Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

Chapter 10

TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader

Placement Test (2)

“An outpost… you’re kidding, right?”

Shimun’s eyes flickered as he read the floating display of information.

Outpost.

Commonly referred to as a checkpoint, this outpost varies slightly in environment or shape depending on the map.

Fundamentally, it takes the form of a stronghold on a bridge.

For defense, it involves preventing enemies from crossing the bridge, summoned to the outpost.

For offense, conversely, it’s about breaking through the outpost to cross the bridge.

These were facts Shimun was well aware of, thanks to countless broadcasts by players, along with the experiences of Kim Shihyuk and Go Malsuk.

The problem was.

“Why is this here?”

Checkpoints were only supposed to appear in ranks platinum and above.

It wasn’t a map that should show up in bronze, or at most, silver rank.

“Could it be because of my MMR?”

As he pondered, Shimun eventually shook his head.

“No, that’s too much of a leap.”

No matter how fair the MMR system claimed to be.

It wouldn’t go to the crazy extent of drastically raising the arena difficulty just for one person.

If anything, they would have matched him with players of at least platinum rank…

“Wait.”

The thought made Shimun’s eyes go wide.

“Right, matchmaking!”

“Huh?”

Kim Minhyung, who had been following behind, expressed his confusion.

However, Shimun couldn’t afford to pay attention to that.

“It’s not strange when you think about it, right?”

The arena was designed for a total of 50 participants, divided into teams of 5 for cooperative play.

There was no rule stating teams had to compete against each other in clearing time.

In other words, clearing first didn’t determine the ranking.

Moreover, aside from starting fights right off the bat,

“The Scorpio trio wasn’t even supposed to be matched in the placement exam segment.”

Even if we only consider Choi Kiyeol, the leader, he wasn’t supposed to be here.

Meeting an 8-ton truck like Kim Shimun was one thing, but in terms of level, they were definitely candidates for a higher rank.

“Kim Minhyung as well, the overall level of this team exceeds the placement exam.”

If other teams also had “[Infested Goblin outpost]” as their target area,

this team would undoubtedly be first.

As this thought process reached its conclusion, Shimun tapped his forehead.

“The target areas for other matching teams might not be the [Infested Goblin outpost].”

That’s why these team matches commonly lacked a first-to-clear ranking system.

“Ah… truly a fair matchmaking system.”

So fair it was almost irritating.

However, that didn’t mean Shimun had any regrets about dealing with the Scorpio Guild trio.

There was no need for such.

“Better off without such team members.”

Approaching the entrance to the bridge,

and hearing the unique, strange laughter of the goblins,

“Kkeekee!”

“Keerat.”

Shimun clenched his fists tight.

“The rewards, at least, should be certain.”

The fairness of matchmaking extended to the rewards.

If the conditions were harder than those for other teams, the clear rewards would surely be higher.

“Even better.”

Despite his low level,

for Shimun, who was no ordinary seed in the depths, it was rather an enticing situation.

The Galaxy Arena itself probably hoped he would quickly move past this section.

“Sweep everything up and take all the kill rewards…”

“Ah.”

After a brief sigh, Shimun turned.

“Kim Minhyung-ssi?”

“Yes?”

Kim Minhyung, who had been silently waiting, looked up.

“Do you have any desire for kills?”

“Kills?”

Blinking, Kim Minhyung,

after a quick sweep over the bridge, shook his head.

“No, just having passed the tutorial, goblins would be too much for me. I’d like to safely secure the clear rewards.”

If Kim Minhyung knew.

“That’s a relief. Then let’s plan our strategy around that.”

That an 8-ton truck just momentarily passed before his eyes.

* * *

Kkeekee.

An unpleasant laughter.

Specifically, it was a nasal sound unique to goblins.

“Kkeekee! It’s time for a shift change!”

“Keek, I’m excited!”

Two goblins guarding the post cheered as they descended the watchtower.

“Keek, I hate keeping watch. It’s boring.”

“Stupid! This is the better post. The boss, keek, is in a bad mood right now.”

“Right. Idiots. They’ll get in trouble. Kkeekee.”

The goblins sneering at their fellow kind returning to the stronghold in the distance.

Then turning around, they were about to take their respective spots when suddenly.

Whoooosh.

“Keek. “Suddenly caught by an unexpected gust of wind, two goblins cocked their heads in confusion.

Crack.

In an instant, whatever had ensnared their necks resulted in their immediate death.

“Haah.”

Despite the quick descent that surely broke the necks of the two goblins, no sound emanated from the feet of their assailant, Kim Shimun.

“Whew.”

Clutching the goblin heads under his arms, Kim Shimun looked down at his legs.

[Black Panther Physique]

Completion: 12%

Tissue of a black panther, enabling the reproduction of its physical capabilities.

A status window sharply materialized above his legs.

Belonging to a race said to appear only among those of Platinum rank or higher.

The tissue was of the Black Panther, a species famed for its stealth even among beastmen.

Although the completion was 3% less than that of an ogre’s—considered to be a superior species—the excellence of the race meant the physical capabilities were still significant.

And wasn’t this the result.

‘I didn’t expect those keen goblins to fail to notice it at all.’

Goblins are commonly misunderstood as a race that anyone could easily defeat.

While not entirely incorrect, their stature only reaches that of a 10 to 13-year-old child at best.

Their skinny, muscular build could indeed be readily handled by an ordinary person with a weapon in hand—as was verified in my past life with the start of the regular arena.

But the story changes with the inclusion of the goblins’ peculiar keen senses and blood poison.

‘Especially since they had such good hearing.’

Perhaps due to their elf-like long ears, goblins possessed surprisingly acute hearing, making them sensitive to even subtle attempts at stealth.

Of course,

‘It seems their sensitivity isn’t on par with the stealth of a Black Panther.’

It was unrealistic for goblins to manage anything against the difference in species, especially one surpassing even ogres.

Carefully, Kim Shimun laid down the corpses of the two goblins he had been holding.

“Multispecies physiological alchemy is still quite demanding.”

Kim Shimun wasn’t only infused with [Black Panther Physique] on his legs.

Raising his arms, the status window for [Ogre Physique] appeared.

Kim Shimun shook his head as he saw. ‘Completion: 7%’ displayed.

“To think maintaining it would be this difficult even after reducing the completion to 7%.”

Then, a cheerful voice echoed from within his chest.

-Oppa, you’re not surprised at succeeding in multispecies alchemy?

It was the Philosopher’s Stone.

“I’ve been practicing since before I joined the arena.”

-But you didn’t practice with physiological alchemy.

“Well, whether it’s this or that, it’s essentially just like using what you’d use in the right hand with the left instead.”

Kim Shimun shrugged as if it was nothing special.

-……

At that, the Philosopher’s Stone fell silent.

Or rather, its expression wasn’t visible.

‘Is this guy really crazy?’

It was at a loss for words.

‘Even with the influence of myself and the Obsidian Tablet, it’s just an aid for alchemy…’

Despite the definitive advantage given by the Philosopher’s Stone in alchemy, it ultimately depended on the ability of the user wielding it.

‘I’ve felt this from the start, but this guy really undervalues himself.’

Multispecies alchemy was akin to casting multiple spells simultaneously.

Like drawing a circle with the right hand and a triangle with the left.

Anyone attempting it for the first time—a. ‘normal person’—would inevitably make mistakes.

Without practice, multitasking these abilities was difficult, and many could not achieve it in their lifetime.

Naturally, multispecies alchemy was no different.

‘Hey, Obsy. It seems you really did find the right master.’

The Philosopher’s Stone muttered to the Obsidian Tablet, now harmonized with it.

-So, are we going to proceed like this? Focusing on ambushes?

“No. I’ve already used up half of my alchemy energy, so that’s impossible.”

Kim Shimun deactivated the alchemy on his arms and legs and began setting up the goblin corpses one by one.

Then.

Click.

Swoosh.

He alchemized the watchtower’s floor, impaling the goblin corpses as if skewering them, making them appear to be standing guard from a distance.

“Kim Minhyung, it’s time for you to come in.”

After arranging the watchtower, Kim Shimun signaled outside.

“Ah!”

Kim Minhyung, startled by the sight of the two goblin corpses, covered his mouth as he entered.

“You handled them without making a sound.”

“Yes. Oh! Don’t step in the blood on the floor. Even though your equipment is Grade C, just to be safe.”

“Got it.”

Kim Minhyung cautiously approached Kim Shimun, his eyes still wide with shock, then asked,

“But… will this really work?”

Faced with Kim Minhyung’s anxious question, Kim Shimun nodded and answered,

“I had a quick look before the ambush, and all they had for armament were stones and poisoned darts.”

Having already scouted the outpost after integrating the physical abilities of a Black Panther, Kim Shimun had completed his reconnaissance.

“With that, they won’t be able to penetrate your armor, Minhyung-ssi. Just stick to the plan.”

Confident in Kim Shimun’s words, Kim Minhyung nodded.

“Understood.”

Though made of leather, his Grade C armor surely wouldn’t be penetrated by mere rocks and poisoned darts. “Let’s go then.”

“I…”

Kim Min-hyeong hesitated and stopped moving as he was about to rush out.

“But are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself?”

The reason for Kim Min-hyeong’s hesitation was none other than the strategy Kim Shimun had devised.

Kim Shimun’s plan was simple.

Kim Min-hyeong would draw as much aggro as possible to attract the goblins.

Then Kim Shimun would take care of everything.

“Yes, I’ll be fine.”

“But, even though I’m only level 2, having an extra hand would…”

Anxiety and remorse filled Kim Min-hyeong’s face.

It was understandable.

Even though he had experienced Kim Shimun’s strength during the tutorial.

After all, they were both players who had just finished the tutorial, weren’t they?

“Just drawing the aggro well is enough. The more aggro is distributed to you, Mr. Min-hyeong, the safer I am.”

“…Understood. If you have time, please visit Holy Trinity. I will definitely repay you.”

“Sure.”

Kim Shimun answered with a light smile.

Of course, there was probably no reason for him to visit the Holy Trinity Guild.

“Then I’ll be off.”

With a determined expression, Kim Min-hyeong nodded and immediately sprinted off.

And then.

“Waaaah!!!”

In the darkening evening.

A resounding shout echoed over the bridge as the sun was nearly set.

Of course, a human shouting and dashing alone attracted a tremendous amount of attention.

Ding ding ding!

“Hehe!”

“A human! It’s a human!”

“The human has invaded!!”

A cacophony of bells and vile voices swelled.

“There!”

“Hehe! Alone? He’s alone!”

“The human’s crazy! Shoot!”

From slings and slingshots made with long strings, polished stones flew.

And from long blowpipes, small poison darts poured out.

A total of 50 goblins attacked from all sides.

Like a shower, stones and poison darts rained down.

One by one.

Tatatat.

The items hitting C-class armor merely sounded like popping beans.

“Aaaaah! Is this all you’ve got, fools!”

Kim Min-hyeong, receiving them with his entire body, dashed toward the designated target area ahead.

Following.

“Hehehe! Block him!”

“Hehe! Human. You can’t pass!”

About 10 goblins in crude wooden armor blocked Kim Min-hyeong’s path, holding their spears slantwise.

“Trapped human!”

“Kill him! Hehe!”

Behind, to the sides, and in front.

Kim Min-hyeong was instantly surrounded by 60 goblins.

Thanks to his B-class attributes of swift movements and high agility, he was nimble in dodging.

Tatatatat.

“Ugh, it’s starting to get tough…”

Kim Min-hyeong’s movements gradually slowed.

It was inevitable.

After all, it wasn’t an easy feat for him, being only level 2, to endure the barrage of attacks from the 60 goblins.

His job class was not focused on defense, but on offense, wasn’t it?

Finally.

Thwack.

“Aaack!”

A stone pierced through to his neck, an area his armor failed to protect.

Yet, Kim Min-hyeong gritted his teeth.

Wrapping his upper neck as much as possible and dodging, he charged forward.

“Hehe!”

“Die, human!”

In front of Kim Min-hyeong, goblins formed a straight line, brandishing their spears.

With the speed augmented by his B-class traits, he was heading straight into a skewering situation.

Yet, Kim Min-hyeong charged like an enraged bull.

The reason was simple.

“More… More!”

The destructive power of the upcoming 8-ton truck.

Having experienced it firsthand, Kim Min-hyeong threw his whole body into it.

“Now!!!”

Responding to that belief,

Rummmble!

The sky trembled.

“Ki, hehe?”

The goblins, startled by the sudden sound of thunder, looked up.

Then, within their sight, a small and white rod cut through the air.

Following.

“Strike down.”

A clear voice trailed after.

“Astrape.”

The white rod turned into dozens of lightning bolts.

Crackling!

And drenched the parched earth.

TL’s Corner:

I just found out that alchemize is a word. And now that I know, I will use this word whenever Shimun uses alchemy.

alchemize – transform the nature or properties of (something) by a seemingly magical process.