The Stone of Regression (Prologue)

A dilapidated warehouse stood in the Richmond area of Virginia, USA.

A man of Asian descent, likely in his late forties, gazed at a small stone in his hand, his expression alight with excitement.

“Heeheehee, I finally have it! The Stone of Regression.”

The Stone of Regression? Could that tiny stone truly possess the power to send him back in time?

The man, who had been laughing boisterously, soon calmed himself and spoke.

“I don’t know when I’ll regress, but I hope it’s to a time when my family is still alive.”

He gazed at the Stone of Regression in his hand for a moment before turning on the computer on the table.

“Tsk, this isn’t the time for that. I don’t know when I’ll return, but I need to cram as much essential information into my mind as possible.”

Information vital for his return to the past. The man was currently absorbing it all.

“Let’s see…”

Thus, the man quickly began searching for the most significant pieces of information about the past.

Just as he was rapidly committing the necessary data to memory,

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Suddenly, an alarm began to blare.

“Huh! What is it?”

He hastily shifted his gaze to the CCTV monitor, where he saw numerous Hunters rapidly approaching the warehouse.

“Damn it! How did those bastards find this place?!”

This was the man’s secret hideout, known only to a select few among the highest-ranking villains.

If Hunters had stormed this location, only one conclusion could be drawn.

“Kuh, just as I suspected. Someone betrayed me.”

Over the past month, several high-ranking villains he had been close to had been killed, leading him to suspect a traitor was among them.

Now, his location, which he believed no one could find, had been discovered in an instant.

At this point, it was clear that someone he knew had betrayed him.

Slam!

While he was still pondering who the culprit might be, the warehouse door shattered, and a group of figures stormed inside.

“Hehehe, Choi Junhyuk. So we finally meet like this. Why don’t you try to slip away like an eel again?”

At his words, the man addressed as Choi Junhyuk tore his gaze from the monitor and slowly turned his head.

“Wow. You’ve brought quite the horde just to catch little old me, haven’t you? Hey, Jonathan. You always mess things up, but it looks like you actually prepared this time?”

At Junhyuk’s sarcastic remark, the burly white man called Jonathan scoffed.

“Hmph, pretending to be relaxed out of pride, are we? You’re nothing but a pathetic villainous nobody. Today, Choi Junhyuk, I’ll finally put an end to you.”

Junhyuk merely shrugged, observing Jonathan.

“Well, I’ll admit it. There’s certainly no escape route this time. But honestly, I’m genuinely curious about something. Who told you I was here?”

Jonathan frowned at Junhyuk’s question.

“Why does that matter to you? You’re going to die here anyway.”

“Exactly. You could at least grant a dying man that much courtesy, couldn’t you? Or perhaps you’re not confident you can handle a mere villainous nobody, even with such a large group? Are you afraid I might escape and punish your informant?”

Whether his provocation worked or not, Jonathan’s frown deepened.

“You have a knack for provocative jokes. Fine, fine. As you said, you’re going to die anyway, so I’ll be generous this one time. Villain Ranking 16, Cha Jinsu. We made a deal with him. A million dollars and a promise not to pursue him for a year, and he spilled everything he knew.”

Cha Jinsu. Junhyuk knew him well.

A man of exceptional eloquence and sociability, he befriended anyone with ease, primarily hunting Hunters through ambushes and mob-luring tactics.

Given his close relationships with Junhyuk and other top-tier villains, his betrayal was a significant blow to them.

“Hahaha, Cha Jinsu. That bastard. This is truly a case of being struck down by the axe you trusted.”

“Now that you know what you were curious about, isn’t it time to die?”

As Jonathan Curtis took a step forward, Choi Junhyuk flashed a wry smile and pulled something out.

“Is that so? Oh, right. Before that, do you know what this is?”

In his hand was a small stone emitting a faint glow.

“If you’re trying to buy time, give up. There’s no one to help you, and no way to escape.”

“Tsk, tsk, time? I’ve already learned everything I was curious about, so what would I gain by stalling? I have no intention of doing so.”

Jonathan frowned at Junhyuk’s composure, even in such a dire situation.

‘What is it? It doesn’t seem like mere bravado.’

Jonathan Curtis was capable enough to discern whether his opponent was merely feigning composure or genuinely calm.

To him, Choi Junhyuk didn’t appear to be bluffing; he seemed genuinely at ease.

“……”

Observing Jonathan, Junhyuk spoke lightly.

“The Stone of Regression. That’s its official name.”

Suddenly, Jonathan’s eyes widened dramatically.

It was the fabled Oopart, an artifact only spoken of in rumors and legends, now held in Choi Junhyuk’s hand.

“The S-Stone of Regression! Kuh! What are you doing?! Kill him now!”

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Jonathan hastily ordered an attack, and the elite Hunters in the warehouse swiftly lunged forward.

Thud!

Unfortunately, their attacks never reached Choi Junhyuk.

“Hahaha, then, I’ll see you in the past.”

‘Please, back to before the Great Cataclysm… No, at least back to the time when my siblings were still alive…’

Whoosh!

Instantly, a blinding light filled the entire warehouse.