I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 288

Upon hearing the news that the Mallorca Altar had been completely destroyed by a single person, Leccero was aghast.

If Oblan had been the one to do it, he would have understood, knowing Oblan was capable of such a feat.

Until now, Leccero hadn’t worried, confident that Oblan’s movements were restricted.

Simply put, Oblan was a hero operating at half-capacity.

To be sure, entering Oblan’s territory as an ‘attacker’ was a proposition filled with trepidation.

Conversely, he never imagined he’d have to defend against Oblan’s attack as a ‘defender’.

But now, a new variable had emerged.

A figure even more formidable than Oblan had appeared. And this being was a third party entirely unknown to Leccero.

“What is this…”

Leccero watched the battle footage of this ‘Myth’ through a crystal ball, the images barely salvaged from the scene.

Most of the video equipment had been swept away and destroyed by the Myth’s shockwaves.

Only a few recordings taken from a distance remained intact, providing the only data on the Myth.

“This fighter’s style is unlike anything seen on the Nas Continent.”

Leccero’s expression twisted as he scrutinized the crystal ball’s screen. He was certain: it wasn’t Nas Continent martial arts.

This being was neither a wizard nor a knight, not even a monster.

If it were some kind of ‘final weapon’ Oblan had been holding back, he would have deployed it long ago.

How much damage had the resistance suffered previously? He would have revealed it then.

“Could it be…”

Leccero’s thoughts raced.

His mind turned to Earth.

There was precedent for dispatching apostles to Earth using magic.

Therefore, the possibility of a reverse flow couldn’t be dismissed.

He didn’t know the method, but it seemed a way had been found.

‘Is there a traitor among the apostles?’

The possibility, however slim, existed.

But crossing dimensions was another matter entirely.

Leccero could only send apostles on a one-way trip using magic; a round trip was beyond his capabilities.

Had he known a return was possible, he would have gone to Earth himself long ago.

“Damn it…”

Because of this sudden appearance of the Myth, Leccero’s thoughts became as tangled as a knotted thread.

He desperately wanted to rush to the scene and confront the Myth, but he couldn’t.

The completion of the main altar was just days away, meaning the foundation for Lechnat’s incarnation was nearly complete.

For the main altar’s completion, he needed to remain close, providing a stable supply of dark energy.

Otherwise, the incomplete altar could go berserk at any moment.

A rampage meant an explosion, and if the main altar exploded… disaster would befall Leccero’s church.

“Fucking hell!”

Bang!

Leccero slammed his fist on the desk beside him.

Only a short time remained, less than a week! And this incident occurred right before the deadline.

First, he headed to the secret room next to the throne to check on the apostles.

* * *

Leccero wasn’t without a safety net: the Great Transition [a magical ability to transfer consciousness].

If something happened to him on the Nas Continent, he could steal the body of one of the apostles using this ability.

Then, even if his physical form perished on the Nas Continent, he could continue his life on Earth.

“What the hell is going on…”

Leccero entered the secret room, stroked the black crystal ball, and immediately activated the Geumje [a mind-reading spell].

He usually avoided using it due to its high mental energy consumption.

But now, he had to see. He had to know what had happened.

But…

“…Why can’t I see anything?”

All Leccero saw was endless darkness.

From Apostle Ricanella to the other four, the Geumje failed to activate, as if by agreement.

It wasn’t a connection problem.

“…Could it be that they’re dead?”

This was the darkness one saw when the target was deceased. If they were alive, the situation would be different.

Furthermore, the Geumje wasn’t even connected to Apostle Kasron – Jang Dong-sik.

“Where did things go wrong…”

Leccero’s voice trailed off.

He had confirmed the Geumje’s connection was stable just a month ago.

But now…

It was completely severed.

The four couldn’t reach each other, and the other one had cut off the connection entirely.

At that moment.

A chilling sensation ran down Leccero’s spine.

It felt like the tower he had diligently built was collapsing.

It wasn’t just a hunch; it was reality. Something was terribly wrong.

* * *

I immediately began attacking the second altar.

This time, I targeted the altar located in the Kaisl Territory.

Moving was easy.

I secretly used the activated long-distance teleportation magic circle in the basement to move directly to the scene.

Makadi was a great help in this process, possessing a deeper knowledge of the Nas Continent’s ‘underworld’ than I expected.

When our Nine Lords arrived on the Nas Continent in my past life, the ‘resistance’ infrastructure had already been destroyed.

It was after the bloodbath.

Oblan was dead, and the resistance had suffered a devastating blow. Makadi was the sole survivor.

But now, the underground infrastructure built by the resistance remained intact.

They were bravely building their own hope even in despair.

“Shall I help you?”

“No. Leave this altar to me. I’d appreciate it if Makadi-nim could draw the Lechnat Order’s attention as much as possible, along with Oblan-nim.”

“You said it was the Martnan Altar, right?”

“That’s right. No need to attack recklessly; just hit and run with guerrilla tactics.”

I had Makadi and Oblan attack one of Leccero’s sub-altars with the resistance.

From now on, it’s a race against time.

Deception is also crucial.

This is the moment just before Leccero’s dream comes true, when his power is at its weakest.

It’s vital to plunge the situation into a chaotic free-for-all as much as possible.

“…I’m sorry. I never thought I would place such a heavy burden on Kang Shin-hwa.”

“You didn’t force me. It’s the path I chose.”

I said calmly.

I desperately wanted to tell Makadi about Nicholas and her future, but I held back.

No, even if I told her, she wouldn’t understand.

This damn ‘regression’ is too difficult to explain rationally.

Anyway, just thinking about Nicholas makes me feel nostalgic and suddenly angry.

I parted ways with Makadi.

She seemed worried and wanted to stay by my side, but frankly, she would only be a burden.

If we were together, I’d have to prioritize her safety, which would significantly drain my mental strength.

‘Now the Lechnat Knights will appear.’

I had a good idea of what would happen next.

Leccero is quick-witted.

Since one of his five crucial sub-altars has been destroyed, he’ll try to extinguish the fire quickly.

Of course, even if all the sub-altars are destroyed, the ceremony can still proceed if the main altar remains intact.

However, the ceremony’s progress will be significantly slowed.

Leccero, on the verge of success, would never welcome such a situation.

He’ll be more eager than anyone to put out the fire before the embers become a raging inferno.

‘It seems I can’t rely on stealth anymore. It’s a pity, but I have no choice but to destroy it with a frontal assault.’

Crack.

I loosened my stiff hands as I gazed at the altar before me, proudly displaying its majesty.

From now on, it’s a real fight.

* * *

Thanks to the magic engineering facility that can detect transparency, Shin-hwa’s stealth approach became impossible.

But that didn’t deter Shin-hwa.

“Kuaaaak!”

“Kaak!”

As soon as the battle began, the Order members died helplessly from all directions.

With magic skills of only 3rd class or less at best, and swordsmanship honed over only a few years…

They couldn’t last even a second against Shin-hwa. Against him, their skills were as insignificant as falling leaves.

“Is it the reincarnation of the God of Destruction…?”

“Who the hell is it? Who is it!”

The members were shocked.

There was only one enemy.

Even after rubbing their eyes repeatedly, it was clear there was only one enemy.

Yet, the hundreds of defenders on the Order’s side were being unilaterally beaten and collapsing.

The members died without even screaming, overwhelmed by the barrage of explosive punches Shin-hwa relentlessly unleashed.

“It’s too much of a luxury to use more than 3 chapters of Explosive Fist on these bug-like guys. Is it too easy?”

Shin-hwa shrugged.

Even after fighting quite a few battles, his body still wasn’t warmed up.

There was no offensive or defensive struggle to even warm up his body.

“Hiiiik!”

“Uaaaaaa!”

The members screamed.

Even with an overwhelming numerical advantage, they didn’t dare attack Shin-hwa.

Only 5 minutes had passed since the start of the battle.

The number of members who had already died in just 300 seconds reached 500.

It was such a one-sided slaughter that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a massacre.

Shin-hwa began to rush towards the altar, looking down on the Order members with arrogance.

“Stop him! Stop him!”

“You stop him, you crazy bastard!”

The panicked members pushed each other. Of course, none of them stepped forward.

“Then, I’ll pass?”

“…!”

Shin-hwa began to break through with transcendental acceleration, the members parting like the Red Sea in the miracle of Moses.

From the beginning, Shin-hwa’s purpose wasn’t killing.

He just needed to destroy the altar’s core and retrieve the ore.

“E, eeeit!”

Ppeoeong!

One of the members, rushing in bravely despite knowing he would die, was shattered into pieces by Shin-hwa’s explosive fist.

“This is ridiculous…”

Everyone was shocked again.

At that moment.

Even the members who had decided to fight completely lost their will to fight.

Unless they wanted to die like dogs, no one could approach Shin-hwa.

Belief in the Order?

Loyalty to Leccero?

The majesty Shin-hwa displayed was beyond imagination, enough to shatter all of that.

But right then.

Wiiiing. Wiiing.

The summoning sound began to emanate from the teleportation magic circle near the altar’s center.

Judging from the rapidly clearing black silhouette, someone was arriving.

And at this moment.

There was only one group who could use the teleportation magic circle to enter the altar.

‘Lechnat Knights! They finally appeared.’

Shin-hwa smiled at the appearance of the enemies he had been waiting for.

And the next moment.

Goooo!

He began to rush towards the teleportation magic circle at full speed.

The teleportation magic circle didn’t offer immediate manifestation.

There was a short but clear ‘delay’ until the summoning was complete.

It was an extremely short time, but it was a ‘time of stiffness’ during which nothing could be done.

Shin-hwa was aiming for that.