Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

Was she that shocked?

“Th-this doesn’t make any sense…”

The strength in Leoni’s hand wielding the greatsword weakened. Shimun pushed her arm away easily.

“Why… am I receiving an all-stats reduction debuff?”

Leoni asked, her face filled with confusion.

“You saw the message, didn’t you? It’s exactly as it said.”

Shimun tilted his chin slightly.

“That’s what’s confusing!”

Leoni’s words came out in a rush.

“This is a survival match! Why is there talk about karma?”

“Because that’s the characteristic of this map.”

“What do you mean! Are you telling me you know the characteristics of this map, Kim Shimun?”

Leoni’s face was unusually agitated. But Shimun simply wiped the blood of the Crabster off his hand, not answering her question.

Specifically, ‘Did my karma debuff really get reduced?’

He was too preoccupied to answer. Shimun re-examined the message.

『You are receiving maximum favor of Death.』

『The weight of sin on your heart reduces drastically.』

『All stats decrease by 1%.』

His eyebrows knitted slightly.

‘Just like at the River of the Styx, my death-related stats give me advantages in death-related maps…’

Death Energy (사기).

The energy of death, Death Energy bestowed various benefits in death-related contexts.

Much like how a summoner could gain advantages from the elements of their contracted spirits.

However, ‘I don’t have that high Death Energy, and it shouldn’t reduce the karma debuff this much.’

After pondering for a moment, Shimun quickly identified the source of this peculiar situation.

‘That’s right! The Fragment of Tartaros!’

He immediately opened his inventory and checked the Fragment of Tartaros.

『Fragment of Tartaros』

Grade: ?

An item gifted to player Kim Shimun by death-related Constellations.

It regained its true form through the power of Nyx.

You receive maximum favor of Death.

The last line of the options.

‘It’s because of that option.’

Upon confirming it, Shimun nodded slowly.

‘The description was too abstract, so I didn’t know how to use it, but it’s turning out useful like this.’

The Fragment of Tartaros was properly appraised through the goddess of night, Nyx. Back then, he hadn’t understood the significance of the option ‘You receive maximum favor of Death.’

Now it made sense.

‘This means I’ll have significant advantages in other death-related maps too.’

For instance, ‘Even if I fall into the River Styx, I might not die.’

Given that the karma debuff was reduced to 1/10 of its normal intensity, It was quite likely that falling into the River Styx wouldn’t result in instant death.

Considering this, “This is… insane.”

A smile naturally formed on Shimun’s face.

The higher the rank, and especially in regular arenas, the map’s features become critically influential. To gain such an advantage on one of the most challenging death-related maps?

Shimun’s thoughts were interrupted by Leoni’s voice.

“What’s so insane about it?”

Shimun cut her off.

“Leoni.”

“What do you know, Kim Shimun…”

Shimun interrupted her.

“Can you use Brynhild’s power again?”

Was this a pointed question?

Leoni bit her lip instead of answering immediately. She then reluctantly answered.

“No.”

She answered with difficulty.

“Since it’s a technique that borrows the power of a Constellation, it has a long cooldown.”

“And it won’t be usable again for the rest of this arena, right?”

“… Correct.”

Leoni clenched her fists and trembled slightly.

“I apologize. I was so excited by the enemy’s opening that I hastily used a big move. It was foolish.”

Her self-reproachful demeanor reminded Shimun of someone.

Shimun smiled warmly and shook his head.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself. You saved us.”

“You don’t have to comfort me. It was my clear mistake.”

“It’s not comfort, it’s the truth. The fact that you’re not dead is enough.”

For the future, yes, but also because a significant mission relied on her survival. However, Leoni didn’t know his true thoughts, she looked at him with a mix of confusion and slight embarrassment.

“But you….”

Unable to see her expression, Shimun continued, “Leoni, as you’ve experienced, the non-human players are higher in level than those on Earth.”

He looked at the fallen bodies of the murine beastman and Crabster and continued.

“Yes, they are.”

Recalling the recent battle, “I never expected him to throw knives from that position.”

Her face quickly turned serious. Shimun nodded.

“On top of that, the 10% decrease in all stats due to the karma debuff is significant.”

“Indeed, even just 10% makes me feel weaker.”

“The problem is, it’s likely to stack.”

“What, really?!”

“It’s just a theory. But you know, when encountering new maps or modes, we must consider all possibilities.”

“Indeed.”

The first-generation players, though many are now considered outdated, gathered information through trial and error during the early days of Galaxy Arena.

That information accumulated, updated, and evolved, becoming today’s strategies. The first-generation players always said, ‘Always consider all possibilities.’

This became fundamental knowledge every awakened individual, from community members to guild novices, was familiar with. Naturally, Leoni knew this well.

“… I apologize. I’m being a burden to our team. I was too caught up in the pre-Semi-Arena ways.”

Leoni bowed her head sincerely in apology.

“There’s no need to apologize. It’s understandable; the 10% reduction in all stats is pretty severe.”

Shimun waved his hand dismissively and helped her up.

“Anyway, let’s use this knowledge and take a look around. Check out our surroundings.”

Following Shimun’s words, Leoni scanned the monochrome, desolate desert.

“Doesn’t something seem off?”

“Indeed, it’s strange.”

They couldn’t tell how large this map was, but, “Even though a two-person cooperation condition has been added, it’s still a survival mode. Yet, there’s no sound of any fighting.”

In a survival mode, there should have been small explosions or battle noises. But they saw no signs of any such commotion.

Then,

“Of course!”

Leoni’s eyes sparkled as she clapped her hands.

“The non-human races must be aware of this karma debuff, so they’re not moving hastily!”

And, “And your hypothesis that the debuff might stack comes from observing this situation, correct?”

She looked at Shimun with surprised eyes. Shimun nodded slightly.

“Well, yes.”

“Aha!”

Leoni let out a dry laugh.

“Truly… truly impressive.”

She didn’t hide her admiration.

And why would she?

‘Anyone would usually narrow their perspective when encountering something for the first time.’

A map they’re seeing for the first time. Moreover, it’s an arena where their lives are at stake. From the beginning until now, Kim Shimun had calmly observed and deduced the situation. Such a feat couldn’t be achieved with an ordinary mind.

‘I was so frustrated about losing to someone like him… How foolish of me.’

Leoni smirked to herself.

After entering this arena, “Kim Shimun.”

She looked at him with the calmest eyes.

“If we both survive and return to Earth, I will surely repay you for this.”

Her gaze, unwavering and resolute, was just like that of Valkyrie Leoni, whom Shimun had seen only in broadcasts during his past life.

“I won’t decline such an offer.”

Shimun responded with a grin.

“Regardless.”

Shimun wiped off the remaining Crabster fluid and started walking.

“You now understand that in this map, kills need to be strategic…”

“Yes, I do. We’ll alternate between you and me, so the debuffs are evenly distributed.”

“No. I mean, there’s no need for that.”

Shimun shook his head at Leoni’s suggestion.

“I receive a reduced karma debuff.”

“What?!”

Leoni’s eyes widened in shock.

“How… how is that even possible?”

“With the help of a Constellation.”

It’s true that he had acquired the Fragment of Tartaros through Nyx’s aid. So it wasn’t a complete lie.

“Since the points are counted for the team, I’ll handle the kills.”

“Understood.”

Leoni quickly followed in Shimun’s footsteps.

*

Boom.

“Gah!”

A cry burst out along with a heavy vibration. The orc, airborne with a collapsed chest,

Thud.

Crashed to the ground.

And then,

– Wait a minute. Didn’t they say the all-stats debuff stacks?

– Mate! Does he look like someone suffering from stacked debuffs?

– He said earlier his debuffs are reduced.

– How much is it reduced that he’s killing like this and still fine?

– How many kills now? Isn’t it seven?

– No, it’s eight.

The chat exploded with activity. And for good reason.

– I went to Leoni’s stream; she said she had an all-stats 10% reduction.

– So even if you generously assume 5% per kill, that’s still a total of 40%, right?

– Yeah, eight kills, so it’s 40%.

– But he’s still one-shot killing these guys with a 40% reduction?

– And he hasn’t even used ‘those spells’ yet.

– Damn, how high is his spec?

– Yeah, what’s his spec anyway?

– Each kill incurred a 10% all-stats reduction debuff.

Despite having accumulated multiple stacks of the karma debuff,

“This team is done.”

Showing no sign of weakening,

Shimun had secured his eighth kill. Naturally, Leoni Wolf, who experienced all this firsthand rather than through a stream, “…”

Could only stare blankly at Shimun, who was shaking off the dust from his hands. Unperturbed by her reaction, “Alright, let’s find another team.”

Shimun resumed his stride, ready for more slaughter. As he moved away, Leoni, regaining her senses, hastened to catch up.

“Kim Shimun, are you… alright?”

“What? Ah, you mean the karma debuff?”

Not fazed at all, Shimun replied,

“Well, I might feel it a bit after eight kills, but I’m still fine.”

He flapped his arms nonchalantly. And indeed, he was alright.

‘My stats are only reduced by about 8%. Starting to feel it a bit, though.’

Unlike the usual scenario where each kill decreased stats by 10%, Shimun’s debuffs decreased his stats by just 1% per kill.

With eight kills amounting to an 8% reduction, he was in much better condition than Leoni, who had sustained a 10% decrease from a single karma debuff stack.

However, Leoni, unaware of this,

“That’s… that’s good… Thank goodness.”

felt as if she were facing an insurmountable wall.

Unaware of Leoni’s inner turmoil, Shimun thought, ‘Something feels off.’

He scanned his surroundings with half-closed eyes. After dealing with Crabster, Shimun had continued to secure a total of seven consecutive kills.

‘I haven’t been considering the debuff stacking… just focused on killing all the foes I came across…’

While he had not been able to achieve the 9th kill due to an assassin retreating as soon as their comrade fell, it was still a substantial number of kills for the Desert on the Scale in Duat.

And through all these encounters, Shimun discerned a subtle commonality.

Namely, ‘They all seem to be coming straight towards us.’

Every team he had encountered so far had been the aggressor.

‘Considering the nature of the Desert on the Scale, you wouldn’t expect anyone to attack so readily.’

The event required killing everyone else to survive. But the map’s characteristic added a karma debuff that accumulated with each sin committed.

Naturally, in his previous life, ‘Everyone avoided combat if they could.’

On the Desert on the Scale during a survival match, whether they were from Earth or other races, all participants tried to avoid combat as much as possible. No matter how many kills one made, the accumulating karma debuff would make them easy prey eventually.

Yet, the teams Shimun had dealt with so far,

“There they are!”

“Those are the ones.”

A team approaching from a short distance away stood out.

“That’s the human they told us about!”

“Let’s each take one out. Our spots in the rankings are guaranteed anyway.”

Their massive, bulky bodies were even larger than orcs. Hearing the approaching trolls’ conversation made Shimun’s brow twitch.

‘The human those people mentioned? Is someone directing the participants here?’

Moreover, ‘Seems like ordinary Platinum-ranked trolls. How can they be guaranteed rank positions?’

They did not appear to have the skill to justify such a claim.-Shimun’s expression hardened.

‘Talking about rankings implies they’ve been promised positions in exchange for attacking us.’

Given the nature of the map, schemes to pit survivors against each other made sense. But that was typically among the remaining strongest participants, not something directed at ordinary Platinum-ranked trolls.

“Hah!”

A dry laugh escaped Shimun.

‘I was wondering what to do when I hit the 10-kill mark. This makes it easier.’

He decided to settle the score with those orchestrating this.

With that resolve,

Snap.

He snapped his fingers.

Whoosh.

Intense flames erupted as a deep red sword materialized in Shimun’s grip. Leoni couldn’t help but take a step back.

“Leoni, if you have any defensive skills, use them now.”

“Understood!”

Shimun, in a rare gesture of courtesy, even warned her.

“Burn.”

He immediately activated Laevateinn.

“Th-this aura!”

“Could it possibly be a Constellation’s power?!”

The trolls reeled in horror. But the activated Laevateinn didn’t even give them time to react.

Whooosh!

“Gaaah!!”

Known for their exceptional regenerative abilities, and clad in powerful Platinum-tier armor, the trolls were instantly incinerated.

Next,

『You have committed murder.』

『The weight of sin adds to your heart.』

『You are receiving maximum favor of Death.』

『The weight of sin on your heart reduces drastically.』

『All stats decrease by 1%.』

The familiar messages appeared.

『You have committed 10 sins in total.』

『The scales tip under the weight of your sins.』

The anticipated message appeared as the monochrome desert subtly vibrated.

Rumble.

Shimun activated Odin’s Eye and looked up at the sky.

‘As expected, it reacts to 10 kills.’

The previously dark and empty sky, with Odin’s Eye, revealed chains supporting the desert. And these chains connected to a massive rod and pillar, forming a balance scale of sorts. The only difference was, “It’s disgustingly huge.”

Exaggerating a bit, it was almost the size of a planet. In any case, ‘The scales tilted because of me.’

With 10 kills, according to the karma debuff, it amounted to 10 stacks, causing a 100% reduction in all stats for the sinner.

『The heart laden with sin will be punished.』

『The punishment will not cease until the sinner perishes.』

The punishment’s hammer descended upon him. A hammer that,

『The beast of Duat, Ammut, has appeared.』

No mortal could resist.

Ssssss.

An even darker shadow descended on the already dim desert.

Precisely,

Grrrrr.

It was the shadow of an enormous creature.

From within that darkness,

Snap.

A clear, crisp sound was heard.

『Constellation Osiris looks at you with keen interest.』

A new message appeared before Shimun.