Chapter 128
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: 12th Floor - Lv.917 Fairy Mage (3)
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In the tense standoff on the brink of explosion, the Fairy Mage sensed a massive surge of mana.
The Girl also spotted the darkness pouring from the sky.
Of course, neither let their guard down against each other.
The taut string of tension snapped once more as the magical bombardment resumed.
Buying time with mid-tier spells focused on easy-to-cast lightning and ice for suppression.
But if this dragged on, victory would be impossible.
Warriors with exceptional stats could claim triumph simply by enduring against a mage.
Mana was a resource that depleted quickly and recovered slowly.
The Fairy Mage had to decide. Whether to continue this fight.
First, she needed to seize a moment.
She needed to create an instant where time itself halted.
Magic from skills was fully automated. Unlike ordinary spells woven painstakingly by hand.
In the Labyrinth, it manifested in standardized forms defined by the system.
Though rigid in application, at the level of time manipulation, flexibility wasn't a concern.
A standard [Time Stop] was a grand spell requiring countless magic circles for support, taking dozens of minutes even when cast slowly.
And such sluggish casting had no practicality in battle.
Spacetime magic led to irreversible consequences from the slightest error, making repeated practice difficult until mastery.
Even for Exiles free in the face of death, farming to that realm took immense time.
These hurdles limited practical [Time Stop] to skills alone.
The skill [Time Stop] had the Labyrinth—or the Mind Map—handle the complexity.
Like the gap between human and computer processing speeds.
As one who delved into magic, Sharkma had always resented that disparity.
And yearned to bridge it.
The clash resumed.
From the Girl's perspective, she was on edge, unsure when [Time Stop] might come.
The Fairy Mage watched for the moment her head might fly, timing her move.
Even suppression spells needed sufficient power, or the Girl would charge through with raw force.
Even skill-activated magic had a casting time.
That was its most vulnerable instant.
Especially against an Exile whose style was "just don't die right now."
She was already at a severe disadvantage.
No time to staunch her arm's bleeding.
Any gap shown meant death.
Filthy starting stats. If she'd had such overwhelming initials, everything would have been different.
The mage made her choice.
And fortune favored her.
Her long Exile experience caught the split-second opening to activate [Time Stop].
Not thought, but instinct seized that instant.
The moment she realized it, the Girl charged at terrifying speed.
It was by a hair's breadth. Right before her eyes, the Girl's time froze.
But the Girl's face, inches away, hardly looked like one wagering her life.
Slightly flushed cheeks, a faint smile on her lips.
Her eyes sharp as a hawk spotting prey, clearly enjoying the moment.
Death wasn't the end for her. That mindset only she could have.
The Fairy Mage knew she'd once felt the same, but now the lost terror of death had returned.
A long-numbed instinct now screamed for survival.
Unlike Exiles, the Fairy Mage had no assigned potion vials.
She merely used one stolen from some Exile.
With a sigh, she glanced at the Girl.
Time to retreat. Capture was out of reach; even victory uncertain.
The fresh junior she'd once seen as promising was no longer that—no longer even a junior, striding far ahead.
Still, as a Challenger of sorts, the Fairy Mage felt a twinge of regret at her own plight.
It could have been better. Greater.
That regret hardened into resolve. Even now...
Perhaps she could still turn it around.
In the frozen time, the Fairy Mage set off for another goal.
Her mind raced. This city held countless captured Exiles.
She sifted for those manageable yet useful as decent combatants.
Sharkma had left that selection to her.
Even a mighty lich was just an NPC.
The kingdom was unknown territory; a reliable guide was essential.
And with all her mana spent to halt time and complete her task.
Just before time resumed, the Fairy Mage realized Sharkma had already lost.
No matter how miraculous a Healing Potion's effect, returning from death left lingering aftereffects.
Not fully restoring stamina was the final balance keeping Exiles from true invincibility.
The Girl collapsed with a thud, forcing herself back up.
She retched and stumbled onward.
With the enemy gone, she tried full evasion again, but nothing appeared.
Too late, she noticed the blood trail leading oddly astray.
"She fled. Nothing beats [Time Stop] for survival."
Too drained to reply, the Girl just kept walking.
The Hunter, the youngest, and the little mage might be dead.
As excitement faded, belated worries amplified her anxiety.
"They're alive."
Relief from the Goddess's assurance, but she confirmed with her own eyes.
The timing had been exquisite, perhaps.
No party member knew of [Time Stop] beforehand, but facing mages meant always expecting sudden threats.
Mages grew stronger with preparation.
And one appearing abruptly was primed for battle.
The reflexively swallowed potion had saved her life.
Potion effects were brief, but godlike in that instant.
Whether it kicked in before death judgment was luck's domain.
Luck had favored her this time.
Her comrades might have regenerated from near-skeletal remains.
She'd heard she and the Hunter had been like that after Trdongt's lightning on Floor 2.
A century of life teetering on death's edge.
Wanting to settle somewhere was natural.
The Girl felt that anew.
And the greatness of those called Challengers.
Whether she, still on her first Run, could become one was unknown.
She wouldn't have doubted before, but now confidence didn't overflow.
Tears streamed from the Girl's eyes.
"Thank goodness. I'm so glad you're all alive."
Rarely, her legs gave out. She knew she couldn't collapse yet.
If the Fairy Mage returned now, or had watched from nearby all along, she'd die.
But back-to-back fights brought fatigue beyond the physical.
She strained to move her legs, but it was futile.
Soon, with an "eh, whatever," she flopped down flat.
What the hell is this?
Why were all my party members sprawled around nearly naked?
Traces suggested the Fairy Mage had been here.
Confirming everyone's survival, I neatly arranged them, then asked the only conscious Girl.
"[Time Stop] here too? The mana flow feels off."
"Uncle can tell just by looking? How?"
"I'll teach you later. You need countermeasures for spacetime stuff anyway. Learn to gauge used magic from mana traces and assess enemy strength."
The Girl scowled deeply at that, then suddenly glanced beside me. She'd locked eyes with Gramps.
Gramps replied with his gaze.
"I can't."
"Don't lie. You know roughly, don't you?"
"Obviously I can't spot time magic. Where would I even see that?"
"You see it when you look."
"Tch, no confidence there."
The Girl propped up her torso. The Fairy Priest robe reduced to sackcloth threatened to expose unspeakable areas.
The problem was she had no intention of covering up.
As I flapped in panic, Proboy glanced at me, then removed his cloak to drape over her.
Vampires' capes were essential for many reasons; even settled on this sunless planet, it was habit.
There was a reason Earth vampires were always depicted cloaked.
The Girl grumbled, seeming sulky.
"No point covering a body there's nothing to see."
"What, got teased or something?"
"I know, but it bugs me more when pointed out."
"That old coot must've said it."
Hey, the guy who'd bashed Barbaboi on Floor 4 and tried linking love marks after.
Well, her attitude suggested self-pity more than any serious jab from him.
This kid needed to realize such behavior made her seem even more childish.
I was about to share good news.
"Saw you from the future."
"Oh, that explosion was mine?"
"Yeah. Insane power."
"Truly surprising."
She nodded to herself before I finished.
The Girl flopped back down. Feeling safe sapped her remaining strength.
Unable to control her body, she'd tensed for potential threats.
She'd been a hero protecting people originally. Responsibility-wise, always top marks.
Lately, it stood out more.
Bluntly, only I, the Girl, and Gramps with his cheat items could keep up with kingdom-level difficulty now.
The rest were just numbers helping out, unable to shine properly.
For Sharkma to emerge as a blatant floor boss, even entry-level kingdom threats were lamentable.
Naturally, the party's burden fell on the Girl. Everyone knew.
She knew too, strengthening her sense of duty. Dutiful kid, after all.
She'd griped about me ditching her to roam alone, so no weak complaints now.
Watching the little thing struggle was awfully cute, though.
She looked mentally exhausted, expression dazed. Needed rest.
"Just lie there. Even if desperate for blood, can't suck yours."
"Huh? I'm fine. Wanna bite my neck?"
"You're insane."
"Heehee. Reward for me. Can't you?"
So I did.
The Girl squirmed, ticklish.
"Why always bat form?"
"Can't maintain body. [Blood Spring] fully dried up."
"Uncle had it rough too."
I thought she'd glare like "nearly died alone again?" but she took it calmly.
Then hugged my wings tightly.
"It's fine. Bats are kinda cute up close."
"What're you saying."
The Girl played tough, but I couldn't drain her dry. Combat prowess aside, her frame was slender.
No longer tiny, but limited blood volume.
Staunching as I whispered in her ear.
"What I was gonna say earlier. Future you was way bigger."
"Taller too?"
"About little mage height."
"Ooh. Always thought 170cm too tall. Sis was that. Felt huge. But now I like it."
"Why?"
The still-dazed Girl beamed.
"Then I can reach on tiptoes..."
"Whoa, Gramps. Mind the kid."
Mid-sentence, her eyes shut, and she passed out.
Even if Healing Potions fixed wounds clean, battle damage hit beyond body.
Rest time again. Planned to push to kingdom nonstop then recover, but things never went smoothly.
Never did.
Thanks to fainting, she missed hearing it wasn't just height growth in her future.
Not crucial, so no need to repeat.
From within the skull neatly wrapped in divinity, Sharkma pondered.
The Fairy Mage must have realized the situation by now.
That guy might escape however he pleased.
But he was done for.
He'd tried various efforts, but the thick divine shroud blocked all external interference.
A demilich wasn't crippled by losing his head, but this sealing was dire.
He'd lived long, thought everything bent to his will, but wishes didn't always come true.
For once, the mage purely contemplated his plight.
This is it.
Not a bad life.
Many magics to reach, worlds to grasp.
Regretful, but just that.
Even if he died here, Sharkma the entity would persist.
This future was but one possibility; the old mage knew well.
Another future's Sharkma might have succeeded.
A self branched from the same past.
As he thought that, he felt hands on his body.
Sharkma tensed reflexively.
LFV in others' hands felt alien.
A chill like cold fingers clutching his heart.
But knowing whose, Sharkma chattered his teeth in laughter.
New opportunity.
The angel scolded.
"What's funny? Tell me where the Life Force Vessel is, quick!"
[Why should I?]
"Fine, smash everything then."
The magic tower split first.
Including Sharkma's lab and countless research fruits, the ferocious angel smashed every corner.
Even underground. Watching facilities shatter, Sharkma sighed magically.
[That stuff cost a fortune.]
"Why so chill! Did that old coot snag and run?"
A flash, and brilliant golden radiance burst.
The angel scowled.
Sharkma hadn't noticed, but spotting paused world-time was easy.
"Where the hell was it?"
In this future where the angel came, he'd survived too, it seemed.
The Fairy Mage wasn't puzzled why the LFV was here.
Simple, really.
Where Sharkma respawned on death was the LFV's location.
Hide it in the Exile prison's sanctuary, wake one detainee hastily for stair escape.
But had he stumbled on it by chance?
Sharkma's mage NPC signature—pollen-like dense mana leaking.
Cracks in the red glass orb vessel. Mana, perhaps lich life force, seeping out.
Whether planning revival here or hoping she'd notice, it played into the lich's hands.
"Now it'll go my way."
The Fairy Mage muttered, leading with the party leader.
A dazed Exile staggered toward the stairs.
A fool from the kingdom. Not famously strong, no notable traits.
Missing then returning, none would notice.
Perfect for infiltrating the kingdom.
Slight LFV worries, but it passed stairs fine.
Born a hero but never heroic, Sharkma became just a mage over time.
Like lowly clan master Barbaboi rising to federation hero, history's center, [Hero Unit].
Sharkma, swept by world's flow rather than shaping it, hadn't been [Hero Unit] for ages.
Not pity for Sharkma, but self-mockery.
Similar plight, after all.
The Fairy Mage descended the stairs.
The mana-charged demilich skull suddenly lost its power. As if severed from its main body.
The angel raged.
"No need for history to repeat like this!"