Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Pyromancer (2)
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The pyromancer couldn't comprehend the scene unfolding before him.
He widened his nonexistent eyelids as far as they could go, staring at Kim Shin-hwa, who still stood firm right in front of him.
From the pyromancer's perspective, Kim Shin-hwa was just some green rookie mage whose name he hadn't even heard before. And yet, this nobody was perfectly blocking the flames he had summoned—the precious flames gifted by his god.
‘This…… Impossible……!’
His opponent was the sacrificial lamb foretold in prophecy.
He had known it wouldn't be an easy fight.
That's why he had gathered the burned blood, flesh, and even souls of his disciples to create these flames.
Not satisfied with that, the pyromancer had poured in his own mana and life force essential for survival and resurrection, along with his very spirit body.
It was the ultimate spell designed to burn not air or matter, but space itself. A forbidden ultimate technique meant to disrupt the laws of physics and the natural order, albeit in a localized area.
It was no longer mere magic—it was a miracle manifesting the will of the god he served, the [Living Flame], into the present world.
And yet, Kim Shin-hwa still stood unscathed at the heart of the flames the pyromancer had unleashed.
It wasn't countered by magic of opposing attributes or defensive spells. Kim Shin-hwa was blocking his flames with a bizarre magic circle composed solely of fire runes.
The pyromancer had already forsaken survival. These flames were the culmination of his entire soul, the pinnacle of decades of honed talent—the final flames he could produce in his lifetime.
He could understand blocking them with another element. But to block my fire with fire itself?
Impossible.
And yet, it was happening.
‘Is that thing really human? Truly? A soul born in the same world as me, a body made of the same matter?’
The masked mage—a filthy mosaic patched together with powers from various gods and shards of demons, or so he had thought—was doing something beyond imagination.
Magic? No, wait. What the hell?
It was definitely magic. Runes and mana lines extended from Kim Shin-hwa's body, moving in ways the pyromancer couldn't comprehend, forming some spell.
Mana lines stretching in all directions, magic circles forming without meaning, mere straight lines, ordinary curves, mana particles gathering from everywhere, glowing shapes.
But he couldn't grasp how that magic worked at all.
- What? What? What is it? What are you doing!?
Perhaps it was sorcery from some alien world he couldn't know. That would make sense. A bizarre magic operating in a foreign manner, fundamentally different from our world's magic system.
That's the only explanation. But the moment those incomprehensible fragments of magic coalesced into meaning, he could only gasp in horror.
The mana lines and shapes, the runes he thought scattered meaninglessly and tangled chaotically, formed a spell under a single logic, a single system, a single law.
It was a beautiful method he had never imagined.
His enemy, the masked mage whose name he didn't even know, was creating magic—no, a miracle—in a way he had never seen.
And what it produced was utterly unexpected magic.
[Flame Manipulation]
Though from a different lineage, the pyromancer knew this spell.
Even half-baked aspiring mages in Pahju's back alleys could use it. The most basic beginner spell taught first to those learning magecraft.
It merely enhanced or redirected a portion of an element.
At best, it controlled natural flames burning unattended.
- You think you can block my flames now—with those flames my god gifted me, the flames of my soul crafted to rewrite this world's laws—with that pathetic low-level spell!?
The flames the pyromancer had formed, otherworldly fire validated by his god's name, a domain as solidly built as any full-grown entity he had ever created.
- N-No way!
It collapsed.
The pyromancer's flames, which had formed a colossal entity of ultimate blaze, began to crumble.
All the masked mage had done was thrust something into the heart of the blaze.
- Gah!?
It stopped moving. What? Expansion halted. The magic? Stopped? Move! Mana flow ceased. Collapse? Foreign object? What did you do? The power to burn and sublimate halted. It's reversing! My power won't obey me. Why? My mana—wait! Don't take it! What are you doing? No! Don't collapse! Flow! Stop! Cease! This can't be! Don't do this!
That thing wore a human shape, but it was alien, repulsive, bizarre. What the hell was it?
Those eyes! Those eyes! Don't look at me with those eyes! Four eyes! A monster with four glowing blue eyes! Stop, my mana, my power, my god! Please! Give me strength! Mercy! You demon! Demon with four eyes! Grant me the power to vanquish that demon! Please! My god, lend me your strength! Blazing soul burning in Fomalhaut! Please, with your power to incinerate that demon threatening your glory! Burning! Blazing! With your crimson fist that purifies all! Purification! Purification! Purification! Purification! Your divine purification, please! Please! Please!
『In that moment, I say unto thee.』
- Ah! Aaaah! Aaaaah!!
Scorching flames, massive blaze—it passed endlessly, endlessly before the pyromancer's eyes. A colossal explosion—no, something greater—billions of lights, flames, fire, heat, rage, will, explosions capable of burning distant cosmos. The sacred flames of a massive blaze beyond the galaxy, purifying the entire universe—a truly immense one, truly holy one, truly beautiful one. He! He descends into reality through me! For me! For me! For me! For me! For me! For me! For me! For me! For me! For me! For me! For me! To burn that demon!
The abyssal being, the [Living Flame], whispered.
But the pyromancer's soul could not hear it.
Why?
"No need."
His enemy, the demon he must burn, the one he had to incinerate, spouted nonsense. Wait, what? No need? For what?
The abyssal being, the [Living Flame], whispered again.
But he couldn't hear it.
Only then did the pyromancer realize.
For some reason, his god, the [Living Flame]'s will, was not addressing him.
Instead, the alien monster before him—human-like, yet utterly inhuman—raised an appendage attached to the left side of its main body, what he would call a left arm if it were human, and spoke.
"This ring is mine, rightfully acquired, and I desire nothing more from you. Stay put, as nothing beyond what's stipulated in our pact is required."
What the hell are you saying?
Why isn't my god burning him right now? What is happening?
The pyromancer had nothing left to pay. His remaining life force was gone; even his spirit body was fading.
In his dissolving consciousness, the last thing he saw was the horrific mage who had seized and imprisoned the flames he created—all the fire, all the miracles.
What is happening? After decades of training and prayer, the god I summoned……
‘Why…… won't you look at me?’
Could it be not me, not me, not me?
That was the pyromancer's final thought.
All that remained was residual heat, a handful of ashes, a tiny trace of something that had once been.
* * *
"Whew, thought I was a goner."
I really almost died.
Terrifying high temperatures of mana raged everywhere. It was the mana of the [Living Flame] spewed by the pyromancer. When the [Living Flame] suddenly stirred to descend through this mana, I nearly bought it.
Luckily, it wasn't a full-force attempt, so I managed to block the descent.
‘Anyway, this mana is all mine now.’
[Absorption]
I'd done something similar before. This time was much easier. I raised my left hand and, using the [Ring of Corrupted Flame] as a medium, sucked in all the surrounding heat.
‘Back then, the flesh blob handled it, but this time I have to do it myself.’
[L-grade accessory 'Carcosa's Mask' unique function, 'Madman's Handiwork,' activates.
// Madman's Handiwork: Attempt modifications to unlock hidden abilities of artifacts or bestow new ones.]
Fwaaaah!
[Embers of the Northern Raksha Gate (SSS-grade accessory): Ring. Call upon me anytime you wish. I shall descend upon thee.
Flame Chain: Grants the wearer 'Spell Enhancement: Explosive' and 'Spell Enhancement: Chain Explosion' traits.
Pyre Devotees: Forces a Sanity check upon equip. Failure imposes 'Madness - Pyromania' upon your mind.
Trace of Ultimate Blaze: All fire-type magic effects increased by 100%.
Avatar of Flame: Strength +4.
Flame Knowledge Inheritance: Proficiency in 'Fire-type Magic' increases.]
"Oh, Strength!"
Plus, the spell enhancement options are a nice bonus. Solid abilities added across the board, nothing to discard.
[Achievement unlocked! You have defeated the successor of the 'Living Flame.' You have obtained the 'Advanced Achievement: Destroyer of the Pyre.'
Achievement rewards: Unique trait 'Soul Flame' and 'Pyromancer' title, plus bonus EXP.]
"Whoa, hold up. Don't give me that!"
Who are you trying to turn into a firefly with a title like that!?
And 'Soul Flame' trait—that's the exact technique the pyromancer used to turn his soul into will-o'-the-wisp after dying.
"Eh, whatever. If you're giving, I'll take it."
Not like it's a bad ability to have.
[Quest completed!
[Outpost Defense Quest: Guardian of the Tiger's Den]
Rewards: 1,450,000 XP + bonus based on mission performance]
[You have accumulated enough experience to reach the next level. Level increases by 1.]
[You have defeated the 'Pyromancer's Successor.' Understanding of abyssal beings increases.]
[You have exerted strong influence over multiple 'Cultists - Offspring of Fomalhaut.' Understanding of cultists increases.]
[You have defeated multiple 'Thugs.' Understanding of the Three Heads Society increases.]
[You have defeated multiple 'Outlaws.'……]
[You have defeated multiple 'Goons.'……]
There were many in number, but few were Iron Head's direct subordinates.
Aside from the cultists and a handful, they were probably random drifters rounded up from everywhere. Thanks to that, an endless stream of profiles for every scum poured in.
‘At this point, these small fry won't even give EXP anymore.’
[You have accumulated enough experience to reach the next level. Level increases by 2.]
[EXP Bonus: You have achieved a total of (1) achievements in the Blue Tiger estate.]
[You have accumulated enough experience to reach the next level. Level increases by 1.]
Nice, leveled up decently.
[Reached Level 37!
Level-up reward: (1) bonus stat point to freely allocate.]
I dumped the extra bonus stat into Mental Fortitude as planned.
****
Kim Shin-hwa
Class: Mage Who Gazes into the Abyss
Level: 37
Magic Tier: 3rd Circle
Madnesses: [Mask Obsession], [Ichthyophobia]
Strength 5 + 4 (Embers of the Northern Raksha Gate)
Vitality 7 + 3 (Four-Faced Azure Blade (Rusted))
Agility 8 + 2 (Wings of the Night Veil)
Intelligence 30
Mental 16 + 2 (Necklace of the Body Snatcher)
Charisma 18
****
[Achievement unlocked! You have destroyed a curse with your own power!
You have obtained the 'Common Achievement: Curse Breaker.'
Achievement rewards: Firm alliance with Park Kwang-rim and bonus EXP.]
"Huh? Curse Breaker?"
[Quest completed!
[Mini Quest: Broker on the Brink of Explosion]
Rewards: 150,000 XP + 200 million won]
[System: Meet Park Kwang-rim to claim remaining rewards.]
Ah, right. That corruptor back then wasn't your average summon either.
The cultist who cursed Park Kwang-rim must've been the pyromancer. And since he's completely erased, the curse lifted.
"No-resort Park Kwang-rim. Missed his chance to visit Thousand Gold Hall."
Just embedding a visit to Thousand Gold Hall on that business card would've doubled his status in Pahju. Whatever, curse is gone, so good for him. Gotta slowly spread the word that the curse is lifted so he keeps running a bit longer.
Anyway, Park Kwang-rim's curse is lifted, and I don't have to give him a free ride anymore. Blue Tiger repelled the raid, and Iron Head probably won't have to pay the pyromancer, so he's happy too?
Everyone involved is happy. Great.
The pyromancer…… uh, the pyromancer…… happy in his own way?
The Church of Fomalhaut's Offspring is a cult teaching self-destructive doctrines. They preach dying in battle against heretics as ultimate bliss, so the pyromancer must be satisfied.
Better than a pathetic life—died for his god as he always wanted. Namu Amida Butsu.
Kidding. Karma's a bitch. The pyromancer was a central figure enforcing those doctrines on believers. No one would say he died well, but he's an irredeemable villain who exceeded that long ago.
Just for today's battle, he killed over a hundred.
Dozens for summoning those ash wraiths, and dozens more for this massive climate shift.
"Alright, that's done anyway."
Iron Head's goons and Fomalhaut's Offspring are fleeing. If Blue Tiger had a few more people, we could've chased, but not enough manpower.
"Now…… just the aftermath?"
Let's see. I turned to check Jung Hyun-ah's status. Didn't buff her with bestowal magic for nothing.
She's still fine for now…… Wait, guard buddy? The guard I stuck by her—his life force is dropping.
Something's happened to Jung Hyun-ah.
And at this timing, only one possible culprit.