Chapter 162
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Breaking Down the Wall
"This isn't the feeling..."
My personal training hall deep underground in the Great City of Neruman.
A space hundreds of meters wide, protected by protective magic formations.
I assumed the posture for Mana Breathing Technique and focused my mind.
The sensation of 7th Circle magic that I had tasted when struck by the 7th Circle Wind Storm spell.
I tried to recall the dense, intricate Mana molecules, but it wasn't as easy as I thought.
'I need to cultivate my power further.'
Even if the Bazran Empire's forces had been crushed, the Raviter Empire's military strength remained intact.
Even after suffering a blow from rashly charging into Neruman, the continent's foremost empire wouldn't be crippled that badly.
And the Magic Tower wouldn't stay idle either.
They had massacred their precious Sky Knights, so they wouldn't just sit back.
That was the nature of those who lived off their pride.
In the next invasion, the Tower Lords of each Magic Tower might actually join the fray.
'I have to break through the wall of the 7th Circle.'
News kept pouring in about the war between the Bazran Empire and the kingdoms.
The kingdoms, harboring deep grudges, boldly invaded imperial territory without hesitation.
Of course, the empire didn't just sit still.
Even after taking the shock of their nasal bones crumbling from my single strike, their latent power was enough to hold off the invasion from the Three Kingdoms—no, including Krantz, the Four Kingdoms' forces.
Though significant territory had been breached, the front lines had solidified in recent weeks.
During that time, I had strengthened the foundations of my domain.
I harvested the spring wheat to secure food supplies even more firmly and focused on training to fill the shortage of Sky Knights, replenishing them at an accelerated pace.
Unlike other empires or kingdoms, we compensated for any deficiencies with the superior performance of Spears.
But the problem was me.
If not for the carelessness of a 7th Circle mage, I could have met a dog's death.
As a disciple of Idal, the 8th Circle Grand Mage who once made the continent quake, this was utterly shameful.
I gritted my teeth and plunged into battle with magic.
'It was denser and more intricate. Like a polymer structure, the Mana molecules were organically bonded together.'
The 7th Circle Mana structure remained vividly in my mind.
Though my Mana capacity approached 7th Circle levels, that was just quantity.
It was like the difference between a bronze sword and an iron sword—my 6th Circle magic was woefully inadequate.
'I definitely felt it...'
The wondrous 7th Circle magic that had bestowed ecstasy even in the crisis of death.
Whiiing.
As I thought of the 7th Circle, my Mana Core activated on its own.
'The Mana formula for Wind Storm...'
Visualizing the formula drew the Mana array structure in my mind.
Magic was the manifestation of will.
Formulas that had to be clearly proven, like pictures.
Formulas filled my head one after another, like 1 plus 1.
The 7th Circle magic formula I hadn't dared attempt before, lest my Mana Core collapse.
Unknowingly, the Wind Storm magic formulas combined clearly in my mind.
The higher the Circle, the more wind magic drew in energies from other elements.
Earth, water, and fire formulas combined to complete the magic formula.
Like with Memorize magic, the formulas took shape, seizing my consciousness.
Whing, whing, whing.
As the formula neared completion, the Mana in my Mana Core mixed into an intricate structure surpassing its limits.
'Ugh!'
As my Mana Core around my waist ran low on Mana, it abruptly pulled in Mana hidden in my lower and upper dantians.
And in that instant, my mind snapped alert.
'I-I have to stop it!'
My consciousness returned, but my subconscious continued completing the Mana formula.
The magic knowledge Master had implanted in my mind rampaged like a train with burst brakes, interfering with my will.
Wing! Wing! Whiing! Whiing! Whiing!
The Circles thrashed as if about to explode from Mana overload beyond their limits.
Twang, twang.
Veins bulged out.
As the Mana Core depleted, it connected not just to the upper and middle dantians but to every strand of Mana hidden throughout my body, whipping it into a frenzy.
'Urk!'
Excruciating pain surged, but my mouth wouldn't open.
The Mana rampaged out of control.
The phenomenon of Mana Core collapse, which I'd only heard about, flashed through my mind.
Chijijijijijik.
That wasn't all.
As the negative-dimensional Mana fused in the Mana Core ran short, it began sucking in surrounding Mana.
Whiing, chijijijijik.
'Am I insane?!'
It was my own body, yet I felt dazed, speechless, dominated by another consciousness.
Sparks flew from my body.
My flesh, bare even of Air Plates lest they hinder magic training.
Chijijijijik, chijijijijik.
The ambient Mana insufficient, like a scene from a comic, Mana sparked from the walls all around, drawn toward my body.
'No way!'
In that moment, a thought flashed through my mind.
The 1st-grade magic stone that maintained the city walls and mansions without collapsing even under 7th Circle magic.
The Mana fragrance I'd tasted when holding it was felt in the Mana now swirling around me.
A bizarre phenomenon absent from Master's implanted magic knowledge.
Powerless to even twitch a finger, I could only watch blankly.
Then, at one point, my subconscious—having completed the 7th Circle magic formula on its own, like atoms colliding and fissioning in a nuclear explosion.
Ding! A shock rang out, and my entire body entered a resonant state.
'Kugh! I can't die like this!'
Indignation and resentment washed over me like a tide.
This paradise I'd built—how could I lose it now?
Just a little more, and no one on the Kalian Continent would dare ignore me.
After that, I had to fry sesame seeds every day with the women who loved me to make sesame oil, yet here I was dying to uncontrolled magic.
'Hngh!'
The enormous Mana melted into sphere form around my Mana Core and body.
I could tell it would leave not even a scrap of corpse if it burst.
Paaat!
My subconscious, like a living being that had completed the magic formula on its own.
Finally, it caused the accident.
Even with my eyes wide open, the manifestation will of Wind Storm formed in the space before me.
'Mother! I'm going!!!!!!!!!!!!'
I squeezed my eyes shut.
It was all or nothing anyway.
Gathering my last strength, I screamed at the Mana packed to bursting in my body.
"Wind! Storm~!!!!!!!!!!!!"
As I chanted the spell incantation, my mouth opened as if by miracle.
Zizizizizing!
My subconscious and will merged, forming tremendous Mana waves in the space.
Flash!
Whiriririririring!
A blue glow that stung the eyes.
And in the direction my gaze lingered, an enormous Mana whirlwind took shape.
Kwaaaaang!
The vast yet enclosed underground space.
A deafening roar threatened to burst my eardrums.
Pagagagagagagagagagaga!
"Huh!"
With a blue flash, wind blades whipped through the hundreds-of-meters space.
Pingiginginging!
The walls protected by 1st-grade magic stones were sharply gouged by the 7th Circle Wind Storm, which could shred anything in the world.
Whiiiiiiiiing!
'Ugh!'
In the foolish moment I watched the 7th Circle magic I'd unwittingly unleashed, I felt the shock of my Mana Cores tearing apart.
Whiing, whiiiing, whiiiing!
Then, as if regenerating from scratch, the Circles in my Mana Cores began adding rings one by one.
One, two, three... five, six...
Ziiing!
'S-Seven!!!!!'
A new, unfamiliar Circle formed at my waist.
'7th Circle~! The 7th Circle... Finally, me!'
I couldn't believe it.
This absurd joy obtained in an unforeseen crisis.
"Haha, hahahahahahahahahaha!"
Laughter burst from my open mouth.
Enlightenment had come again.
Indescribable joy made my flesh tremble.
'Umhahaha! As expected, I'm a genius!'
Who else in their twenties—no, not even twenty—could reach 7th Circle mage?
Even Master, called a magic genius, couldn't catch up.
'Heh, just you wait. I'll crush you all!'
Like the thick waist fat on a wrestler, the source of their power—seven coils now at my waist.
Now, there was nothing to fear.
My 7th Circle boasted an enormous Mana capacity beyond other 7th Circle mages the moment I ascended.
Even the dragons that once dominated the continent would want to throw down.
"T-That insolent Garviti... Grr."
Poltviran, struck by the sudden declarations of war from the kingdoms and the attack on Neruman's lord.
His madness-filled eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
This was the third summons for Rumikar.
Yet Duke Garviti repeatedly ignored the emperor's orders.
No, he had holed up in his domain without any response.
"Your Majesty, you must swiftly dispatch reinforcements. According to urgent reports from Halberk Fortress, the Andain Kingdom has sent additional Sky Knights to support the Kerper Kingdom's forces. If that place falls, the capital is merely two days away by Wyvern."
"Your Imperial Majesty, send troops to the domains refusing to join the war to show them Your Majesty's wrath! Lords are already deserting the front lines. You must quickly rein them in!"
"The Kubiran Kingdom forces and Krantz troops are swarming toward Marquis Pepeon's castle. Without Duke Garviti and the 9th Legion joining, defense will be difficult!"
The front lines, which had briefly seemed balanced.
But the kingdoms, as if boasting their alliance, combined forces to threaten the empire's defensive lines.
The empire had vast territory to defend, but the kingdom armies exploited that by concentrating their power.
They targeted domains that had dispatched knights and soldiers to the defensive forces, massacring them focusedly. Terrified by the brutality, some lords deserted.
No matter how important the emperor's command, their families and fortunes were in their domains.
Some could not endure watching enemies ravage their lands while serving in the imperial army and stepped forward themselves.
And toward the thus-dispersed imperial forces, the kingdom armies waged guerrilla warfare.
They slaughtered the central Wyvern units and soldiers gathering deep in imperial territory, riding swift Waigners.
"Enough! Silence!!!!!"
Poltviran bellowed at the nobles buzzing like a swarm of bees from all sides.
"..."
The imperial council chamber fell silent in an instant.
The emperor's unpredictable wrath.
All shrank back, gauging the mood.
"Count Silvron."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"From this day, I appoint you Marquis. In my stead, formulate and execute all war plans!"
"Gasp!"
"T-That is..."
Among the dukes who had followed the emperor to conquer Neruman, the only survivor was the crippled Marquis Omar, who returned two days ago as a prisoner.
Duke Fernaik, killed by Neruman knights' Spears, and the captured Duke Cheptain could not bolster the emperor's power.
With the empire's pillar duke families absent, the top nobles were the marquises.
Among those remaining at court, only three: the Imperial Magic Tower Lord and two others.
Yet this man, who had been a viscount mere days ago and received his countship recently, was now appointed marquis.
And not just any—wielding the emperor's full authority over the imperial war.
"I shall carry out Your Majesty's command with my life!"
How long had he waited for this day.
Silvron bowed his head to the floor and accepted the emperor's order.
"My head aches; I must rest. All of you, diligently defend the empire under Marquis Silvron's command."
"Y-Yes, Your Imperial Majesty."
No one dared step forward before the emperor clutching his throbbing head and scowling.
All nobles in the chamber bowed their heads.
Thud, thud.
The emperor exited, clutching his head, escorted by guard knights.
The nobles watched him with troubled eyes.
"Heh heh heh..."
As the emperor left, Silvron rose from his kneeling position with a satisfied smile.
"Hear me, my lords. In the name of His Imperial Majesty, who has delegated to me, I now issue commands."
The voice of Silvron, until moments ago a mere count riding the emperor's coattails, had changed.
"..."
The nobles eyed Silvron with dismay.
"First, deploy the surviving Wyverns from the 4th Legion, attached to the Eastern Legion, to Halberk Fortress. And..."
Silvron reveled in the authority just granted by the emperor, his voice booming.
The nobles gazed at Silvron with eyes of jealousy and scorn.
Thus, the Bazran imperial court crumbled from within.
Even as enemies nibbled away at imperial territory outside, they failed to counter and instead plunged into a new power struggle.