Chapter 121
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: 5th Circle Onslaught
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"Fuck...!"
It was impossible not to curse.
A sudden ambush on the way back from training at night.
Not from some taboo sorcerer, but from an academy senior.
Karindol's face was set in a rigid mask of murderous intent as she calculated her next spell once more.
She was exhausted from the intense training they'd just finished.
But to survive, she had to fight now.
The gallery folks would have said something like, "Perfect timing—fresh off hitting 5th circle, great training opportunity~" if they'd heard.
But facing a senior radiating killing intent that made my calves tremble, I felt anything but lighthearted.
[Savior's Sword, Initiate: Upper Crescent Slash]
[Penitent's Sword, Initiate: Lower Crescent Slash]
I activated my casting art first.
This wasn't some formal spar.
No need to match circles or limit our arsenal.
Karindol hadn't held back either, unleashing a 5th-circle spell right off the bat.
What circle is Karindol, anyway?
Before that, what circle had she reached?
Definitely beyond a typical second-year's level.
In the subjugation festival, her team had chased right up to Harisha's heels.
That suggested she wasn't higher than Harisha, but close—maybe a slight gap with her a touch behind.
So Harisha? At least 5th circle, probably dipping into 6th.
Which meant Karindol could likely handle 6th too.
That had to be the level of that dark-skinned powerhouse senior.
All those thoughts flashed through my mind in less than a second.
But there was no time for pointless speculation anymore.
Whatever her circle, she looked dead set on crushing me with everything she had.
The two greatswords swept low toward Karindol.
Thrusts from the Savior's Sword and Penitent's Sword.
Before the greatswords even reached her, the ground rumbled—ku-gu-guung!
A wall of black rock erupted in front of Karindol.
It wasn't ordinary stone.
Coal? Or some wall darkened by accumulated organics.
The spell seemed versatile for other uses too,
but for now, she'd cast it to block my casting blades.
The Savior's and Penitent's Swords slammed into the black wall with a kwa-gak!,
and the follow-up slashes were perfectly repelled.
Karindol had experienced my casting art before.
Her defense was spot-on because of it.
Two swords delivering dual strikes.
To counter that, a one-shot wall like this beat an efficient single-block spell, even if less optimal.
"Hoo..."
But I hadn't stopped either.
While the hero blades clashed with her black wall, I'd been calculating my own spell.
Brief clash with Karindol at the festival.
Not enough to read her main spells or style.
No clue what strategy she'd pull next.
Safety first: start inefficient if needed.
Connect five points like a star.
Draw the first construct in that star pattern.
From the floating star, drop way down.
Thick straight line there.
Earth, bridging the vast gap between star and ground.
Dot on the earth to mark the existence.
Two lines from star to ground, embracing the dot from both sides.
Lonely star's light guarding one sole being.
Protection born from shared solitude.
The star shines because it's seen;
the star shields the tiny one that beholds it.
[Lone Star's Guardianship: Unaligned Constellation]
Hwaaak—
Starlight weaker than sunlight poured down from the sky, bathing me.
It enveloped me completely, repelling external attacks.
A 5th-circle defense wrapping the body like starlit armor.
Meanwhile, Karindol finished her next calculation.
The black wall that blocked my casting vanished, her next attack incoming.
Before it even sank, crimson light erupted from underground, surging toward me.
Like some massive thing crawling beneath.
When it reached me, fierce flames roared up from my feet—huaaruruk!
"...!"
But I'd already cast [Lone Star's Guardianship: Unaligned Constellation].
This fire spell seemed 5th-circle too.
No time for higher after blocking the greatswords.
Seeing my 5th-circle defense, Karindol flashed brief surprise.
But she quickly resumed her grim expression, calculating again.
I figured the star shield would hold her next one too.
So right after defense, I dove into the next spell without pause.
It bought me a slight edge, but I still calculated frantically.
Because this was a 6th-circle spell.
Couldn't keep matching a probable 6th-circle Karindol like this.
Circle gap would eventually overwhelm me.
Had to pull every trick, casting included.
If my calc speed outpaced the circle deficit...
[Synapse Plasticity Hyperactivation]
Thought speed skyrocketed; the world slowed.
All senses sharpened, info overload intensified.
My sole 6th-circle available.
First real combat use.
Great Gonik's magic—it'd bridge the gap massively.
Karindol finished another spell meantime.
5th-circle again.
But faster calc; 6th+ next likely.
No time to waste thought—I recalculated defense.
Speed far surpassed before.
Just barely completing before her spell hit.
[Lone Star's Guardianship: Unaligned Constellation]
Pa-tsut—
Her lightning met my defense in an ear-shattering crackle.
In real time, instant fizzle—pachijik!
But accelerated thought stretched the noise long.
Ears rang, but this exchange confirmed it.
SubsidyRiceEater's thought-accel magic worked wonders in combat.
Far more useful than expected.
Post-clash, we both started new calcs.
My greatswords still charging her,
and before their thrusts finished, I completed a 5th-circle attack.
Karindol's defense calc just wrapping up.
Calc speed gap showing.
Ku-gu-guung—
Black wall rose again as my first 5th-circle attack launched.
[Apprentice Dragon Knight's Javelin Throw]
Huwook— a spear with spread wings rocketed skyward.
Arcing high, it whipped around, accelerating viciously at Karindol.
The great dragon knights' basic hunt-and-tame throw.
Rookie version, but unmistakably a dragon knight's spear.
Soaring like a dragon unfurling wings,
crashing down with full momentum.
Flames wreathing it like dragon breath.
Apprentice power, but underestimate and it'd pierce shields, melt skin.
-...!
Felt her flinch behind the wall.
Her calc hastily wrapped.
My spells outpacing her expectations.
But not over.
[Apprentice Dragon Knight's Javelin Throw]
[Apprentice Dragon Knight's Javelin Throw]
Two more 5th-circles mid-gap.
Three breath-laden spears plunged at her.
Mu- sun—!
In slowed senses, her panic echoed.
Her rushed spell surged at me;
she scrambled another defense.
Her black lightning crashed down.
Lightning spells: among fastest projectiles.
But in accel-thought, I prepped the next.
Attack spell again.
Normally, switch to defense.
Not now. Push through, devour her bolt, keep attacking.
[Five Elements of Dust Explosion]
Flung combustible dust forward—pu-hwak!
Fine particles like lead powder spread, stinging eyes.
Ignition at source;
chain explosion devoured space along the cloud.
Swallowed her spell too.
Blast hid her face.
[Apprentice Dragon Knight's Javelin Throw]
[Apprentice Dragon Knight's Javelin Throw]
[Five Elements of Dust Explosion]
In accel-thought, I spammed 5th-circle attacks.
No gaps allowed.
Her 6th+ would turn tides.
Proof: she pure-defended my barrage.
No attacks anymore.
Tiny "Euk..." groan in slowed senses.
Seized chance, perfect strike.
And Karindol's defense broke.