I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 289

289

The Rekknat Knights are renowned for their unwavering defense, often deployed in formations of 10 or 100.

They specialize in anti-magic combat and have earned a fearsome reputation as mage hunters.

This is largely due to Danju’s comprehensive training, which has thoroughly equipped the Rekknat Knights with knowledge of mages’ vulnerabilities.

As I charged toward them, my mind raced back to the ‘Golden Leather Notebook’ left behind by Elijah.

It contained writings detailing the weaknesses of the Order he once belonged to.

Of course, he never intended for such information to fall into my hands.

Regardless, having prior knowledge of the enemy’s weaknesses offered a significant advantage in the upcoming battle.

Furthermore, the timing of the Rekknat Knights’ appearance seemed almost too convenient, as if they materialized precisely when I was nearby.

Had they arrived even slightly earlier or later, I might not have been so impetuous in rushing into the fray.

Woooong. Woooong. Woooong.

The summoning ritual was underway.

I even locked eyes with some of the knights.

Their expressions were quite something to behold.

How can I describe it?

It was akin to watching a massive truck hurtling toward you, knowing you’re powerless to move.

“I’m crashing this party, you bastards!”

With my entire body enveloped in Steel Enhancement, I fearlessly plunged headfirst into the midst of the Rekknat Knights.

I charged in with the unwavering intent to eliminate them.

My body, fortified by Steel Enhancement and Transcendental Acceleration, became a juggernaut in its own right.

Bang! Crack! Kagagagak!

“Kkeuaaaa!”

“Kkeueo!”

Screams of agony echoed from all directions as the knights fell like toppled bowling pins.

Their failure to recognize the vulnerability inherent in teleportation magic circles proved to be a fatal miscalculation.

Granted, the period of stiffness was fleeting, lasting only about one to two seconds… but that was more than enough.

Kaddeuk! Kadeuk! Woojikkeun!

It was far less taxing on my mind to simply charge forward like an enraged bull, devoid of thought.

And then, after a brief moment.

The instant their stiffness began to dissipate.

“Die helplessly!”

I rampaged through the ranks of knights with even greater ferocity, this time wielding the Stellard Sword to cut them down.

Spinning at breakneck speed, I ground the enemies into a bloody pulp, like a human mixer.

The Stellard Sword possessed sufficient power to effortlessly cleave through their plate mail and standard steel swords.

Stellard ore is considered a rare and precious metal, even on the Nas Continent [a fictional continent in the story’s world].

Naturally, none of the knights were equipped with armor crafted from such a material.

‘Jang Dong-shik truly bestowed upon me a magnificent gift.’

I found myself once again grateful to Jang Dong-shik. I couldn’t help but feel indebted to him for entrusting me with this invaluable metal.

“Keuk.”

“Keuheok…….”

The Rekknat Knights succumbed helplessly to the dance of death I unleashed with all my might.

The expressions of those observing from a distance were truly a sight to behold.

The arrogant visages they wore, confident in the arrival of the Rekknat Knights, were now replaced by a deathly pallor.

Fear.

It must have been an unfamiliar sensation for those who had long thrived on the prestige of Reccero and the Order.

They had only ever faced the Resistance, a toothless tiger, and were thus unaccustomed to true opposition.

“Kkeueooo…….”

The area surrounding the teleportation magic circle, which I had thoroughly ravaged, was now littered with groaning knights.

Since I had steeled myself and charged in headfirst, enduring even the pain, not a single knight emerged unscathed.

“Kkeueung.”

In truth, I wasn’t entirely without injury either.

After all, isn’t a traffic accident something that inflicts damage on both parties, unless there’s a significant disparity in size?

But it was a pain I welcomed.

Above all, there was an undeniable sense of exhilaration in the fact that I had single-handedly wrought such havoc.

‘Let’s press on. Strike while the iron is hot.’

I resolved to adopt an even more aggressive approach.

The reason I had been conserving my strength somewhat was due to concerns that additional forces might be deployed.

However, it appeared that they had opted to dispatch only a portion of the Knights, rather than the entire Rekknat Knights contingent, to this location.

There was no sign of additional support.

In that case, I should waste no time in eliminating the source of the problem and then proceed to destroy the altar.

‘Reccero, are you merely testing the waters in this situation? Well, you probably don’t realize what’s coming.’

I gnashed my teeth.

Of course, it wasn’t out of anger.

I felt a sense of pity for Reccero, who still couldn’t fully comprehend the gravity of the situation.

If it had been me back in January, I would have struggled immensely with this battle, let alone a confrontation with Reccero himself.

But things are different now.

Unless Reccero personally intervenes, my relentless advance cannot be halted.

However, Reccero remains oblivious.

He doesn’t yet grasp how formidable I, Kang Shin-hwa, have become since deliberately setting foot on the Nas Continent.

The longer it takes him to realize this, the better it will be for me.

Because it allows me to get closer to him.

The next moment.

Whirrrl!

I activated the talent I acquired from Elijah, ‘Incarnation’ [a talent that allows the user to manifest a powerful aura or form].

The strength of Incarnation lies in its ability to simulate burning without actually causing self-immolation.

“Keueo…….”

Among the knights, some of the more resilient ones were regaining consciousness and attempting to rise to their feet.

While I had strategies in mind to overcome their defenses, it was preferable to end things swiftly, if possible.

“Haaap!”

With a resounding shout, I transformed into a blazing inferno and began to bestow upon the knights a ‘hug of death’.

Whirrrl! Hwileuk! Whirrrl!

“Kkeueuaaaaa……!”

Groans of unbearable agony reverberated throughout the area.

It is said that the most excruciating pain a human can endure is the sensation of being burned alive.

As I embraced the knight tightly and intensified the flames, the intensity of the screaming escalated even further.

“Kkeueuk! Kkeueueueuk!”

The flames relentlessly penetrated the armor, melting the knight’s flesh and skin without hesitation.

The human body is a marvel of resilience, and it doesn’t succumb immediately simply because the skin or flesh is slightly burned and cooked.

Thus, the screams of the sacrificed knight instilled terror in all the surrounding knights.

“…….”

I could clearly discern it in the eyes of the knights who made fleeting eye contact with me.

They were casting aside the Rekknat Knights’ honor and calculating the optimal moment to flee.

“What are you just staring at?”

Cheoeop!

“Kkeuaaa!”

In the meantime, I swiftly identified the next victim and latched onto him.

In truth, if they had steeled their resolve, they could have launched a coordinated counterattack against me.

I am not invincible.

They still possessed the advantage in numbers, and I had vulnerabilities that could be exploited.

But they were overwhelmed by the sheer force of my momentum.

They witnessed their comrades burning to death before their very eyes, melting away within their armor…….

They had already lost their will to fight.

The intensely shaking eyes, visible despite the splendid dark armor, indicated that the situation was already beyond redemption.

“The opponent is just one guy! Don’t back down, respond…….”

One of the knights, seemingly the captain, attempted to rally his subordinates with fervent enthusiasm, but.

Ssaeaeaeng! Seogeok!

I charged forward without hesitation, utilizing Transcendental Acceleration, and severed his head with the Stellard Sword, now ablaze with flames.

Tudduk. Tuk. Tuk.

The captain’s mouth, which had been beheaded mid-sentence, opened and closed, uttering words that would never be completed.

But they went unheard.

“Hiiiik……!”

The leader’s head tumbled to the ground.

That marked the end of everything.

I sensed it, and they must have sensed it too.

That there existed a chasm in skill between me and them that could never be bridged.

Fear spread like a contagious disease.

And.

“Euaaaa!”

They began to flee, vying for the lead as if they had reached a silent agreement.

The esteemed name of the Rekknat Knights proved utterly helpless in the face of the primal fear of death.

‘The main force hasn’t arrived yet.’

I wasn’t complacent.

These are not the elite of the Rekknat Knights. They are disposable assets, readily sacrificed at any moment.

‘Let’s see how long you’ll continue to throw them at me.’

I smiled, brimming with confidence.

A wildfire that has grown uncontrollably is difficult to extinguish easily unless a counterfire is set.

The best of the Rekknat Knights, or Reccero himself—individuals who are on my level—will have to emerge.

Otherwise, from this moment forward, there is only one fate that the Order can anticipate.

A one-sided massacre.

There will be no exceptions.

* * *

Reccero, who failed to accurately assess Shin-hwa’s capabilities, was forced to pay a heavy price.

Ultimately, the fourth Vice-Order was annihilated. Of course, the architect of this destruction was none other than Shin-hwa.

“If even master-level knights are unable to prevail, and even 7th class mages [a high rank of mages] can’t handle him, then this…….”

Reccero observed Shin-hwa’s performance reflected in the crystal ball and was now utterly convinced.

That he is not a person originating from this world, but rather an existence from another dimension altogether.

Shin-hwa’s abilities, as witnessed through the crystal ball, confounded Reccero.

He altered his body at will, wielded a diverse array of powers, and skillfully defended against attacks.

Upon witnessing liquefaction and steel reinforcement, he questioned whether this was a person or a monster from mythology.

Of course, Reccero himself did not possess such extraordinary talents.

“Why now, of all times?”

Blood trickled from Reccero’s tightly bitten lips.

Shin-hwa’s emergence occurred at a time when he was unable to abandon his post, with the completion of the Main-Order [a significant objective or structure] drawing near.

It was too coincidental to be mere chance. And it was too perfectly timed.

It was as if he had been patiently awaiting this very moment.

Shin-hwa appeared precisely when his presence was most crucial to the Main-Order.

The completion of the Main-Order, situated within the palace, was the destiny and mission that Rekknat had entrusted to him.

Rekknat’s existence served as the root and source of Reccero’s being, rendering them inseparable.

Rekknat, who had bestowed upon him a new life when he was but an insignificant human, was his benefactor for life.

Reccero was prepared to sacrifice everything for the soul of the Demon King.

“There must be a reason for this.”

Reccero temporarily halted the flow of dark energy he was channeling into the Main-Order and returned to the secret chamber.

It was a measure he couldn’t undertake frequently, as it demanded numerous sacrifices, but it was imperative now.

He needed to commune with the soul of Rekknat.

The soul of the Demon King, residing in a realm far beyond the grasp of human comprehension, would be able to provide a definitive answer.

Cheolkeok!

Gooooooo!

Kkeuaaaaa!

A horrifying spectacle unfolded as over a thousand ‘living people’ were cast into the pit that stretched far below.

It was an offering of sacrifices.

Burning the lives of the living and harnessing the resulting spiritual power to establish communication with the Demon King.

Numerous lives were extinguished with the mere push of a button, yet Reccero remained unmoved.

All of them were prisoners belonging to the Resistance.

They were less than insects, so he believed he was granting them an ‘honorable death’.

Soon.

Shyaaaaa.

The energy of spiritual power, derived from the sacrifice of countless lives, reached Reccero, and the figure of a demon materialized before him.

It was the soul of the Demon King Rekknat, who had been slain long ago by the hero of the Nas Continent, ‘Jared von Yukales’.

The instant the spiritual power made contact with him.

Rekknat immediately conveyed the most crucial words to Reccero, as if he had been eagerly awaiting this moment.

-Transcendent power…… is disrupting…… all timelines. A serious imbalance is occurring…….

Rekknat’s initial words.

From the outset, it was a dire pronouncement that caused Reccero’s face to contort in a frown.