Chapter 104: 18th Floor. Magic World (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 104: 18th Floor. Magic World (5)
Kang Jun-hyeok pulled out a ruby. Applying steady pressure with his hand, he crushed it.
Crackle.
The gemstone shattered into several sharp fragments.
While using a whole gemstone wouldn't be an issue, the consumption rate would be far too high. Breaking the gem into fragments reduced its raw power, but for training purposes, it functioned perfectly fine.
He imbued a magic formula from the Arcana Gem School into one of the fragments. Then, he headed to the center of the training grounds to activate it.
BOOM!
A crimson explosion erupted, shaking the training grounds to their core. Its power was incomparable to the Fireball staff he had used previously.
Jun-hyeok assessed the result dispassionately.
‘The output is low, and the structure is unstable.’
He took out a new fragment. He corrected the errors in the formula, reinforced the mana pathways, and activated it once more.
BOOOOM!
The unleashed magic was significantly more powerful than the last, and its precision had increased as well.
[Your proficiency in Arcana Gem Magic has increased.]
His proficiency was rising. It was proof he was on the right path. From then on, Jun-hyeok continued to use the gem fragments to refine and strengthen his formulas.
Boom!
Rumble!
BOOOOOOM!
[Your proficiency in Arcana Gem Magic has increased.]
Once again, his proficiency rose. Jun-hyeok allowed himself a small smile.
The primary downside of the Arcana Gem School was the sheer volume of resources it demanded. Since gems had to be consumed not just in actual combat but even during basic training, the cost was nearly impossible to bear. That was exactly why the school had been ostracized and despised within the Magic Tower.
In other words, if that one hurdle could be overcome, a mage could grow at an explosive rate.
[Your proficiency in Arcana Gem Magic has increased.]
[Your proficiency in Arcana Gem Magic has increased.]
Jun-hyeok continued to hone his craft. Several hours passed, and it wasn't until the deep hours of the dawn that his mana finally ran dry.
“This really is incredible.”
His mana stat was only 11—barely above the baseline. With any other type of magic, his mana would have been depleted in less than an hour, forcing him to stop and meditate. However, Arcana Gem Magic consumed a negligible amount of personal mana, allowing for grueling, long-term training sessions.
When he left the training center and returned to the school, he found Tia hunched over her research, making strange noises.
“Heek! Hehehe! Hehehehe!”
“You seem to be in a good mood,” Jun-hyeok remarked.
“Of course! You gave me something this incredible!”
He had given Tia ten of the hundred gems he possessed. He knew he would ultimately benefit as she further developed the Arcana Gem School’s techniques.
Tia had nearly lost her mind over the catalysts she hadn't even dared to dream of owning. Since receiving them, she had been researching non-stop, barely stopping to sleep.
“The God of Magic must have taken pity on me and sent you down from the heavens! Right? That has to be it!” she shouted excitedly, her hands dancing over the gems.
Jun-hyeok let out a short laugh.
* * *
A month passed.
During that time, Jun-hyeok focused on nothing but his magical training. Thanks to the founder of Arcana Gem Magic personally advising and tutoring him, his progress was exceptionally fast. It didn't take long for the results to manifest.
[Your proficiency in Arcana Gem Magic has increased from E to D.]
[Passive Skill: Arcana Gem Magic]
Rank: Mid-Rank
Proficiency: D
Description: Magic that allows the user to handle gems created by Tia Lirinet as catalysts. There is almost no mana consumption when using this magic. It does not require any innate talent for magic. By using gems as catalysts, the user can amplify and control the power contained within them.
Jun-hyeok smiled.
He, a man with absolutely zero talent for magic, had reached proficiency rank D in just one month. If he told this to any other player mage, they would have scoffed and told him to stop talking nonsense. Normally, it would take years of dedicated investment to reach rank D.
Even the Master of All Weapons muttered in surprise.
[It is a bizarre form of magic. There are no restrictions other than the consumption of gems. To think it allows even a mediocrity like you to walk the path of magic... I suppose such a school has a right to exist.]
“It’s brilliant.”
It was precisely because of this advantage that Arcana Gem Magic would eventually become famous throughout the universe. While other players in the future would only handle fragments of the lost and broken versions of this art, he was now wielding the complete, primordial form of Arcana Gem Magic.
Jun-hyeok checked his remaining stock.
‘I’ve used about thirty.’
He had seventy gems left. It was more than enough to proceed with the quest.
It had been a month since he entered the 18th floor. It was about time to wrap things up. Right on cue, Tia burst through the door. She looked at Jun-hyeok with an ecstatic face, her brown eyes sparkling like jewels.
“Jun-hyeok! The opportunity has arrived!”
“An opportunity?” Jun-hyeok asked calmly, already knowing what she was going to say.
Tia shouted at the top of her lungs, “It’s the School Tournament!”
* * *
The School Tournament.
A competition where one disciple from each school participated. It was held in a bracket format, and the last one standing would be crowned the victor. Winning this tournament was the hidden condition for the Perfect Clear of the 18th floor.
‘In my past life, I couldn't even participate.’
Lacking any talent for magic, he had been nothing more than a chore boy back then. The 18th-floor quest had ended without him being able to do anything, but now, he could proudly step onto the stage. A strange sense of sentimentality washed over him.
Tia seemed to feel the same weight of the moment as she clenched her fists tightly.
“Until now, I couldn't even enter because I didn't have a single disciple... but this time, I have you!” She looked at Jun-hyeok with shimmering eyes. “You’re strong! And you have plenty of gems to use as catalysts. With someone like you, we might actually win!”
It wasn't empty praise. Jun-hyeok’s current proficiency was rank D. He had already far surpassed the level of an average disciple.
“That is my intention.”
“Ah! If we win, we can move up to the top floor of the tower. Our funding will increase, too. Then I’ll finally be able to take in more disciples!”
Tia drifted off, dreaming of a rosy future. Jun-hyeok shifted his gaze to the parchment in her hand.
“Is that the bracket?”
“Oh. Right! Let’s look at it together!”
She spread the paper out with a beaming smile. But as she scanned the list of participants, her face suddenly froze.
“...Huh? Alprain of the Eternal School? Why is he competing?”
“Who is that?”
“The Magic Tower Master’s direct disciple. I hadn't seen him for five years, so I thought he was dead... but he’s alive?” Tia let out a low groan. “It seems the Tower Master has finally decided it’s time to reveal him. This is troublesome. I guess the only silver lining is that you’d only meet him in the finals.”
“Can’t I just beat him?”
“He’s impossible.”
There was total conviction in Tia’s voice.
“Alprain is a genius that appears once in a century. When he applied to the Magic Tower five years ago, the talent assessment orb almost shattered. The entire tower was turned upside down. Every school wanted him, but the Tower Master took him as his own direct disciple.”
The difference in talent and training time was too vast. No matter how exceptional Jun-hyeok was, she felt he had no chance against a monster like that.
“Second place is still fine! No, it’s actually amazing!”
Tia had already given up in her heart. However, Jun-hyeok remained composed.
“I can win.”
“...O-Oh. Really?”
“Have faith in the magic you created. I will bring you a victory you can be proud of.”
“Y-Yes!” Tia stammered, nodding her head vigorously.
A few days later, the School Tournament began.
When Jun-hyeok stepped onto the tournament grounds, he wore a puzzled expression.
“Wihanian. Are you the referee?”
“That is corr— No. Yes, I am. I decided to personally referee this match.”
The Magic Tower Master, Wihanian, slowly raised his hand.
“The participants for the first match are Hadorok of the Aesonto School, and Kang Jun-hyeok of the Arcana Gem School. Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“Yes!”
The opposing mage glared at Jun-hyeok with eyes full of hostility.
‘I’ll show this arrogant brat his place.’
Hadorok was the mage who had guided Jun-hyeok when he first arrived. He was Kainan’s top disciple. Kainan had put a lot of effort into recruiting Jun-hyeok, but when Jun-hyeok ignored him to choose the Arcana Gem School instead, Kainan felt slighted and ordered Hadorok to crush him.
Hadorok intended to prove his strength by obliterating Jun-hyeok. With the Tower Master watching, there was no better opportunity to make a name for himself.
Jun-hyeok could feel the intense malice directed at him, but he didn't care at all.
The referee lowered his hand.
“Then, begin!”
“Hah!”
Hadorok quickly gathered mana and began his incantation. Magic was the act of gathering mana and giving it a tangible form. Naturally, it required a lengthy casting process.
While Hadorok was sweating profusely, preparing a powerful spell, Jun-hyeok lightly pulled a gem crystal from his pocket and tossed it.
The gem flew toward Hadorok and exploded instantly.
CRACK-BOOM!
“Gahhh!”
Hadorok, who had been entirely focused on his casting, was sent flying and slammed into the stone wall. His twitching body soon went limp.
Jun-hyeok let out a low whistle. “It’s definitely strong.”
There was a clear difference from the degraded Arcana Gem Magic he had seen in his past life. Satisfied with the practical application, Jun-hyeok turned to Wihanian.
“It’s over.”
“...Match over. Kang Jun-hyeok is the winner.”
Wihanian, who had been watching blankly, hurriedly announced the result. Tia, watching from the spectator seats, let out a muffled scream of joy and waved her hands frantically. Jun-hyeok waved back and headed to the waiting room.
“Arcana Gem Magic doesn't require casting, does it?”
A moment later, Wihanian entered the room and spoke.
“You simply throw a gem prepared as a catalyst, and that’s it. We accepted the school into the tower because of that uniqueness, but because of the astronomical value of the gems, its effectiveness has never been proven in practice. Where did you get the gems?”
“I have my sources,” Jun-hyeok replied with a smile.
“...Is it the being who gave you their blood?”
Jun-hyeok simply smiled instead of answering. Wihanian let out a hollow laugh.
“To provide gems that even the Magic Tower can’t easily afford... you have a formidable being behind you. Tia must be thrilled.”
“Thank you.”
“I should be the one thanking you. I’ve always felt sorry for her. ...If you keep this up, you’ll be fighting my disciple.” Wihanian smiled thinly. “I look forward to it.”
After that, Jun-hyeok swept through the tournament.
The other mages all required casting, while Jun-hyeok did not. While they were busy preparing their spells, he would simply toss a gem, and the match was over. He reached the finals without breaking a sweat.
At the end of it all, Jun-hyeok stood face-to-face with his final opponent.
“The final match. Alprain, mage of the Eternal School, versus Kang Jun-hyeok, mage of the Arcana Gem School.”
A handsome mage with flowing blue hair appeared before Jun-hyeok. Jun-hyeok stared at his opponent.
‘This is the first time I’m seeing him in person.’
The Tower invited all beings in the universe who held the right to challenge it. Among them were many geniuses with extraordinary talent for magic. However, with one single exception, none of them had ever won the tournament on the 18th floor.
The reason was the man standing before him.
[It has been a long time since I’ve seen this one,] Eldiria muttered.
A genius mage who appeared perhaps once in a century across the entire universe. A mage who had played a pivotal role in the Great War of the Universe in the past.
He was the final wall of the 18th floor.