I’M A Max-Level Regressor [EN]: Chapter 92

Chapter 92

SS-Rank Boss Monster.

Katabella.

It was a humanoid, bipedal creature, similar in form to a spider-human with six legs on its back.

Its height was about 2 meters 50 centimeters.

It was a giant, 60cm taller than me, and the six legs extending from its back were quite threatening.

‘Despite its size, it’s good at close combat. Moreover, the position of the six legs is suitable for targeting the upper, middle, and lower areas.’

I scanned Katabella’s entire body, making eye contact early on.

She – the external characteristics of the body make it clear that it is female – was clearly aware of our presence but did not rush to approach.

She simply watched silently with her arms crossed, looking down on us as if she were superior.

“As I said before, I have no desire for spoils at all. I’m here to gain experience.”

Marina said early on.

As we discussed before, she came to check my skills at the request of a VVIP [Very Very Important Person].

So, I showed her coolly.

I revealed a variety of skills so that she could grasp everything without hiding my strength.

‘I definitely need Katabella’s blood. If I’m a little more greedy, the bones would be helpful too.’

We need to finish talking about the distribution of spoils before attacking.

Because the suggestion of ‘Let’s catch the boss monster and think about it later!’ inevitably causes problems later.

So, I made the first move.

“Sojun, if we succeed in攻略 [capturing/defeating] Katabella, I will take the blood, bones, and organs, so will Sojun take all of the dimensional stones?”

A wise adjustment is needed.

Han Sojun smiled at my words and nodded in response.

“Let’s start with that basic distribution, and if there’s value in giving up more, we’ll do that.”

“Um, I didn’t mean to unconditionally give up.”

“Of course, I have no intention of unconditionally giving up. However, if you show me the wonderful 모습 [figure/display] you’ve shown so far, I’m willing to give up everything.”

‘Are you acknowledging me?’

I felt very good about being recognized by Han Sojun, who is as picky and 까다로운 [fastidious/finicky] as Nicholas.

He never praises with 빈말 [empty words/flattery], and if he doesn’t like it, he immediately spews 독설 [venom/biting remarks], even to close colleagues.

There’s no way he would have said such things to make me feel good when this is our first meeting. It’s 100% 진심 [sincere/genuine].

“A wonderful 모습 [figure/display]……. I always fight with all my might. I’ll show you the 초심 그대로 [original intention/beginner’s mind].”

“Don’t 맞춰진 [adjust] me too much. I can see that you’re limiting your movements to 맞춰진 호흡 [adjusted breathing/synchronized rhythm].”

You’re 예리한 [sharp/perceptive].

It seemed that it was 티가 [showing/obvious] that I had been adjusting the radius of my movements throughout the battle to 보조를 [assist/support].

Han Sojun added.

“If a pitcher only throws 직구 [fastballs] that are easy to catch, the catcher’s skills won’t improve either, right? Sometimes you have to throw 변화구 [curveballs] so they can 블로킹 [block] or 몸을 날리든 [dive/throw their body].”

“That’s a good 비유 [analogy]. Then shall we 작정하고 놀아 [really go all out/play seriously]?”

“That’s what I’ve been 바라던 [hoping/wishing for].”

I looked back and forth between Han Sojun and Marina.

Marina was not going to use ‘인형 [doll]’ in this battle.

This is because 은사 [silver thread] can be used not only on the corpses of dead monsters.

It is possible to use it on living organisms.

Of course, you have to withstand the 대상 [target]’s 거센 저항 [fierce resistance], but you can use the power of 은사 [silver thread] to suppress movement.

“Yuzuha, 잘 부탁해요 [please take care of me/I’m counting on you].”

“Don’t worry about the 후방 [rear/back].”

The preparation was perfect because Marina and I decided to strategically divide the 전방 [front] and 후방 [rear].

‘Making 식별 안경 [identification glasses/spectacles]. And acquiring Katabella’s unique ability, 즉사의 일격 [instant death strike].’

The 동기부여 [motivation] was also sufficient.

If you remove Katabella.

Through the new third 제작품 [crafted item], ‘식별 안경 [identification glasses/spectacles]’, you can add one more 레퍼토리 [repertoire] to make money.

“Let’s each 도핑 [dope/buff].”

I handed the 강화 포션 [enhancement potion] taken from 아공간 [subspace/inventory] to the two of them. There are no 재고 [stock/inventory] left. I have to make a new one.

Gulp. Gulp.

Soon after everyone finished 복용 [taking/consuming].

“Oh.”

“Haa…….”

Han Sojun and Marina made a strange sound that was hard to tell whether it was 탄성 [exclamation/gasp] or 신음 [groan] at almost the same time.

I also felt my condition 급격히 상한가를 그리며 솟구치는 [rising sharply/skyrocketing], and took an offensive stance.

-Don’t bother me and go back.

Katabella’s voice was clearly heard in my head. It was a kind of 염(念) [telepathy/thought] that could be heard without speaking.

In response to the warning that was like a 보스 몬스터 [boss monster]’s 전매특허 [trademark/signature move], I also 발산 [emitted/radiated] the 투지 [fighting spirit/will to fight] that was a 도전자의 전매특허 [challenger’s trademark].

“Let’s go!”

The battle began.

* * *

퍼퍼퍽! [sound of impact]

“크억! [groan]”

치이이이익! [sound of tearing/slicing]

At the same time as the 개전 [start of battle], Sinhwa was hit by Katabella’s 연타 [rapid/successive] 공격 [attacks], groaned, and 밀려났다 [pushed back/recoiled].

It was not because he could not respond quickly, but because it was Sinhwa’s 노림수 [aim/intention] to measure Katabella’s combat ability.

‘A direct hit would be dangerous.’

Even though it was an attack 맞은 [hit/received] in a state where the 육체 [body] was 강화 [enhanced], the 체감되는 파괴력 [felt destructive power] was considerable.

Certainly, Katabella’s main 패턴 [pattern], the leg attack, was very 위협적 [threatening/intimidating] and 강력 [powerful/strong].

“…….”

Marina, who had taken a position in the 후방 [rear] of Katabella, opposite Sinhwa, was waiting for the 때 [moment/opportunity].

She did not have the 탱킹 [tanking/withstanding damage] ability to 주고받을 공방전 [exchange blows/engage in a back-and-forth] with the 보스 몬스터 [boss monster], so Sinhwa’s movement was important.

-I’ll 갈가리 찢어 [tear to shreds] you!

Katabella 폭사 [unleashed/emitted] a 살기로 번들거리는 눈빛 [murderous glint in her eyes] at Sinhwa and stretched all six legs forward.

‘난타 [barrage/onslaught].’

Using all of her legs was Katabella’s 의지 [will/intention] to take Sinhwa’s 목숨 [life] through six 갈래 [separate/branching] routes.

Each one is a fast attack that happens in the blink of an eye, so you can’t let your 긴장을 [tension/guard] down for a moment.

‘Upper four, lower two.’

Looking at Katabella’s legs, which were 미세하게 꺾인 [slightly bent], Sinhwa 예측 [predicted/anticipated] her 공격 경로 [attack path].

Using 초월 재능 [transcendent talent], the 공격 경로 [attack path] became clearer in the form of a faint 붉은 선 [red line].

This 예측 [prediction] is not always 100% correct, but it was a hundred times better than 피하는 [dodging/evading] with 직감 [intuition/instinct].

The next moment.

후웅! 화악! 홰액! [sound effects of attacks]

Katabella’s six legs flew, drawing their own 경로 [paths], 가르며 공간 [cutting through space].

It was an 일격 [attack/strike] that was too difficult to 예측 [predict] even from the 시점 [perspective] of Marina and Han Sojun, who were watching with 긴장 [tension/nervousness].

“……!”

Sinhwa exhaled a 얕은 숨 [shallow breath] and 능숙히 피했다 [skillfully dodged] the 공격 [attacks] by 피했다 [dodging] his body and head 좌우로 [left and right] at once.

‘He 피한다 [dodges] all of that?’

‘Is he 보이는 [seeing] the 공격 [attacks]?’

The two people watching were 깜짝 놀랐다 [surprised/astonished].

Like a 복싱 선수 [boxing player] who 보고 피해 [sees and avoids] the opponent’s 펀치 공격 [punch attacks] with 동체 시력 [dynamic visual acuity].

Sinhwa 피했다 [dodged] all of Katabella’s 공격 [attacks] in a short time.

It was a 완벽한 회피 [perfect evasion] that did not allow even the slightest 스치는 피격 [grazing hit].

At that time.

“젠장 [damn/shit].”

Han Sojun, who 무심결에 [unintentionally/inadvertently] made eye contact with Katabella, 쭈뼛거렸다 [flinched/shuddered] his body.

멸시의 저주 [curse of contempt].

It was a 일시적인 금제 [temporary ban/restriction] that was 걸다 [cast/applied] on the 대상 [target] who made 정면으로 [directly/head-on] eye contact with Katabella.

It 유발하는 [induces/causes] 마비 [paralysis], 경직 상태 [stiff/rigid state], but at Han Sojun’s 정도 거리 [distance], it ends at the level of a 잠깐 몸이 움찔하는 [momentary flinch].

However, if you make eye contact when you are 2m 남짓 away like Sinhwa, you will 사실상 얼어붙게 [practically freeze].

But.

‘He’s 아이 콘택트를 하고 있잖아 [making eye contact]?’

Sinhwa was 계속해서 시선을 마주치고 [continuously making eye contact] with Katabella.

Han Sojun did not know.

Just as Sinhwa had 저항했듯이 [resisted] the 독수 [poison/venom] of 주영생 [Ju Youngsaeng] and the 능력 스캔 [ability scan] of 이하성 [Lee Haseong] before, he could 저항할 수 [resist] to Katabella’s ‘멸시의 저주 [curse of contempt]’.

The next moment.

-I’ll 찢어 버려 주마 [tear apart] the 심장 [heart]!

Katabella’s legs were 일제히 모아졌다 [simultaneously gathered] at one place, 노리고 [aiming for] Sinhwa’s 가슴팍 [chest].

Sinhwa did not 미동조차 [even flinch] from his 제자리 [spot].

Han Sojun 방출 [released/emitted] a 대량 [large amount] of 마력 [mana] and 폭발적으로 치유의 기운을 퍼부었다 [explosively poured healing energy] at Sinhwa.

That is his 본분 [duty/role].

퍼퍽! 퍽! 퍽! 퍽! [sound effects of impacts]

At once, Katabella’s 연타 [rapid/successive] 거칠게 몰아쳤 [violently struck] the 양팔 [both arms] of Sinhwa, which were 교차시킨 [crossed] in an ‘X’ 자 형태 [shape].

On Sinhwa’s 양쪽 팔 [both arms], which did not use 강철 강화 재능 [steel enhancement talent], deep 상처가 났다 [wounds were inflicted] 순식간에 [instantly].

피가 튀었고 사방으로 [blood splattered everywhere], and Sinhwa’s body, which 힘껏 내디딘 [firmly planted] the 지면 [ground], 밀려났다 쭉쭉 뒤로 [pushed straight back].

But Sinhwa did not 꿈쩍도 [budge], and 묵묵히 받아 [silently received] the 공격 [attacks] while simultaneously 받았다 치유 [received healing] from Han Sojun.

‘I didn’t know he would 무식하게 받아 낼 [bluntly receive] Katabella’s 연타 공격 [rapid attacks] like that…….’

Marina, who was 지켜보던 [watching] from behind, 혀를 내둘렀다 [shook her head/clicked her tongue]. Sinhwa was the first 각성자 [awakened one] to 물러서지도 [not retreat] and 우직하게 버티는 [steadfastly endure] with 맷집 [toughness/endurance].

Katabella was a 보스 몬스터 [boss monster] that had been 공략 [captured/defeated] a few times even in the WSA [World Server Arena].

However, most of them were 화력전 [firepower battle] that 밀어붙이는 [pushed through] with 인해전술 [zerg rush/overwhelming numbers], or 쉬운 전투 [easy battle] with a 다수의 전문 탱커 [multiple professional tanks].

The 공략 [capture/defeat] was easy, but the 가성비 [cost-effectiveness] of the 공략 [capture/defeat] and the 분배 전리품 [distribution of spoils] were 형편없었다 [terrible/awful] because there were 달린 입이 많다 [many mouths to feed].

But Sinhwa was 해내고 [doing/accomplishing] the 몫 [share/portion] of several 탱커 [tanks] 혼자서 [alone].

It was also a 대응 [response/counter] that would not have been possible without 굳은 믿음 [firm belief] in Han Sojun, who was 보조하는 자신 [assisting him] from behind.

Right then.

“흐읍……! [inhale]”

Sinhwa 자세를 낮췄다 [lowered his stance].

It was a 새로운 동작 [new movement] that was 판이하게 다른 [completely different] from what he had been 방어하던 [defending] with his body 꼿꼿하게 세우고 [standing upright] until just now.

The next moment.

파앙! [sound of explosion]

Using the 힘 [power] of 개변된 두 다리 [modified two legs] to 박차고 [kick off/propel] the 지면 [ground], Sinhwa’s body 튕겨져 나갔 [shot out/launched] 앞으로 순간적으로 [forward momentarily].

태세 전환 [stance change]!

It was a 터닝 포인트 [turning point] from 극단적인 방어 [extreme defense] to 전환하는 공세 [shifting to offense].

콰앙! [sound of explosion]

At the same time, there was a 폭음 [loud explosion] that sounded like the 공간 was 심하게 뒤틀리는 [space was severely distorted].

초월 가속 [transcendent acceleration].

Sinhwa 바로 승부수를 던졌다 [immediately made his move/played his trump card].

가속 [acceleration] and 오른손 변형 [right-hand transformation], and 왼손’s 건틀릿 [left hand’s gauntlet] 소모했다 절반 [consumed half] of the 마력 전체 [total mana] to 응축 작업 [condense/compress] to 방출하기 마력 [release mana].

And.

솨악! 솨아악! [sound of slicing]

파고들며 [diving into] the 가랑이 사이 [crotch/legs] of Katabella, he 냈다 깊은 상처 [inflicted deep wounds] on two 인간형 다리 [humanoid legs] with 경쾌한 팔놀림 [nimble/agile arm movements].

Because it was a 검날 [blade] that was 잔뜩 오른 예기 [filled with sharpness], 상처가 만들어졌다 [wounds were created] that 쩍 벌린 입 [wide open mouths] even on the 외피 [outer skin] that was 제법 두꺼운 [quite thick].

펑! 퍼펑! [sound of explosions]

As Sinhwa 이어 가자 [continued] 마력 방출 [mana release] in 연계 [in conjunction] on the 상처 [wounds] of 벌어진 두 다리 [opened two legs].

-꺄아아아아……! [scream]

Katabella 내질렀 [let out] a 비명 [scream] that was 가까운 to the 소음 [noise] of 손톱으로 긁는 [scratching with fingernails] a 칠판 [chalkboard]. It was an 일격 [attack/strike] that was 고통스런 그만큼 [that painful].

‘왔다 [it’s here/it’s come]!’

Even if Sinhwa did not 달리 신호를 보내지 [send a separate signal], Marina 역시 알아차릴 수 있었다 [could also notice].

That a 기회 생겼다는 [opportunity arose].

Katabella 드러냈다 약점을 [revealed a weakness] at a 시기에 이른 생각보다 [earlier than expected]. It was a 변수 [variable] that Sinhwa 만들어 낸 홀로 [created alone].

* * *

‘하이 리스크 하이 리턴 [high risk high return].’

That was the 콘셉트 [concept] of the Katabella 공략 [capture/defeat] that I 세웠던 처음부터 [established from the beginning].

Because of Katabella’s 특성 [characteristic] that the 공격 속도가 빨라지는 [attack speed increases] as time 지날수록 몸이 풀리면서 [passes and she warms up].

It was not good to go 장기전 [long-term battle].

So, as if 전념하는 방어 [devoting to defense], I 치중하다 [focused] on 극단적인 수비 [extreme defense] and 반격했다 [counterattacked] 노려 [aiming for] a 찰나의 순간 [fleeting moment].

If Katabella 읽혔 [read/predicted] the 노림수를 [aim/intention] here, it would have been the 최악의 수 [worst move] that I could not 장담할 수 [guarantee] the 뒤 [aftermath].

She was 오만했고 [arrogant], and 지나치게 너그러웠다 [overly lenient] about the 약점 [weakness] that always 존재하는 자신에게 [existed within herself].

So, she 당했다 [was caught/suffered].

푸슛! 푸슈슛! [sound of something piercing]

Marina’s 은사 [silver thread] 박혀 들어갔 [pierced/embedded] 순식간에 [instantly] in the 상처 [wounds] of Katabella that I 만들어 낸 [created].

Now Marina will 끈질기게 유지하면서 [persistently maintaining] the 거리 [distance] and make Katabella’s two legs 놀게 제멋대로 [move freely/uncontrollably].

That is the 강점 [strength] of ‘조작 재능 [manipulation talent]’ that can be 대표될 수 [represented] by Marina’s 은사 [silver thread].

Even though it is 자신의 신체 [one’s own body], it 강제로 따르게 타인의 통제를 [forcibly follows the control of others]. This was no 예외 [exception] even for 보스 몬스터 [boss monster].

-My legs are 말을 듣지 않아 [not listening/not obeying]!

-캬아아악! [scream]

Katabella 드러냈다 강한 적의를 [revealed strong hostility] to me, 신경질적으로 드러내며 날카로운 송곳니 [nervously revealing sharp fangs].

She was trying to 공격 [attack] me by 앞으로 움직이며 어떻게든 [moving forward somehow].

패앵! 패애앵! [sound of something stretching]

Marina’s 은사 [silver thread], which was 잔뜩 불어넣은 마력을 [filled with mana], 당기며 팽팽하게 [pulling taut] the 다리를 [legs], 못하게 움직이지 한 걸음도 [preventing her from moving even one step].

‘그렇다면 [if so]!’

At that moment, I 보였다 [showed/revealed].

A way to 공략 [capture/defeat] the 빈틈 [gap/opening] of Katabella, who had 상실한 [lost] the 전방 돌진 능력을 [forward charge ability] 일거에 더불어 하체와 [at once along with the lower body].