I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 204

204

‘Why is his response so fast?’

As the battle with Shinwa continued, the question marks in Russell’s head, the VVIP [Very Very Important Person, a high-ranking individual], only grew larger.

From before the fight even began, Russell had already judged Shinwa’s skill as ‘SS Rank’.

Because all the Awakened he had defeated so far were skilled to that degree.

In other words, even though he acknowledged Shinwa as an ‘Irregular’ and faced him with a sufficient upward evaluation…

‘He’s dealing with my attacks too easily.’

Shinwa’s response was too clean.

The talents Russell possessed numbered over 15, just by simple count.

Of course, that’s fifteen in the broad category of talents, and if you break it down into smaller scales, it’s three times that.

Until now, no Awakened had ever withstood Russell’s attacks like this.

Even if they countered some familiar talents, they couldn’t handle the variables that suddenly popped up.

So he had always been victorious, absorbing the talents by eating the ‘human flesh’ of his sacrificed opponents.

Talent Devourer.

That was the blessing bestowed upon Russell, who started a new life as an Awakened after crossing over from the Nas Continent.

He was overwhelmingly stronger now than in his past as an Apostle. Beyond comparison.

So even though he lost all his ‘black magic’ in the process of awakening, he didn’t regret it at all.

‘How does he know how to counter all these talents?’

That was Russell’s question.

No matter how talented, and even if they were a rising star who suddenly appeared like a comet.

They always had one fatal flaw. That is, a lack of experience.

Many Awakened who were called promising or rising stars were actually like that.

Because experience is something that slowly accumulates over time, an absolute condition.

So, among the talents Russell had absorbed, many were obtained from promising individuals.

Compared to what was known to the outside world, they had many gaps, making it easy to take their lives.

But Shinwa was not like that.

The more he fought, the more he felt like he was facing a solid wall. He didn’t even waver.

‘To think there would be a guy who could threaten me this much, me who has toughened up on the battlefields of the Nas Continent.’

Russell clicked his tongue.

Until now, he had faced many skilled individuals inside the WSA [World Superhuman Association] in the concept of sparring or mock battles.

Himself, an SSS+ rank.

He experimented against many, from A-rank Awakened to SSS-rank Awakened.

The result was a winning streak.

He had never been pushed back by them, or been embarrassed and struggled against their attacks.

But Shinwa renewed all his memories and gave him the feeling of embarrassment for the first time.

“VVIP! What are you thinking so hard about? You have that much 余裕 [yoyuu, leeway or composure]?”

Thwack!

“Ugh!”

While his mind was elsewhere for a moment, Shinwa, who had exploited the gap, landed a direct hit on his abdomen.

What he had felt throughout the battle was that the blow Shinwa unleashed was not an ordinary punch.

It was a kind of special technique that compressed and contained highly refined power.

From Russell’s perspective, who didn’t know the ‘Explosive Fist’ martial art of the Mugang Continent, it was an unpredictable variable.

Meanwhile, Shinwa relentlessly tormented Russell by utilizing various options from Explosive Fist chapters 1 to 8.

In the process of continuing the probing, he had confirmed that Russell’s ability to respond to martial arts and physical skills was poor.

‘Originally, most black magicians from the Nas Continent were like that. They were weak against martial arts and physical skills from the Mugang Continent.’

It was a kind of compatibility.

Earth’s Awakened had many weaknesses to the black magic of the Nas Continent.

And black magicians were vulnerable to the martial arts of the Mugang Continent.

And the martial artists of the Mugang Continent were also weak against the ‘talents’ of the Awakened.

It was a food chain relationship where they ate and were eaten by each other.

But Shinwa was in a situation where he could utilize both the talents of the Awakened and martial arts at the same time.

Therefore, from Russell’s perspective, who had gained most of his experience on the Nas Continent, it was bound to be difficult to deal with.

“Die!”

Whoosh! Whooosh! Whoosh!

The talent that Russell, who was on the defensive, unleashed towards Shinwa.

It was a talent that created numerous black hands from the empty air and bound the opponent.

It was a gambit to create a variable.

Because it was one of the special talents that was not well known to the outside world.

It was also a talent that Russell had enjoyed quite a bit when facing other Awakened.

Touch of the Dead.

It was a lucrative talent absorbed from an Awakened who wielded necromancy-related talents.

Because once any part of the body is caught by a black hand, paralysis is immediately induced.

‘He certainly has a lot of talents. To think that talents would pop out at the level of a general store.’

Shinwa was calm.

Even if he didn’t know anything else, it seemed certain that he had devoured many talents.

There seemed to be many talents that even ordinary Awakened couldn’t even guess what they were.

But the problem is.

‘I can see everything!’

Russell had no idea how deep Shinwa’s experience was.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Shinwa quickly utilized the Blink Ring and evaded the Touch of the Dead with continuous evasion.

It is characterized by the hands reaching out irregularly twice in the air, but he successfully avoided them.

“……!”

Russell’s eyes wavered.

Shinwa evaded so cleanly that it was embarrassing for the caster.

The Touch of the Dead is target-based.

When a target is specified, the hand suddenly reaches out from the location of that target.

So usually, even if you evade it once.

You couldn’t avoid the attack that popped out again as a surprise.

But Shinwa avoided the attack too easily, as if he had known everything from the beginning.

“Dull, dull!”

In return, what Russell received was Shinwa’s blade that quickly approached and slashed his side.

“Ugh!”

With a hot sensation, a thick groan containing pain was involuntarily released.

Whoosh!

Russell, who had been hit, hurriedly utilized his space movement talent and retreated about 30m.

“Why? Are you scared?”

Shinwa’s provocation, with a full smile and beckoning his fingertips, caught Russell’s eye.

The desire to rush in right away surged, but Russell calmly calmed his mind again.

Russell’s own long probing was over.

Russell judged that Shinwa lacked ‘three things’.

First, there was no unnecessary movement.

Second, unless he intentionally showed it, there were no gaps in his defense.

Third, there was no lack of experience in being flustered by any form of gambit.

‘I underestimated him too much. Good. I can give him a high enough score. That’s why I want his talent even more.’

Russell adjusted his evaluation of Shinwa’s skills upward. At least SSS- or higher.

It was the highest rating among the Awakened Russell had faced so far.

Although he was an enemy, he had enough skill to give such an evaluation.

‘Where on earth did the source of his power and experience come from?’

However, Russell could not solve this one question.

What kind of divine harmony was there for him, who had been a porter just two months ago?

* * *

At the same time.

‘VVIP’s fatal weakness is clearly visible. His understanding of embodied abilities is poor.’

I was gauging his skill and realm by looking at his various ability utilizations.

He certainly had a lot of talents.

I was fortunate to have a lot of past life experience, otherwise there would have been quite a few talents that I would have been caught off guard by.

On the other hand, I felt sorry.

I couldn’t even imagine how many Awakened had been sacrificed to VVIP.

Anyway, what was certain was.

VVIP’s qualitative depth was significantly lower compared to the abundant quantitative talents he possessed.

Comparing it to an object, it was true that the appearance was perfectly copied, but the contents inside felt different.

This was a similar result to what I felt when I was acting as ‘Michelle’.

It seemed that he had the ability to absorb the talents of the Awakened, but he couldn’t master the experience.

Since he had so many talents, he wouldn’t have been able to encompass them all even if he trained.

‘Nevertheless, he is a very strong enemy. He hasn’t even used all his power.’

I was feeling it.

VVIP was gradually increasing the level of his response, feeling like he was testing my skills.

Thwack! Thwack!

“Ugh!”

Exposing the gap in my lower abdomen again to VVIP’s attack, which was starting to accelerate, I was hit.

He had more than one or two talents in the form of ‘Transcendental Acceleration’ and ‘Blink’ that I had.

As a result, when he started to link them in succession, his movements increased exponentially.

Even if I kept it low, he was definitely an SSS-rank or higher Awakened.

Even if I tried to endure somehow, I couldn’t help but be pushed back more and more.

This was by no means because of my lack of skill.

It was a congenital problem caused by the gap between the ranks, magic power, and destructive power of A and SSS.

“Cough, spit!”

Unable to bear the nausea that surged from within, I spat out phlegm mixed with blood again.

I had only allowed two attacks in a short time, but the degree of internal injury was quite severe.

Even though I wore an expensive suit as a new one, it broke through it and gave me an even greater shock.

“Kang Shin-hwa, how is it? Aren’t you starting to be ashamed of the fact that you dared to challenge me?”

“I am ashamed. I feel dirty because I’m being beaten by a guy who steals other people’s talents.”

“…….”

“Keep in mind. I’m an A-rank Awakened. Wouldn’t it be stranger if you couldn’t overwhelm me?”

I stimulated his psychology to the fullest.

Either way, I would never end the battle halfway here and leave, even if I died and came back to life.

Either I die, or he dies, one of the two.

“Good. I’ll take that spirit into account and overwhelm you for sure!”

VVIP rushed in again.

It’s a faster movement than before.

Whoosh!

The fireball he threw indifferently flew in, completely blocking my forward vision.

‘Damn it.’

I can’t see it with my eyes, but.

I can feel the murderous intent of VVIP approaching closely behind the fireball.

A dilemma of either-or.

If I defend against the fireball first, I won’t be able to block his attack that will follow immediately from behind.

If I give up on the fireball, I will be exposed to the damage itself.

To make this possible, you must be able to utilize both magical talents and acceleration abilities at the same time.

It’s usually impossible, but it was an easy choice for VVIP, who had so many absorbed talents.

‘I’ll have to go for a war of attrition.’

I had been prepared from the beginning, but.

I was trying to find a way not to use the Flower of Rebirth.

But I thought it would be difficult to get it for free.

As the opponent was who he was.

It didn’t seem like the situation would be easily resolved unless I took a gamble even at the cost of great damage.

An easy victory that can be obtained like unearned income is never given when facing this level of Awakened.

That’s why.

‘Give flesh and take bones [a strategy of sacrificing something small to gain something larger].’

Paradoxically, the plan became clearer.