Regression
"Move your asses, you fuckers! You gonna stand there like idiots right now? Huh?"
I chewed out my subordinates, who were standing there dumbfounded, staring at Kang Mir, the S-rank natural ability hunter. Only then did they snap out of it, scrambling to form up in a panic.
As I kept barking orders and spewing curses at them, I shot a sidelong glance at him hovering in the air.
Fuck, he's ridiculously cool.
Water droplets orbiting around him like they were guarding him. The warm spring sunlight reflected off them, illuminating the surroundings. And then the Water Dragon, moving at his command, practically massacring the horde of ogres. It was the overwhelming presence befitting Kang Mir, the S-rank hunter considered the top of all natural ability users.
Anyway, lucky bastards are just born with that swagger. Damn.
The world had changed. Everything each person possessed had been laid bare and quantified. So-called potential abilities, talents, had surfaced.
The current hunter ranks were objective statistics that made those insurmountable ability values impossible to deny.
In simple terms, the monstrous bastard who flipped the battlefield single-handedly with his insane powers was the pinnacle of talent. That's why he was rated S-rank—for Special.
Fucking envy him.
Of course, I was an awakener too, something ordinary people envied. I'd gotten a decent rank myself. A typical C-rank hunter was respected enough to lead a 12-man team.
But that was it. No matter how much I raided dungeons like they were my backyard or absorbed pricey magic stones, my limits stopped there. No amount of effort could change the vessel I was born with.
Sure, even among C-ranks, there were nuances in treatment based on finer distinctions, but from above, we were all just mediocre C-ranks.
The class society that had persisted throughout human history now continued through awakener ranks.
When monsters like that appeared on the battlefield, guys like us could only handle cleanup duty.
"Hustle! Don't drop magic stones like last time and end up writing reports!"
"Yes, Team Leader!"
The newbie who'd just joined responded energetically to my nagging, slicing open a monster's gut.
Tch, dullard. You're pathetic too.
He was a rare Irregular—someone with the potential to surpass their rank through effort or guidance. But the poor guy had no connections, no backing, and a stubbornly honest personality that squandered his chance.
Even sucking up to the guild master, a B-rank, for some help would've been smart, but this straight-laced fool always spoke up against any shady shortcuts, earning nothing but resentment.
"Jae-wook, you dropped a magic stone down there."
"Ah, yes? Y-Yes, thank you, Team Leader."
He checked his feet at my words, face flushing red as he bowed repeatedly to me.
Back in the day, I'd have pretended not to notice and pocketed it, but now I didn't even have the motivation. They checked for stolen items on exit, but swallowed ones didn't show. Still, eating them now just caused mana clashes—no proper absorption.
Life's a fucking luck-based trash game.
I grumbled under my breath and pulled out a dungeon byproduct cigarette, lighting up. It tasted similar to regular ones but had a minor mana recovery boost, making it pricey.
My one luxury.
"Phew~ Sky's blue as ever today."
The dungeon world's air was crystal clear—blindingly so—unlike the smog-choked outside. If not for the monsters, it'd be paradise.
"Huh? What's that?"
Something small like a dot grew larger, approaching. A massive roar accompanied it, like a meteor falling. Exaggerating a bit, it was the size of a 25-ton truck.
"Dodge!!"
I yelled late, rushing toward my team.
BOOM!!
The unidentified object slammed into the ground with a deafening crash. A pillar? No... a spear? It created a huge crater, and at its center was something oddly familiar.
Around the spear lay countless monster and hunter corpses.
Holy shit, did a whole battalion get wiped in one hit?
It had shattered even the magic formation for anti-air defense. That spear packed intercontinental ballistic missile-level power. Regular missiles would've bounced off that barrier—it did nothing.
What the hell is that guy?
Soon, its owner descended into the crater's center, flapping red wings. Bat-like membranous wings. A pair of long horns on its head. A thick, swaying tail behind.
It looked like a textbook movie demon. The difference? It was apartment-building sized.
"T-Team Leader? What the hell is that?"
The newbie sidled up, jaw slack.
I glanced between him and the monster, smacking my lips.
"Tch, kid, how should I know? First time seeing it too."
I replied casually, ticked off, but my hand shaking as I stubbed out the cigarette was no different.
One thing clear: its presence alone could kill a C-rank just by proximity.
Only someone like...
"You scum!"
There—Kang Mir charging on his massive Water Dragon toward the demon monster.
Yeah, only a monster like him. Monster fights monster. Us peasants(?) should just stay out.
"Everyone, retreat! Leave the byproducts—save your skins!"
I smacked the back of the newbie's head, still gawking slack-jawed.
"Hey, you idiots. Zone out and get swept up, that's how you die like dogs. Got it? Move your asses!"
They finally shook off the freeze, retreating hastily one by one.
BOOM!!
After shoving the newbie's back, a massive roar made me glance back instinctively.
"F-Fuck!"
RUMBLE!!
A mountain of water crashed toward me.
"Gah!!"
No time to dodge—I flailed, swept away. Something grabbed my hand.
Huh?
Through the scattering water, I saw its shape. It was Kang Mir, who'd charged so fiercely at the demon moments ago.
Why the fuck is he here?
His shirt torn to shreds, one shoe missing. Seemingly minor, but all S-rank items. Priceless.
Stealing just one and bolting seemed smarter.
ROOOAR!!
A roar beyond hearing range shook everywhere.
"Hngh!"
I instinctively hoisted the limp him over my shoulder and bolted.
THUD.
As expected, the demon monster started moving—with massive steps toward me.
My body reacted before my head, leaping opposite.
Huh? What's this?
Like caught in a spiderweb, I couldn't move. Hanging mid-air, legs dangling—pathetic.
"Urgh... L-leave me... and go..."
He'd come to, speaking weakly from my back. Telling me to ditch him even now—guess he wasn't just a pretty face.
Tch, a genius with good character? Too demoralizing.
"Urgh..."
He passed out again.
You kidding? Say your cool line and faint again?
Tch.
Problem was, I couldn't flee even if I wanted. Top-tier C-rank or not, this binding held me tight.
That thing's power?
BOOM.
It closed in, then vanished.
"Huh?"
Before my dazed mutter faded, an identical demon appeared eye-level.
Rubber band? Shrinking at will.
"Hmm, so the scent comes from you, not the one on your back."
His mouth opened, voice lazy yet piercing straight to my brain. Calm words sent chills from head to toe.
Like a frog before a snake. Just pure, absolute premonition of death.
My brain froze like a glitched computer—only dumb sounds escaped.
"Eh? W-what do you mean?"
Scent? I showered this morning. Demon-only sin smell? Heading to hell?
Mind blank. Suddenly missed Mom. Pretty sure I pissed myself a bit.
Its slit pupil eyed me steadily.
"You still don't realize what you are? Pity. The compensation's too low for what I'll take. Can't defy causality even for me. What to do?"
Incomprehensible mutter, head tilt. Then finger beckon.
"Huh? Huh?"
Kang Mir floated off my back toward it.
Plop.
Grabbed his head.
CRUNCH, CRACK, CRUNCH.
"Gaaahhh!!"
Horrific sounds—his head caved, body crumpling. Impossible sight before my eyes: death imminent.
He was a different breed.
CRUNCH, CRACK.
Shrunk to fist-size, sucked into its palm. The end of an S-rank, top awakener.
Ha, fuck. If I knew I'd die like this, should've cashed out savings and lived it up.
Watching a vastly superior hunter die so pointlessly killed my attachment to life. No matter how hard I struggled, I couldn't escape this demon fucker.
"Hmm, not him after all. Still, decent snack. Recovers some presence spent crossing boundaries. Good enough."
It brushed off ash-like remains from its palm, turning to me.
"Hmm, what now? Can't devour the finest meal in 10,000 years for free."
Talking about eating me like it was casual—after literally consuming Kang Mir in front of me, it rang true.
"Urrrgh."
Needed to speak, but trembling—mouth wouldn't open. Heart pounding, crotch wet—definitely pissed good.
At this rate, I'd choose death myself.
"Alright, here's a deal. Give you a chance too. Got a regression stone recently—should balance causality."
"Urrgh, w-what?"
Squeezed out the words with all my strength.
"Then, shall we enjoy the feast?"
Its slit eyes curved softly. Like that smile before digging into delicious food.
Fuck, am I prime beef or what?
Red palm approached. Jaw gripped—body crushed like in a massive press.
"Gaaaaahhh!!"
Same scream as Kang Mir's pathetic wail echoed.
"Y-you bastard!!"
With that final thrash, I blacked out.