bosses, it wasn’t uncommon for Green Skin monsters to appear in arenas with similar powers.

However, having High Orc Karlok as the user changed things.

‘And that’s Blood Berserk…’

Among Green Skins, the upper-tier species exhibited a special berserk known as ‘Blood Berserk.’

Unlike regular berserk, which increased stats at the cost of sanity, “Prepare yourself!”

Blood Berserk not only retained some sanity, but also boasted much higher stat increases.

Boom!

“Alright.”

Even against the attacks powered by Blood Berserk, Shimun remained unfazed as he dodged, stepping back.

Crack!

The reason was simple.

‘Blood Berserk is indeed a cheat-level power that even Malsuk acknowledged in my past life, but…’

Though Blood Berserk drastically elevated most of the user’s stats,

Unfortunately, ‘As long as Karlok wields the activated Parashuro, it means little to me.’

With Nuada’s Silver Arm and meanwhile, as long as Karlok held Parashuro, the mythical weapon, it posed no significant threat.

However, Karlok, unaware of this, continued, “Haah!”

With a gleeful shout, swinging the Parashuro with a menacing whoosh,

Boom!

Crack.

Shimun clenched his right hand and punched towards the incoming Parashuro.

Boom!

A resounding crash that shook the ground reverberated. However, considering that Karlok used a polearm, a mythic-grade weapon, Parashuro, enhanced by Blood Berserk, it was clearly to his disadvantage that Shimun blocked it with his bare hand.

“Kahahaha! This is it!”

Yet instead of being disheartened, an exhilarated Karlok continued to swing Parashuro with fervor.

Clang!

Clang!

Every fierce strike was blocked by Shimun’s bare hand. Even though his eyes turned red, and his nose flared with steam, “It’s been a long time since I faced a massive wall! No, a great mountain. But!”

Wielding Aura-filled Parashuro like a madman, “I will break it! And break it again! So that…!”

Crash!

His strikes grew even more intense. Although Shimun, using Nuada’s Silver Arm, nullified all of Karlok’s fierce attacks, the physical force, not converted by Parashuro’s divine energy, gradually,

“I will surpass it! And once again ascend as a true warrior!!”

Pushed Shimun backward and downward, despite his perfect defense.

‘Impressive… truly impressive.’

Shimun, who was blocking every attack, couldn’t help but be impressed.

‘I’m nullifying 99% of his attack, yet my body is still being pushed back. And the martial principles in his attacks are substantial.’

Beyond the sheer brute strength, Even excluding Nuada’s Silver Arm, judging solely on martial prowess, Even though Karlok’s axe swings seemed straightforward and brute, there was no opening for a counterattack.

Of course, ‘I may not be a pure combat type…’

Shimun couldn’t compare to Karlok, a pure combat class, in mastery of martial arts. However, he had the advantage of the Dragonoid’s cheat-like traits and the transmission of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

From Shimun’s point of view, ‘To match Karlok purely in martial prowess, I’d need the Heavenly Demon Divine Art to reach at least the sixth stage.’

Crash!

Karlok’s relentless and wild offensive was extraordinary.

But that was all.

‘Leaving martial prowess aside, while Karlok’s mythical weapon doesn’t affect me…’

Shimun was not a combat class at his core.

‘But I am.’

On this side, he could fully utilize a mythical weapon.

Therefore,

Snap.

With his relatively free left hand,

Boom!

He summoned Astrape, which in this battle, differentiated his and Karlok’s abilities.

“Hahaha!”

Maybe Karlok realized it too,

“Come, great warrior! Bestow upon me glorious honor!!”

Shouting like a partial madman.

And for some reason, his twisted fervor,

Thud.

Made Shimun’s heart beat with uncharacteristic warmth.

Buzz!

Drawing all the remaining Dark Energy into his left hand,

“It has been an honor, Karlok.”

Heavenly Demon Divine Art (天魔神功)

Strike (擊) Supreme Emperor’s Demolition Fist (覇皇碎).

Unleashing an uncharacteristically inefficient punch worthy of an alchemist,

Boom!!

Marked the end of this heated battle.

*

Ding.

With the sound of an elevator,

Step.

A man in a crisp suit stepped out. With his towering height of over two meters,

“Secretary-General.”

“Welcome.”

The secretaries and guards, stationed at the entrance of the highest floor of the Awakener Association of Korea, greeted him in advance.

As always,

“Good work, everyone.”

Acknowledging his subordinates’ greetings silently, Secretary-General. Golem Choi Changuk paused in his stride.

He glanced at the document folder in his hand.

“How is the president… doing?”

He asked in a low voice. Although the question might seem out of place, “We just reported a major outbreak in Europe to him a moment ago.”

“He’s as usual.”

The secretaries answered without any awkwardness.

“Got it. Carry on.”

Nodding briefly, Choi Changuk headed towards the President’s office.

Knock, knock.

“Sir, this is Choi Changuk.”

Without waiting for permission to enter, he opened the door and stepped inside.

Creak.

The guards around didn’t stop him.

It was natural.

In all of Korea, he was the only man who could enter the Ironwood King’s domain without permission.

Or rather, he was one of the only two men now.

“I heard about it. The secretaries reported to me first, didn’t they?”

Entering the office, he approached President Kim Muyeol’s desk familiarly. Kim Muyeol showed no signs of stopping him or any displeasure.

“Yes. It’s quite a mess.”

Nodding, Kim Muyeol continued. He seemed to have been reviewing the report.

“Four Platinum-ranked outbreaks and one Diamond-ranked…”

Rustle.

Flipping through the hefty document.

“Even the vaunted EU must be scared this time. Well, it’s not surprising.”

Tossing the document onto the desk, he leaned back in his chair.

“Since the start of the formal Arena, outbreaks have been increasing, but the number of players is decreasing.”

“Indeed. We received requests for support from the European Embassy, branches, and even the Alliance.”

“Oh? Even the Alliance?”

“Yes.”

“Ha! They must be terrified.”

Kim Muyeol smirked, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

Choi Changuk replied with a slightly troubled expression. Since the start of the formal Arena, the world had been grappling with outbreaks.

Meanwhile, “Excluding the powers of the US and China, Korea has the fewest outbreaks globally.”

Aside from the two superpowers, Korea was currently the country least affected by outbreaks. It was natural for Europe to seek their support. But Kim Muyeol didn’t seem satisfied with the answer.

“Right… that’s true.”

He let out a sigh, tapping the armrest of his chair. The single day granted since the start of the formal Arena, “If that guy hadn’t warned me in advance… especially about the Arena entry reporting system…”

If Shimun hadn’t come to him with various proposals related to the formal Arena, Korea’s outbreak situation would have been severe.

Especially, “Coordinating with the government to re-register players through personal certification indeed played a significant role in managing outbreaks…”

The player personal certification system, which caught over 95% of failed Arena attempts, was a masterstroke.

“And the other measures too, they were all extremely well-constructed.”

However, there was one thing that bothered him.

“They seemed like plans only those who had experienced such situations beforehand could devise.”

As if someone had foreseen the current formal Arena. Or, like people who had lived through such times created them with such a high level of completion.

And this naturally led to, ‘Kim Shimun, what exactly are you? What are you hiding…?’

He couldn’t help but think of his older brother, who was simple-minded and emotional but immensely strong.

Wasn’t Kim Shihyuk, his nephew, just like that?

Though Shimun demonstrated exceptional talent tirelessly, reflecting on his simple-minded yet exceedingly strong brother and nephew, ‘Why are you so different from those two?’

Kim Shimun undeniably showed a stark contrast to them. And he had a certain suspicion about the answer.

‘Are you truly the offspring of me and Eun-hye…’

Kim Muyeol’s gaze drifted into the distance, a look he wore whenever he was deep in thought. Choi Changuk, familiar with this demeanor, broke the usual silence, “Indeed, Shimun-ssi is quite remarkable.”

He uttered a line of praise for Shimun. Kim Muyeol, frowning slightly, snapped out of his trance and looked at Choi Changuk.

Was this his intention all along?

“And…”

The moment Kim Muyeol made eye contact, “Here are the test results you mentioned.”

Choi Changuk handed over the document folder he had been holding. Kim Muyeol’s eyes flickered for a split second.

Then, as usual, he replied with his characteristic cynicism, “That was quick.”

Receiving the folder, he asked coldly, “And the aftermath?”

“They admired the president greatly. I believe they will keep the secret.”

“Believe?”

In response to Kim Muyeol’s skeptical query, “Of course, I’ve stationed a person with them. If they show any unnecessary actions…”

Choi Changuk’s expression remained indifferent as he spoke.

Though he trailed off at the end, Had the President understood his implication?

“Well done.”

Satisfied, Kim Muyeol nodded and began opening the folder.

Rustle.

It was an act he had done hundreds of times before, Yet somehow, his movements seemed unusually careful and slow.

Was it because of this?

“To get straight to the point…”

After a brief pause, Choi Changuk spoke, “… It matches your DNA, president.”

He revealed the conclusion just ahead of the test results.

TL’s Corner:
It’s been a long time coming. Saw it from a kilometer away.