Genius Regressor Makes Mythic Items

Chapter 90. Squama Circle (4)

TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader

As the leader, Drahel, fell, the situation with the poisoned supply route was quickly resolved. The malicious heat of Laevateinn cleared not only the dense poison of the supply route but also affected the remaining dragonkin and monsters.

“Those guys have weakened! Sweep them away!”

“Prioritize dealing with the ones who have suffered burns first!”

Thanks to this, the players were able to easily handle the monsters that had been burned and secure the poisoned supply route. Shimun, who was watching, nodded his head.

‘It’s about to end soon.’

The event of this arena was defense. Preventing Drahel and his group from crossing the poisoned supply route was crucial. Once the remaining remnants were cleaned up, it would be quickly cleared.

“O noble one.”

Beside Shimun, who was thus contemplating, came the Dark Elf, Dayna, who had since recovered.

“Dayna, how are you feeling?”

“Thanks to you, I’ve fully recovered. But…”

She couldn’t hide her amazement at the mere dark mark that remained where Drahel had been.

“I never dreamed that you could so easily handle Drahel, a Draconic.”

“It was just good luck. I happened to think of something that was just the right counter at the moment.”

“You’re the only one who would say defeating Squama Circle was down to luck.”

Dayna became seriously sincere, whether it was out of sincerity.

Prompted by her, Shimun asked something that had been on his mind for a while.

“But Dayna, what is this Squama Circle?”

Squama Circle had also been mentioned in a system message. Given that there was an achievement for defeating it, it wasn’t something ordinary. Typically, such achievements were associated with raids or hidden bosses. Dayna immediately answered.

“O noble one, you know what a Draconic is, right?”

“Of course.”

Draconic.

Dragonkin who have achieved enlightenment and awakening.

Originally, in the strictly hierarchical society of the dragonkin, it referred to those who have broken free from their innate status through awakening.

‘It feels somewhat similar to an evolved species.’

Of course, there were clear differences between the two. Evolved species had transcended into a new species through the phenomenon of ‘evolution’, while Draconic had reached a new realm within their species through ‘awakening’.

At any rate, the common ground between the two was clear.

“Draconic are special among dragonkin, especially in terms of power.”

“Exactly. You knew as much.”

Nodding at Shimun’s answer, Dayna continued.

“Squama Circle is a secret society comprised only of such Draconic.”

“A secret society?”

“Yes. A group purely for the benefit of the dragon realm and dragonkin. Well, internally it’s filled with factional fights for their own interests.”

Dayna smirked slightly.

“In any case, Drahel was a member of that Squama Circle. Though just a member without even a nickname.”

“A nickname?”

“Yes. The real Squama Circle, the Draconic officers, each have their own nicknames. Right around here, for instance…”

Dayna’s gaze shifted.

A mountain soaring high enough to pierce the gloomy sky. Focusing somewhere beyond it, Dayna spoke with a slightly heightened tone.

“The Undefeated Sargas must be there.”

“Undefeated? Sounds like a grand nickname.”

“Yes. But it’s not a lie. He really has never been defeated.”

A dragonkin who has never been defeated.

The nickname seemed truly befitting of him.

‘Surely, he’s extraordinary.’

Especially considering that the dragonkin are among the top races in the Galaxy Arena, it was a rather formidable nickname. But that was all. Shimun wasn’t particularly frightened.

‘I haven’t used all my strength in this fight.’

Not to mention his dragon form. And he had a secret weapon effective against dragonkin, didn’t he?

Even if Drahel was just an ordinary member of Squama Circle. Shimun hadn’t given his all in the battle against Drahel either.

But.

“That beast… truly is a monster.”

Dayna’s face grew infinitely dark as she mentioned Sargas.

‘Why does she look so tense?’

Contrary to her public image, Dayna seemed overly disturbed. Yet, Shimun couldn’t even make a light jest to ease her stiffness. Why?

Because before he knew it, Dayna had her arms tightly wrapped around herself. Between the faint trembling embrace, ‘Is that a scar? It looks like an injury…’

There lay an extraordinary scar. Soon after, “O noble one,”

With a resolve in her eyes, Dayna clenched her fists tightly and looked back at Shimun with a serious face.

“May I, so unworthy, ask a favor of you?”

Shimun blinked in surprise at her solemnity, “Speak.”

He nodded, giving his permission.

From within her tight leather armor, Dayna retrieved something.

It was…

*Shrrrk.*

‘A chain?’

A broken chain, to be specific.

Dayna presented it to Shimun.

“I had sensed long ago that you were a player, noble one. In fact, I’ve been waiting for someone like you to appear.”

At Dayna’s words, -Hey, I just got uncensored, what’s this situation?

-We all just got unbanned. But Dayna said that?

-Nah, usually it’s more like ‘It was disgusting meeting you, let’s never see each other again, you weaklings!’, right?

-This is my first time seeing anything like this.

Viewers, just freed from the Galaxy Arena’s censorship, were filled with intense questions.

Naturally, so was Shimun.

‘What? There was never such a route in my past life’s poisoned supply.’

He was taken aback by Dayna’s unprecedented behavior.

“The truth is, my assaults on the Dragonkin here have been for another reason. It’s for revenge and salvation of my kin.”

Her voice grew more fervent as she faced Shimun.

“O noble one, please, I beg of you, help me.”

With her plea, [A quest from Dark Elf Dayna has been offered.]

A message appeared before Shimun’s eyes. He quickly opened the quest window.

[Towards the Black Forge] – Hidden Quest

-Dark Elf Dayna aims for the Black Forge, one of the Dragonkin’s notorious military facilities.

Rescue her kin who are imprisoned there.

Entry Requirement: Platinum Rank or above.

Reward: Favorability of the Dark Elf race, 10,000 Achievement Points, Parts of the Black Forge (?)

Shimun’s mouth slightly opened as he checked the quest details.

And for good reason.

‘Wait, it gives 10,000 achievement points?’

10,000 achievement points.

That’s a reward you’d expect from quests given by Sanctuaries.

Which implies, ‘The difficulty must be immensely high.’

It was to be expected.

After all, Dark Elf Dayna was a figure even Diamond players scoff at.

If she was seeking help to this extent, it wouldn’t be an easy task.

‘Well, it’s a hidden quest, so that’s a given.’

Hidden quests.

They were especially rare among quests, famous for their high difficulty as much as for their great rewards. Once the regular arena started, everyone would typically avoid these quests.

Moreover, ‘The Black Forge…’

The Black Forge.

He had continuously entered this place in previous arenas.

‘I have no choice but to accept this quest.’

It piqued his curiosity even more since it was a place even the Sanctuaries had mentioned. Shimun accepted the chain Dayna offered.

“I’ll help you, Dayna.”

[You have obtained the entry item ‘Slave Chains of the Black Forge.’]

[You have completed the achievement ‘Receiving Your First Hidden Quest.’]

[You have gained 2,000 achievement points.]

Along with the rising messages.

“Ah!”

Dayna sighed shortly and slumped to the ground.

She had been so anxious that Kim Shimun might refuse.

-Oh my… Did Dayna just sit down?

-We’re really seeing some rare sights today lol.

-Isn’t the boss here? If you saw this precious scene, you should donate generously!

-Crazy lol. Did you leave your AP with them? lol.

-You donate, damn it!

The chat window heated up with this unprecedented situation.

Then.

[You have successfully cleared the Arena ‘Poisoned Supply Route.’]

[The Arena will now end.]

As if all the remnants had been cleaned up. Along with the news of the Arena’s end, the players’ bodies began to become transparent. Dayna, having quickly composed her emotions, returned to her original cool expression and looked at Kim Shimun.

Of course, her gaze was much gentler than before.

“Then, oh noble one, may you be in good health until the day we meet again.”

With Dayna’s farewell.

Poof.

Kim Shimun’s body was wrapped in a burst of light and disappeared.

* * *

Back in his room, Kim Shimun.

[You have overwhelmingly cleared the Arena ‘Poisoned Supply Route.’]

[Due to the prior notice and performance, with everyone surviving, the clear reward has significantly increased.]

[The bound trait ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ has received a certain amount of experience points.]

[Your level has increased by 18.]

[The Philosopher’s Stone’s level has increased by 12.]

[As a clear reward, you have obtained a ‘Dragonium Bundle.’]

Numerous system messages greeted Kim Shimun.

The most eye-catching part was naturally about the level.

“Insane! An 18 level-up?”

It was the kind of number that naturally brought out a specific curse.

An 18 level-up at once was truly an unbelievable event.

Moreover.

‘The Philosopher’s Stone went up 12 levels, and I went up 18?’

This was the result of sharing experience points with his bound Philosopher’s Stone.

‘If it were a normal player, this would have been like leveling up 30 times in one shot.’

He couldn’t help but smirk at the amount of experience gained.

The amount of experience was fitting for a special Arena’s reward.

Of course, it was not incomprehensible.

“Considering the increased matching by 40%, the contribution within the Arena, and the survival of all 20 members.”

With these conditions combined, such a significant amount of experience was understandable.

Kim Shimun, as expected, invested all 18 remaining stat points into Alchemy Energy.

Was it because his main stat had just entered the 100 range?

‘It doesn’t feel as strong as when it passed 101, but I still feel stronger?’

Though not as much as when it had passed 101, the circulation of Alchemy Energy felt noticeably different.

As Kim Shimun was about to close his status window, he smiled at the level at the very top.

“Exactly level 80 now.”

His level had gone from 62 to 80 with an addition of 18.

‘If the next Arena is like this, reaching level 100 will be quick.’

Then, he might quickly go through the promotion test, and onto the Platinum debut match.

‘It hasn’t been long since I did the Gold debut. It feels like they’re rushing me to Platinum.’

Understanding the intention of the Galaxy Arena, Kim Shimun opened his inventory with a cheerful face. He then took out the reward from this Arena.

“Hey! This is pretty heavy?”

It was clearly labeled as a Dragonium Bundle. Instead of a bundle, what came out was more like a sack.

If it were an ordinary person, they would have immediately fallen to the ground.

Kim Shimun carefully placed the heavy sack on the ground.

“Dragonium, though?”

An item name he hadn’t heard even in his previous life. Kim Shimun quickly opened the bundle to check the information on Dragonium.

[Dragonium]

Grade: S

An ore made of high-level Dragon Force.

A simple information window.

But Shimun was not disappointed.

‘Dragon Force? Made of Dragon Force?’

Kyeeeng.

Shimun immediately activated Odin’s Eye.

Naturally, the characteristic vision of Odin’s Eye, the Insight, was opened as well.

[The information on Dragonium has been updated.]

[You are the first on Earth to appraise ‘Dragonium’.]

[You have earned 2,000 Achievement Points.]

Along with the notification, the information window of Dragonium changed.

[Dragonium]

Grade: S

An ore consisting of high-level Dragon Force.

It boasts superior hardness, strength, and energy conductivity, and can only be handled by those who possess Dragon Force.

As he checked the information window.

-Oh my, would you look at this?

The dormant Philosopher’s Stone spoke up.

-They’ve been making something quite interesting, haven’t they?

‘By the sound of it, you didn’t know either?’

-That’s right. Across all dimensions, there’s no ore I don’t know. But this is my first time seeing this.

An ore even the Philosopher’s Stone didn’t know.

Considering the information in the window, there was only one answer.

‘It must be an ore created by the dragonkin. And secretly at that.’

-It seems so. Oppa, try touching it.

As requested by the Philosopher’s Stone.

When Shimun touched the piece of Dragonium, it exclaimed in admiration.

“Kyaha! To use Dragon Force in such a way… Can this even be possible?”

After examining the Dragonium for a while, the Philosopher’s Stone said.

-In terms of specs, it could even compete with Mithril, couldn’t it?

‘Yes.’

Shimun nodded lightly.

-I had a feeling it was on par with Mithril in terms of explanation and grade.

Mithril ore also had an S grade in a similar information window.

Shimun’s face became more serious.

‘And to give this as a reward for the arena…’

-Those ugly Drag buggers were carrying this Dragonium, it seems.

Arena rewards usually relate to the content of the arena.

Following the Philosopher’s Stone’s words, Shimun rested his chin in his hand.

‘Considering Dayna’s story as well, this must be a material used in the Black Forge.’

Furthermore. The information window on Dragonium stated that ‘only those with Dragon Force can handle it’. This meant not only the qualification to handle items made from Dragonium but also, ‘Only those with Dragon Force can process it.’

Thinking up to this point.

‘I guess that’s why the dwarves from my past life were so reminiscent of the dragonkin.’

Why the dwarves in his past life especially resembled the dragonkin was becoming clear.

‘They must have been subjected to some deeds by the dragonkin to handle Dragonium.’

What happened between the dragonkin and the dwarves?

Hadn’t the special arenas already hinted at it?

Then.

“Hmm?”

A faint vibration was caught by Shimun’s senses.

Shimun turned towards the source of the vibration, the living room table.

There.

Vrrrrrr.

A phone was vigorously vibrating on its own.

Upon checking the screen, Shimun pressed the phone to his ear.

-Shimun-ssi. I’m sorry for the late hour, but there’s an urgent matter I need to discuss with you. Are you available to talk?

The voice came through loud and clear.

“Yes, Jinwook-ssi. Please say.”

It was the Night Hunter, Park Jinwook.

-Shimun-ssi, there’s someone who urgently wishes to meet you, so I’m contacting you urgently.

“With me?”

It was an arrangement that would normally be handled by Park Jinwook himself.

After all, wasn’t that the nature of their collaboration?

The fact that Park Jinwook was contacting him like this indicated the individual was no ordinary person.

“Who is it?”

-The owner of the black market.

Shimun’s guess was not off.