Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

Was it because of its enormous size?

Crunch.

A chilling bone-crushing sound echoed throughout the valley. The enormous giant, standing at 7 meters, screamed even louder.

“H-Hippolytos……”

The limbs of Hippolytos, the Gigantes, flailed powerlessly in the air. Given his massive 7-meter frame, those limp limbs should have looked threatening, like swaying buildings.

But instead of being intimidating, they looked pitiful. The reason was simple.

Crunch.

Gnaw.

A beast, twice the size of the 7-meter giant, was munching on Hippolytos.

Soon,

Snap!

With a short, sharp breaking sound.

Thud.

The half-eaten lower body fell heavily to the ground. Yet Toas couldn’t spare a glance at his fallen brother’s body. It wasn’t because of the gruesome sight of his half-nibbled comrade.

“Grrr……”

Short, but intense enough to make even a Gigantes shudder with dread. The beast’s blood-red, glowing eyes were staring down at Toas. Any sign of hesitation or opening, and the beast that had cleaved his brother in half would take his neck next.

‘Damn it……’

Grinding his teeth so hard they might break. Toas neither backed off nor took his eyes off the Nemean Lion.

‘This cursed situation even before getting started properly!’

He cursed inwardly. No wonder.

‘To think that Toas would be backstabbed by a mere human!’

Like the Gigantes who cleared Nemean Valley before. They had intended to eliminate the entrant with the first ambush of a desperate attack and were instead countered completely.

He felt like grinding his teeth to dust and going on a mad rampage.

‘Stay calm; even Hippolytos fell victim.’

With his fellow Gigantes, Hippolytos, having died from the first ambush. At this moment, patience and assessing the situation took priority over fury.

Fortunately, ‘We had prepared enough numbers against any unexpected events. Clearing is still possible.’

Toas had the necessary composure.

‘If I gigantify and have five or six Jotuns, the strategy is still executable. In that case……’

Having organized his thoughts.

Crunch.

Toas’ 7-meter frame began to twist. The distortion started from his shoulders and spread throughout his body, growing nearly twice as large.

Rumble.

Only after reaching a height of 14 meters did the growth stop. One peculiar thing. His lower body, now like a snake or reptile’s tail, was extremely lengthened.

In sync with the leader-like Toas’ transformation.

Hisss!

In an instant, the Jotuns, wrapped in white steam, grew to heights of 13 to 15 meters. Without even looking back at them, Toas shouted,

“Six lower-ranked ones on me! The rest, find that damned rat!”

He issued a loud command, extending his enormous arm. The reason was simple.

“Roar!”

The Nemean Lion, which had been eyeing him since his transformation, charged at him. With Hippolytos’ blood still dripping from its jaws, the lion’s mouth opened wide.

Toas thrust his huge arm towards the gaping maw.

Whoosh!

But his house-sized arm only swiped at empty air. As befitted the boss of the Main Arena, the lion easily dodged the direct attack.

Then.

Crunch!

The Nemean Lion clamped down on Toas’ massive arm. At a colossal height of 14 meters, Toas let out a brief groan at his torn arm, but that was all.

“Ugh!”

“Hmph!”

Instead, he shoved his injured arm further into the lion’s maw.

Crunch!

Deliberately severing his arm on the lion’s sharp fangs.

At the same time,

“Now!”

Toas bellowed a thunderous command.

In response,

Flash.

Six giant Jotuns launched themselves at the Nemean Lion’s neck.

“Grab my hand!”

“Here too!”

“Got it!”

“Tighten up!”

Like massive shackles, they began to strangle the lion’s neck from both sides, two or three layers deep.

Did the lion realize the giants’ plan?

“Roar!”

The Nemean Lion spat out Toas’ severed arm. Twisting its body swiftly, it swung its siege weapon-like claws in all directions.

“It’s thrashing!”

“Don’t let go! Follow the strategy!”

“Use maximum hardening and softening techniques!”

Their arms, wrapped around the lion’s neck, stretched and contracted like rubber bands. They adapted dynamically to the lion’s struggle, alternating between hardening and softening.

Hissss.

The white steam, a trademark of the Jotuns’ supernatural abilities, billowed around them.

Was it making it harder to breathe?

“Roar!”

The lion’s struggle grew even wilder.

“Hold it down!”

As Toas, who had fully regenerated his severed arm, joined in,

“Rrrrk!”

The lion’s thrashing began to subside. More precisely, with seven giants holding it down, the struggle of strength reached a stalemate.

Toas, well aware of this from the advice of Gigantes who had previously captured the Nemean Lion, said,

“We’re not in the clear yet; don’t let your guard down! Hold on as long as you can!”

“Yes, sir, Toas!”

Shouting to his subordinates, he gripped the lion’s neck even tighter.

Rustle.

The soft lion’s mane tickled the skin of his arm, which was hard to believe belonged to a 14-meter beast. Even though the sensation could have relaxed his tension a bit,

‘Just wait, human. Once this beast is dealt with…….’

Toas’ eyes burned with murderous intent towards the lowly human who had caused his comrade’s death.

‘I will make you pay for Hippolytos’s death in the most horrific way!’

Only seething hatred for the human Kim Shimun filled his gaze.

*

Roar!

The deafening roar echoed, sounding somewhat muffled as if its throat was being choked.

Amidst that background noise,

‘As expected, they’re using that strategy?’

The handsome, translucent figure with a gray crown on his head. Shimun watched the distant battle of the giants with a peculiar smile.

‘Well, choking it is indeed a classic strategy.’

Indeed.

‘Even in my past life, Malsuk used the illusions from the Heavenly Demon’s Supreme Step to suffocate it.’

In his past life, Go Malsuk had also captured the Nemean Lion by suffocating it. Alongside dozens of illusions, she had strangled the gigantic 14-meter lion’s neck, which had deeply shocked all the players on Earth.

Of course, it wasn’t simply because Malsuk was tough and bullish.

‘It’s because the lion is completely immune to any magic or energy, even to powers.’

The Nemean Lion was resistant to any attack. Even abilities with special traits couldn’t affect it. The only thing,

‘Its health was the only aspect that was somewhat normal.’

Struggling at that time, Malsuk had noticed the lion’s increasingly rough breathing. That’s when she decided to use the brute-force method of suffocation.

Afterwards, broadcasts from other dimensions also confirmed that suffocating it was the proper strategy.

However,

‘Suffocation might not be the most efficient strategy. If my hypothesis is correct……’

Having watched multiple broadcasts from other dimensions and dealt with various powers, Shimun knew.

‘At least in terms of powers, the lion isn’t entirely immune.’

When powers connected with the lion, there was some kind of special reaction.

‘Anyway, it’s just a hypothesis, so I need to test it.’

Resolved with this thought, Shimun stood up.

Swoosh.

The gray crown helmet placed on his head. Hades’ helm, Kynee, began to materialize gradually.

Naturally,

“There he is! There’s the human!”

“Quite an impressive stealth ability, human.”

“Rat! I’ll turn you into mush!”

In response to Toas’ orders, the Jotuns, who had been scouring the surroundings with focus, immediately charged towards the now-visible Shimun.

Thud, thud, thud.

The 15-meter giants ran towards him. The ground shook so violently that it was hard to stand firm, but

“Hmm.”

Shimun merely watched the approaching Jotuns, who looked like moving buildings.

‘They all seem to be mid-rank Jotuns.’

Awakened Giants, the Jotuns, inherently possessed abilities to harden and soften their bodies. Once they reached mid-rank, they could manifest various abilities, similar to player traits.

Indeed,

Flame!

Lightning!

The charging Jotuns each wielded flames or lightning, emitting the characteristic white steam of Jotuns as they stormed in like rampaging locomotives.

Crack.

Shimun, having activated his Dragonoid ability, flew towards the mid-rank Jotun engulfed in flames who had gotten close.

‘In the past, I might have needed to use achievement points to alchemize a mythical weapon……’

Given the previous outbreak, and with his main stat, alchemy energy, totaling 422 along with 211 bound stat points,

‘There’s no need to waste resources on these things.’

The story had changed.

Heavenly Demon Divine Art (天魔神功).

1st technique (擊) Supreme Emperor’s Demolition Strike (覇皇碎).

A fist imbued with fierce demonic energy crashed into the Jotun’s face. No scream was allowed.

Crunch!

The mid-rank Jotun’s face caved in. Even the Giant Clan’s unique regenerative abilities couldn’t restore a smashed head.

Thud.

The mid-rank Jotun collapsed with half of its head blown off. Before the next Jotun, the one wielding lightning, could even be surprised,

Swish.

The fierce demonic energy morphed into a refined, sharp technique, slashing through the air like an artist’s precision.

Heavenly Demon Divine Art (天魔神功).

5th technique (擊) Peerless Slash (無雙斬).

With that,

“Mu-s…!”

The Jotun wreathed in lightning couldn’t even finish his words.

Slice.

His gigantic head was severed from his body. Only after the second casualty appeared,

“Disperse!”

“Switch to long-range attacks!”

Were the mid-rank Jotuns, who had been charging blindly, hurriedly started to form a battle line.

But the situation was already beyond their control.

Buzz.

Fierce, dark demonic energy. Now enveloping Shimun’s entire leg.

Step.

As if stepping on fresh snow, Shimun’s foot gently touched the valley floor.

Flash.

Instantly splitting into five afterimages. Of course, the mid-rank Jotuns participating in the Main Arena,

“Don’t panic! It’s just an obvious illusion!”

“There’s only one real one!”

“Each of you take one!”

They spewed white steam and used their abilities to confront Shimun’s illusions. But they didn’t know. The five Shimuns they saw before them. These were unlike any illusions or magic they had encountered.

“Here, this one is real!”

“No! This one is real!”

“What nonsense! This one… Ugh!”

All of them were real.

Heavenly Demon Divine Art (天魔神功).

Heavenly Demon’s Supreme Step (天魔君臨步) Illusion (幻影).

Not fathoming that they were up against a martial art of a divine rank, wielded by the Heavenly Demon himself,

Crunch.

Snap!

They were struck in vital points and fell swiftly. The last Jotun, who seemed to have some skill,

“You monster!”

Whoosh.

A formless mirage. One last mid-rank Jotun used telekinesis to confront Shimun’s illusions but that’s the end. With four Shimuns attacking from all directions,

“How did they all… Ugh!”

He soon became mince meat, collapsing to the ground.

***

-Wow…

-Crazy!

-This is it! This is Kim Shimun!

-Hyung! I knew you could do it!

The chat window from Earth was filled with cascading messages.

Most of them were expressions of excitement and cheers.

=Is this… even possible?

=I can’t believe it even after seeing it with my own eyes.

The atmosphere in the chat windows from other dimensions was entirely different.

=Judging by the use of abilities besides hardening and softening, they all seemed like mid-rank Jotuns…

=What were those illusions just now? There were five of them, and they all exerted physical force?

=It wasn’t just simple physical force. They all seemed real.

=Creating five clones with substance? Is that even possible?

Shock.

And disbelief.

=It’s not entirely impossible. After all, some high-grade illusion traits have similar abilities.

=But Kim Shimun’s dimension isn’t a regular arena yet. High-grade traits can’t appear there!

=What interests me more is that absurdly powerful attack.

=Agreed. Taking down mid-rank Jotuns with one hit using five clones…

=It seemed powered by demonic energy, but it’s not black magic?

The chat windows from other dimensions were filled with shock and chaos.

However,

“This takes care of half of them…”

Ignoring the chat window, Shimun dusted off his shoulder.

Roar!

He looked towards the distant battlefield where gigantic beasts were still wrestling. Indeed, it seemed like a standard suffocation strategy.

Grrr…

The Nemean Lion, which had been rampaging, was now weakening.

“Good! Not much longer now!”

“Everyone, give it all you’ve got!”

The giants, gaining momentum, exerted even more force. Satisfyingly confirming the situation, Shimun wore a pleased smile.

“The situation is perfect.”

Snap.

He snapped his fingers immediately. Then, like the light of dawn, blinding platinum sunlight shone.

Thud!

Something massive crashed down behind them.

『Constellation Ra’s eyes sparkle, ‘Finally, it’s time to show my majesty. (Give it a good thrashing!).’』

『Constellation Ra issues a mission.』

As if waiting for this moment, Constellation Ra’s enthusiastic response came with a new mission.

Shimun immediately checked Ra’s mission.

『Mission』

-Constellation Ra is delighted to have an opportunity to showcase his majesty.

In this Main Arena, show the true power of the ‘Obelisk.’

Reward: 10,000 Achievement Points

Had Ra been eagerly anticipating this moment?

‘He’s offering 10,000 achievement points just to showcase an ability?’

Shimun’s eyes widened at the 10,000 achievement point reward. But only for a moment.

‘Anyway, I had to use it for my hypothesis experiment. This works out well for me.’

Moreover, wouldn’t finishing this mission also add +1 to the Chosen by the Constellations?

Grinning widely, Shimun raised his hand towards the sky.

Then,

“Rise, Khepri.”

He uttered the activation word of the Obelisk.

Buzzzzz!

A brilliant platinum beam of light shot down on the pointed top of the Obelisk. Mysterious engravings all over the Obelisk’s body began to glow with radiant platinum light.

Soon,

Fwoosh.

Like a stone dropped into a calm pond, platinum radiance spread out from the glowing Obelisk. This light filled the vast valley and extended to the battlefield of the giant beasts.

More precisely,

“Just die already… huh?”

“What, what is this?”

It touched the Nemean Lion, which was fighting against a multitude of giants.

Then,

“Roar!”

With an enormous roar, the Nemean Lion, whose momentum had been waning, shook its body violently. What was even more surprising, was that its struggle became much fiercer than at the start of the battle.

“Ack!”

“Where did this sudden strength come from?”

In response, Toas tried to command calmly, exerting all his strength, but it was in vain.

“Ugh! It must be some kind of buff! Don’t panic, focus your strength!”

“Set, Atum.”

With a clear melodious voice echoing in their ears,

『You are recognized as enemies by the Obelisk user.』

『Your stats decrease by 26%.』

“What, what is this…!”

A nightmare of a night descended upon them.