Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

Nothingness in a void. Kim Shimun returned to the waiting room.

『The special arena, ‘The Cradle of the Spirit King,’ has been cleared in an unexpected manner.』

『Clearing this arena could significantly alter the determined fate.』

A familiar message appeared.

“Hmm?”

Kim Shimun’s hand, which intended to dismiss the message, paused.

The reason was simple.

‘Could significantly alter the determined fate?’

Previously, it clearly said:

『Clearing this arena could significantly alter the determined fate.』

But this time, it left room with the phrase ‘could’. It was unusual.

‘It’s been a while since Galaxy Arena spoke ambiguously.’

This behavior did not match the meticulous nature of Galaxy Arena at all.

‘Well, I can guess why roughly…’

Kim Shimun recalled the traces of the Spirit King, which were the clear conditions. Thinking about the colorful flower bud, he rested his chin on his hand momentarily, but that was it.

First.

“Well then, everyone. I’ll be off now.”

-No way! Hyung! Don’t go!

-What do you want me to do if I don’t go? I’ve finished the special arena.

-That’s just a figure of speech, why so grumpy?

-Understand him. The diamonds who watched today’s broadcast are all on edge, LOL.

-LOL, so sensitive.

-I understand. Totally understandable to have an inferiority complex blow up like that.

Since he had to end the arena broadcast.

“Well then, everyone. See you next time.”

-Damn~

-That’s not a curse. It means Kim Shimun is saying goodbye!

-Thank you, noolmooman!

-LOL, these bastards.

-Even if explained, LOL.

-Damn~.

Ending the broadcast, Shimun immediately left the waiting room.

Clink.

Thud.

He returned to the laboratory in the penthouse, where familiar work sounds were heard.

-Good job~.

“Appa!”

The Philosopher’s Stone and Shiyeon welcomed Kim Shimun back.

At the same time.

『You have successfully cleared the arena ‘The Cradle of the Spirit King.’』

『You have cleared the arena in an unexpected manner.』

『Cleared rewards increased based on activity.』

『The tied characteristic ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ receives a certain amount of experience points.』

『Your level has increased by 5.』

『Philosopher’s Stone level has increased by 3.』

A series of arena rewards followed.

“A total of 8 level-ups.”

Not few, but not many experience points for a special arena.

However, Shimun’s focus wasn’t on the levels.

『The determined clear result itself has been altered, so the rewards are being adjusted accordingly.』

『Please wait a moment.』

There was a slight change in the item rewards.

Of course, Shimun wasn’t greatly surprised.

‘After all, the goal of this arena was to find the traces of the Spirit King.’

In any way, just confirming that colorful flower bud would have cleared it. But didn’t he completely overturn the arena? Naturally, calculating that achievement wouldn’t be easy.

Proving that.

-Oppa, you really blew it up, huh?

The Philosopher’s Stone in the approaching flask gave a mischievous smile.

Kim Shimun snickered and nodded.

“Indeed, infiltration seemed to be the most appropriate clearing method.”

-Of course. It’s obvious that even Galaxy Arena designed it that way.

Just recalling the forces in the Cradle of the Spirit King proves it. Even though they were lower ranks, they were the giants, the top species of the arena. And there was even an intermediate giant.

In that situation, a number of high-ranked dragon species, nagas, were dispatched as their cooperative partners.

-Just looking at the combination of the two species, it’s clear. Even for a top diamond rank party, it would have been tough.

Kim Shimun nodded at the Philosopher’s Stone’s words.

“If we compare it to players, it’s a combination of combat and magic classes. Without a resolution, I would have spent quite a few achievement points too.”

The Naga’s magical bombardment backed by the giant race. Simple coordination, yet. Considering the level of the members forming that combination, it was truly a disaster.

Moreover.

-Tsk! Just that? They even set a condition where a hidden boss appears if you destroy everything.

Sweep everything, and doesn’t the hidden boss appear?

It was an arena clearly designed not to be cleared through brute force. But then.

-Who would have guessed you’d ignorantly break through it with sheer firepower?

Ignoring the warnings and breaking everything in sight. Even pushing through the final control mechanism, the hidden boss, how could Galaxy Arena not be flustered?

-So it makes sense they’re pondering the reward like that.

Kim Shimun chuckled lightly and nodded at the Philosopher’s Stone’s words.

“Seems like they were quite taken aback, just as you said.”

Given they are pondering the item rewards like this after such a long time.

-Indeed, it’s surprising. Although such things have happened quite frequently, don’t you think?

The Philosopher’s Stone shrugged, bringing its mechanical arms along.

“Right! It’s happened often!”

And as Kim Shimun patted Si-yeoni’s head while she tried to join the conversation with unconditional affirmation.

『Clear rewards have been decided.』

A notification flashed stating the clear rewards had been decided.

『Rewards cannot be allocated to inventory.』

『Rewards will be given directly to the player.』

『Clear reward ‘Test Subject – DF’ has been issued.』

Messages continued flashing. With a small flash of light, something appeared before Kim Shimun.

At this.

-Oppa, isn’t that it?!

The Philosopher’s Stone’s eyes in the flask widened in surprise. Not to the same extent, but.

“It seems so.”

Kim Shimun also looked slightly astonished. He looked at the ‘Trace of the Spirit King’ he had seen in the special arena earlier.

‘I can’t believe they actually provided this as a reward.’

Kim Shimun, resting his chin momentarily.

“We need to clear the quest as well. Let’s go to Ernen.”

“Appa! Me too! I wanna go too!”

“Sure. Let’s go together, Shiyeon.”

Carrying Shiyeon, who was hugging the Trace of the Spirit King, they headed to Elvenheim.

*

Endless wide plains. A green sea where all kinds of vegetation harmonized. Kim Shimun arrived at Elvenheim.

Huff…

Looking at the ‘Trace of the Spirit King’ weakly breathing in Shiyeon’s arms.

“Is it very hurt…?”

Like a puppy. Shiyeon, holding the bigger-than-her ‘Trace of the Spirit King’ closely, showed a worried gaze.

At this.

‘Why does Shiyeon feel such a closeness? Is it because of its colorful appearance?’

Kim Shimun tilted his head for a moment, but that was all. Soon, he directed his attention to the large tree connecting the sky and the ground in the distance.

“Shimdrasil, I’m here.”

Shimdrasil responded.

Rustle.

A clear ringing sound tickled his ears.

Simultaneously.

Swoosh!

Quickly passing through the plains, Shimun reached Shimdrasil in no time.

“You’ve come. Savior.”

He looked towards the direction of the soft voice. Platinum hair and green eyes that captured the essence of nature.

“I never expected you to resolve it so quickly. Truly, you are our savior.”

The High Elf Ernen approached with a gentle smile. But that was only for a moment.

“But that’s…”

The creature that Shiyeon was hugging.

Huff…

Seeing the creature struggling to breathe, her face hardened.

“This is the ‘Trace of the Spirit King’ found in the Cradle of the Spirit King.”

“It, it is?!”

Although it was Ernen who requested the quest. She looked at the Trace of the Spirit King with bewildered eyes. It was not unreasonable. The ‘Trace of the Spirit King’, which was both the clear condition and a reward of the special arena, was.

“But savior. No matter how you look at it, that seems like a dragon species…”

It had the distinct form of a dragon species. More precisely.

“It’s as if the dragon’s horns and wings were cut and shrunk, but how…”

Its form was like a miniaturized version of a dragon’s horns and wings. The only difference was. Its scales were as colorful as the Spirit Realm’s scenery.

Suddenly sensing something.

“Wait. This energy?”

Ernen, who had temporarily stiffened, approached to examine the gasping Trace of the Spirit King more closely.

“This, this cannot be!!”

She immediately exclaimed in astonishment. And rightly so. The multicolored scaled dragon species.

“How can a dragon species possess such pure spirit energy!”

It had a level of spirit energy so pure that even the High Elf Ernen was shocked. Seeing her reaction, Shimun calmly nodded.

‘It is surprising. Even I was astounded the first time I saw it.’

Fundamentally, spirits do not contract with dragon species.

No.

To be precise, they can’t.

‘Spirits dislike dragon species, but fundamentally, spirit energy and Dragon Force are at odds.’

From his previous life’s memories and his current possession of Dragon Force, Shimun instinctively understood. Spirit energy with its harmony attributes perfectly opposes the destructive nature of Dragon Force.

Naturally, high Elf Ernen also knew this well.

“This is unbelievable… this level of purity is comparable to the Spirit King’s. How could a dragon species have this?”

Ernen muttered in shock.

Kim Shimun stepped closer and said.

“Indeed, this dragon species is dying because of it.”

“Dying? Ah.”

Ernen sighed lightly and held her white forehead.

“That makes sense. Having the Spirit King’s spirit energy within a dragon’s body. It’s a wonder it survived this long.”

“Exactly.”

Kim Shimun nodded at Ernen’s words.

‘From the moment I found it in the special arena’s flower bud.’

The two opposing forces. The colorful dragon species was dying in real-time.

‘Previously, it seemed to endure through the spirit energy extracted from spirits…’

Now that such an injection of spirit energy was no longer possible. It would be hard to keep its life. Kim Shimun’s brow slightly furrowed.

‘Damn Arena folks. Of all rewards, why give it like this?’

A facility that horrifically extracted spirit energy. Even without the Black Goat mission, it was a place that would have been destroyed.

‘Worrying about its usefulness or not, it just leaves a bad taste.’

They gave a dying creature, the cause of all this, as a reward?

Galaxy Arena, known for its meticulous cause and effect. It was a reward with incomprehensible intent. Thinking as much, Shimun’s eyes narrowed slightly.

‘Could it be a warning to me? That I could end up like this if I obtain spirit energy?’

He shook his head slightly.

‘That can’t be it. Galaxy Arena must know that the Philosopher’s Stone nullifies any impact on me.’

The Philosopher’s Stone, an all-encompassing existence, could adapt any energy, even replacing the danjeon and accepting the World Tree’s spirit.

Surely, Galaxy Arena knew of this.

In a moment, it struck him.

‘Wait. There was that ambiguous message earlier, wasn’t there?’

An uncharacteristically ambiguous message from Galaxy Arena. Though he didn’t know the exact reason. He roughly guessed it was because of that colorful dragon species.

‘Are they trying to give me a hint?’

At that moment.

“My goodness! Look at me!”

Ernen’s sudden voice broke the contemplation.

“I’m sorry, savior. I should have completed the quest first. The situation was so shocking that I…”

“It’s alright. I was just as shocked as you when I first saw it.”

Ernen’s genuine smile returned, thanks to Kim Shimun’s considerate words. She glanced at the colorful-scaled dragon species, the Trace of the Spirit King, nestled in Shiyeon’s arms.

Then, she made a gesture in the air.

『You have completed the linked quest ‘Trace of the Spirit King’.』

『Reward: Spirit Energy stat obtained.』

『Due to the Philosopher’s Stone, the stat is converted to Alchemy Energy.』

『Reward: 20,000 Achievement Points earned.』

A series of rewards appeared before him. However, Shimun didn’t immediately check his status window for the rewards. There was still one more reward to receive.

“Savior, could you give me your hand for a moment?”

Ernen extended her delicate hand, resembling that of a jade sculpture.

Nodding, Shimun took her hand.

The sensation was like touching soft petals. A colorful energy seeped through her fingertips.

Kim Shimun instantly recognized it.

‘Spirit energy.’

The spirit energy flowed through his hand, up his arm, and into the heart of his chest. It was absorbed by the Philosopher’s Stone.

-So warm! Such high-purity spirit energy!

The Philosopher’s Stone vibrated, delighted like a content cat. The colorful spirit energy even reached the World Tree’s spirit embedded within it.

Then.

Shaarung.

A clear melody resonated from the World Tree’s spirit. Simultaneously. The World Tree, Shimdrasil, enveloped in colorful light, shone vividly.

-The World Tree! It’s the World Tree!

-Hahahaha! Long time no see!

-There’s a High Elf too!

-Hello~!

Light clusters, filled with vibrant laughter, fluttered around like cherry blossoms. They were spirits of various attributes.

“Wow…!”

Shiyeon’s face, which had been solemn, brightened momentarily as she held the dragon species.

Even Kim Shimun and Ernen’s faces grew brighter.

Against this magnificent backdrop.

『Shimdrasil has connected with the Spirit Realm.』

『The spirits’ goodwill towards you increases.』

『Spirit Energy increased by 20.』

『Spirit Energy converted to Alchemy Energy.』

『Resulting in an Alchemy Energy increase of 10.』

The rewards for connecting with the Spirit Realm appeared.

And then.

『You have received the Hidden Quest ‘The Tree Connecting Realms’.』

“A hidden quest?”

An unexpected hidden quest had surfaced.

Kim Shimun was about to check it when.

“Appa!”

A panicked voice from Shiyeon, the likes of which he had never heard before, reached him.

“Shiyeon! What’s the matter?”

Kim Shimun turned his head sharply.

He saw it.

From within Shiyeon’s arms.

Kuuu,Kuuuooonng…

Struggling to rise was the colorful dragon.