I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 69

The Poison Hand’s Reversal began.

Joo Young-saeng was greatly dismayed.

His carefully crafted poker face couldn’t mask his true feelings, as an unforeseen event had unfolded.

‘How is my mana reversing? There shouldn’t be a way to resist my unique mana emission!’

Always the one to catch others off guard, he felt a wave of disbelief as the tables turned.

If he released Shin-hwa’s hand in his current state, the reversed mana would strike his mana pathways directly.

At best, he would be severely injured.

He could try to protect his mana pathways, but that would likely leave him incapacitated for months.

‘I can’t lose!’

He didn’t know what trick Shin-hwa was using, but he believed he still had a chance to counterattack.

Whoosh!

Joo Young-saeng summoned all his strength, gathering his mana to its peak and channeling it back into the Poison Hand.

He reasoned that Shin-hwa’s resistance was only temporary. In other words, he decided a swift, overwhelming assault would be enough.

But then.

“How simple.”

As he amplified the Poison Hand, Shin-hwa looked at him and smirked.

A chilling smile.

Joo Young-saeng hated that expression, as if Shin-hwa had seen through his every move.

“Die!”

Joo Young-saeng unleashed his mana.

Instantly invading Shin-hwa’s mana pathways, he exerted his power, uncaring of the consequences.

At that moment, restoring his wounded pride was more important than any attempt to win Shin-hwa over.

“Huh?”

Something was wrong.

It felt as if he were pushing against an unyielding wall.

Rather, it felt like the wall was pushing back, cornering and crushing him.

Joo Young-saeng felt a surge of humiliation.

The ultimate attack he had thrown with all his might.

It seemed to have no effect on Shin-hwa, not even a gram’s worth.

“Why? Is something not working out?”

“That can’t be…”

“Joo Young-saeng, do you always have to win and the other person always lose? Like a coin has two sides, shouldn’t there be times when you get the short end of the stick?”

“But no one has ever withstood my Poison Hand so easily…”

“Of course, probably not until now. So, experience it firsthand. See how awful it feels to be on the receiving end of your actions.”

“W-wait a minute!”

Ignoring Joo Young-saeng’s desperate cries, Shin-hwa unleashed his mana violently, flailing one arm.

Joo Young-saeng’s increase in the Poison Hand’s mana became a critical blow in reverse.

As the Poison Hand’s mana intensified, Joo Young-saeng’s mana pathways began to twist in earnest.

Fingers, hands, elbows, shoulders, and then past the collarbone, reaching the vicinity of his heart.

The reversal was instantaneous.

Shin-hwa’s mana, with an output at least five times greater than his own, was an unstoppable force.

It was like a powerless human facing a towering tsunami that blotted out the sky.

Joo Young-saeng felt utterly helpless.

“Please save me! If the Poison Hand reverses like this, I might die! Please, I beg you…!”

Joo Young-saeng desperately pleaded for his life, even kneeling before Shin-hwa.

It was a pathetic scream.

The triumphant look he had worn moments ago was gone, replaced by a pathetic loser begging for mercy.

“The countless people who suffered at your hands must have begged you for help too. They must have asked you to take back the Poison Hand. But did you?”

“I’m sorry! I’m really sorry…! Keuh-eok!”

Before Joo Young-saeng could finish his sentence, Shin-hwa unleashed his mana.

It was a ‘strike’ that reversed the Poison Hand even more deeply than expected, as he had put more strength into it than he had intended.

“Cough! Cough! Ugh!”

Not only dark red blood but also unidentifiable clumps of blood poured from his mouth.

‘Some of his mana pathways are shattered.’

Shin-hwa could sense it.

But he wouldn’t be satisfied with merely disabling a portion.

Wasn’t Joo Young-saeng the one who had tried to turn him into a puppet, a fate worse than death?

What goes around comes around, karma, rewarding good and punishing evil.

Shin-hwa believed in the wisdom and power of his ancestors’ idioms.

“Since it’s yours, take it all back.”

Whoosh!

“……!”

Joo Young-saeng’s mana pathways burst, unable to withstand his own Poison Hand rushing in reverse.

Although the sound was inaudible.

It was evident from the momentary silence and his eyes, which seemed ready to explode.

And.

Drip. Dripping.

Blood flowed from every orifice – eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.

“Even if we were to consider cause and effect, it would only appear that he died from an autoimmune reaction to the Poison Hand. It’s suicide.”

The power Shin-hwa used was only his mana emission ability.

It was the Poison Hand that targeted Shin-hwa and threatened Joo Young-saeng’s life by reversing.

Of course, it was self-defense.

Even the possibility of homicide, which could be raised with a very small chance, seemed to have vanished.

“Repent and reflect on the people you’ve manipulated in that way until now. Of course, you probably can’t do it alive.”

“Keuh-heok…”

Thud.

Joo Young-saeng felt his heart rate slowing, his face contorted in despair.

He glared at Shin-hwa with resentment, but Shin-hwa didn’t even meet his gaze.

“I… I can’t die like this…”

Joo Young-saeng’s last moments were pathetic as he tried to grab Shin-hwa’s clothes, even the tips of his toes.

“Hello, is this the KSA [Korean Superhuman Association]? There’s a criminal here who is clearly banned from formal entry. You need to dispatch someone.”

Shin-hwa was already calling the KSA.

The Republic of Korea has a comprehensive entry ban on overseas Awakened criminal organizations and their members.

Therefore, Joo Young-saeng’s presence here was illegal and subject to severe punishment.

“What happened? I don’t know. He suddenly started vomiting blood while passing by and then collapsed.”

Joo Young-saeng hung his head at Shin-hwa’s report, which made even his last moments miserable.

He wanted to say something, to struggle, but his burst mana pathways extinguished even the spark of life.

“Keureuk.”

That was the end.

The specialist sent by Oseong Group to win over Shin-hwa became a cold corpse in a foreign land.

It was a humiliating death for the A+ rank Awakened, outmaneuvered by Shin-hwa’s wit from beginning to end.

‘Those Oseong Group bastards were a troublesome and ill-fated relationship in my past life, and nothing is different in this life.’

Shin-hwa frowned and headed home.

Before leaving, he examined the artifacts worn by Joo Young-saeng, wondering if there was anything useful.

But they all required training in Oseong Group’s unique, sinister, and cruel methods to be effective, so the synergy was poor.

It was better not to wear them at all. So, he left them.

* * *

Meanwhile, that night at 11:30 PM.

Thirty minutes before midnight.

The KSA headquarters was buzzing with activity since a few hours ago due to the official address – or public apology – scheduled for midnight.

It was prompted by the ‘Jeju Island Incident,’ which became a major issue at noon through an article by Park Hyun, a reporter for the Superhuman Daily.

This article, which criticized the KSA’s chronic safety insensitivity, was not a simple matter.

It was highly credible because Shin-hwa vividly testified about what happened on Jeju Island.

In particular, the evidence was clear: the Jeju branch had sent an emergency disaster text message to the entire Jeju area, considering the possibility of an outbreak.

Although it was a Level 1 risk alert, only one agent was dispatched for internal exploration.

Unlike Seoul, they didn’t issue a prior warning even though there was a dungeon showing signs of an outbreak.

Furthermore, Shin-hwa, not even affiliated with the KSA, had to help Yoon Byeol because there were no agents available in an emergency.

All the facts were revealed in detail.

The KSA’s official website had long been paralyzed due to the flood of protests from numerous Awakened and ordinary people.

Lee Ha-seong did not resent Shin-hwa for the Jeju Island incident, which was clearly reported through him.

‘I must reflect on myself first. The CSA [Chinese Superhuman Association] also lost the trust of Chinese Awakeners because of that. There’s no law that says the KSA can’t follow in their footsteps.’

Lee Ha-seong instead made a painful self-assessment.

He had been focusing on expanding the KSA’s influence and power, becoming lax on safety issues.

It was also a problem that he sent Song Seong-rim, who had a low performance rating, to the Jeju branch, assuming there would be no issues.

So, he had already dismissed Song Seong-rim before the address.

It was a rare and swift measure taken by the head of the headquarters.

‘I should be grateful instead.’

Lee Ha-seong wanted to thank Shin-hwa for sounding the alarm for the entire KSA with this incident.

He also thought he should give him appropriate compensation for helping Yoon Byeol and defeating the boss monster of the outbreak dungeon.

All of this was scheduled to be announced during the address.

* * *

Click. Fshhhh.

A can of beer at midnight.

The vodka and whiskey I enjoyed at the Jeju Island villa were nice, but it seems my taste is cheap.

Soju and beer can be so delicious.

“Now it’s six bottles.”

Combined with the mana potion I just made, I now have six bottles.

There was still time until the sale, as I decided to sell them all at once when I gathered more.

“Hmm.”

I lay on the bed and turned my gaze to the TV.

Lee Ha-seong, the head of the KSA headquarters, was about to give a public address at midnight.

The reason was obviously the press report I had released through Park Hyun around noon.

I wanted to see the KSA’s reaction and criticize their laxity.

The KSA must work hard so that even if I retire in the future, they won’t come begging me for help!

No one would believe me if I said this was a wise arrangement out of patriotism, right? Well, I wouldn’t believe it either.

Anyway, I focused on Lee Ha-seong’s address, which had just begun.

“First of all, I sincerely apologize to the people. The outbreak incident on Jeju Island was my fault. It is entirely my mistake and the KSA’s mistake.”

“He admits it cleanly. Yes, that’s the kind of attitude I wanted. No lame excuses.”

I nodded at Lee Ha-seong’s appearance as he apologized with a deep bow.

If the KSA recognizes its problems, reflects on them, and corrects itself to avoid repeating the same mistakes,

The future of the KSA will be much brighter than it is now. A virtuous cycle. And that will soon benefit me as well.

“I’m doing a lot of good deeds.”

A lonely and desolate self-praise with no one to praise me. But I don’t think I’m wrong.

But right then.

Lee Ha-seong, who seemed to be bowing and returning to the podium, came forward again.

Standing in the center of all the camera angles, where camera flashes were constantly going off, he looked at the screen and continued to speak clearly.

“I would like to take this opportunity to officially express my gratitude to one person.

There is someone who directly prevented the outbreak situation on Jeju Island, stepping in when the KSA was late in providing support.

That is Kang Shin-hwa.

I would like to personally and on behalf of the entire KSA express my gratitude to ‘Kang Shin-hwa,’ who heroically defeated the boss monster.”

“What, I’m on TV?”

My name was being vigorously reported on a national address that many people were watching!