Chapter 60
Chapter 60
Episode 60
I retreated, barely managing to block Prudence Loa's relentless attacks. He rapidly deployed low and intermediate magic, giving me no respite.
“Ugh?!”
Intermediate Magic
[Pharma Shield]
I couldn't use proper advanced magic yet, so I was more confident in rapid casting, but the gap in our skills was vast.
Precision, casting speed, judgment.
He was completely superior to me in every aspect.
I'd never been pushed back in a magic duel using the same level of spells, but this was overwhelming.
[Mana Dominator Lv. 2]
[67/100 until guaranteed SSR-rank magic]
I couldn't win if I limited myself to magic.
I needed to change the flow of the battle.
[Earthquake]
The quickly cast spell was an advanced earth magic. I hadn’t expected an SSR-rank magic anyway, so advanced magic was a win.
“Oh? That’s quite the casting speed. However…”
Just as I thought I’d gained some ground, Prudence Loa vanished from sight.
I quickly realized he’d used [Blink], an advanced phenomenon magic.
But even that brief moment was too late.
“For some reason, your magic feels…unrefined.”
“Ugh?!”
Could an elder mage’s insight even discern that?
The voice came from above. Prudence Loa had used both [Blink] and [Levitation].
Intermediate Magic
[Physical Enhancement]
I enhanced my physical abilities and rolled away.
“Hmm…”
A barrage of spells slammed into the spot where I’d been standing.
That was close. But I’d bought myself some time.
And that opening allowed someone else to step in.
“Marie, go!”
“Yes, finally an opening.”
Marie, who had been hesitant to intervene, flew towards Prudence Loa, who was floating in mid-air.
Her avatar, shrouded in black demonic energy, appeared behind her.
Crack!
The avatar's attack collided with Prudence Loa's barrier, creating a sound like shattering concrete.
But Prudence Loa's barrier held firm.
The avatar’s sword seemed stuck, unable to penetrate.
“A threatening display, but you seem unfamiliar with that power, Marie. You need more practice.”
“Grrr!”
Marie struggled to swing her sword, but Prudence Loa’s barrier, holding the avatar’s sword captive, began to reconstruct itself.
I broke out in a cold sweat.
Prudence Loa was stronger than I thought.
No, it wasn’t just a difference in power.
Looking at his burning gaze, I understood.
“Marie.”
Prudence Loa’s mindset was different from mine.
He was fighting with the resolve to die.
Trying to subdue him was arrogant and disrespectful.
“Let’s fight with the intent to kill.”
We should have attacked him with the intent to kill from the start.
“Yes…”
As soon as I spoke, the whites of Marie’s eyes turned black.
Her black hair deepened, staining the world around her.
“Open.”
As she spoke, an incredibly dense demonic energy erupted, consuming the surroundings in darkness.
“The boundary between life and death.”
Crackle!
The [Immortal’s Key] revealed a fragment of its power, tearing Prudence Loa’s barrier to shreds.
Prudence Loa felt an overwhelming surge of power from Marie.
The avatar’s sword, which he’d barely managed to contain, tore through his barrier like paper.
“Indeed…”
He couldn't block it.
He couldn't dodge it.
Looking at Marie, wreathed in black demonic energy, Prudence Loa finally understood.
She was a messenger from the Underworld.
“My vision was too narrow.”
Oz wasn’t the only one he should have been wary of. This mistake was a disaster brought on by his own arrogance.
And the price was steep.
Crack!
A black line appeared on Prudence's body, running from his shoulder to his opposite hip.
Marie’s sword moved without hesitation, with the intent to kill.
‘How pitiful.’
Prudence Loa saw a reflection of his past self in Marie.
A child who had lived in a world where killing was necessary for survival.
A child for whom that had become the norm.
‘As expected, the world…’
…needed to change.
He felt a pang of sympathy as he fell from the sky.
His struggle ended with absurd brevity.
Prudence Loa looked up at the starry sky and murmured,
“The world has become a better place.”
In the end, the world had changed.
It had become a world where those with talent were given equal opportunities.
There were still conflicts, but unlike before, there were no meaningless sacrifices.
At least their power struggles had meaning.
“The world has truly become a better place.”
But it wasn’t them who changed the world.
Salem Sudra, the greatest mage in history, had changed the world overnight.
“Then…then…” Prudence sputtered, his voice choked with emotion.
“What about our efforts, the blood we shed?”
It was the talent of a single individual, not the efforts of countless ordinary people, that changed the world.
Those who had dedicated their lives to their efforts were suddenly left in the dust.
Those who shed blood for their cause were ridiculed as fools.
In a way, it wasn't wrong.
They knew nothing but struggle.
But even so…
“We cannot stop fighting.”
If even Prudence himself admitted defeat, what about the comrades who entrusted him with their hopes and died?
“We must prove that our efforts weren't meaningless.”
Prudence Loa, despite knowing it was futile and pathetic, couldn't help but stand up again.
The back of his robe was stained crimson with blood.
It wasn't his own blood.
It was the imprint of bloodstained hands, of those who paved the way for him.
He had to keep moving forward. He couldn't remain stagnant.
“Heir, I…we cannot stop fighting. We must not stop.”
Prudence Loa spoke, his voice filled with resentment.
“Is that why you released that monster?”
“I hoped someone would understand our way of life.”
“The students of this academy are innocent. Why are you acting like the very authorities you wanted to overthrow?”
Prudence shook his head.
Black blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
His body, eroded by demonic energy, creaked.
The Key’s power Marie had used was pushing him towards death.
Even so, he didn’t stop fighting. No, he couldn't stop.
“What did you see in that monster, Heir?”
“…”
“I saw the seeds of war.”
Crackle
Intense mana surged from Prudence Loa’s eyes.
“If you don’t adapt, you’ll become like us. You’ll be caught unaware and die a fool’s death.”
He still hadn't given up.
“There were other ways to become accustomed to that monster, without resorting to such drastic measures.”
“But the world won't allow it. You’re still young, Heir. You don’t understand.”
Prudence slammed his staff on the ground.
A magic formula began to form, originating from the tip of his staff.
It wasn’t an ordinary formula, but one unique to Prudence.
The precursor to transcendental magic.
“Spellerge might have changed, but the fundamental nature of the world remains the same.”
He knew.
The world might have improved, but it hadn’t changed.
The ignorant only realized this in their final moments.
And by then, it was too late to regret their ignorance.
“Concealment, deception, manipulation. That’s the world. The existence of that monster will be buried without a trace.”
So, he couldn’t stop fighting against the world.
Transcendental Magic
[Prometheus]
He had to deliver the flames of struggle to the ignorant.
That was his purpose.
Prudence's magic began to dye the dark night crimson.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
As the fight with Prudence Loa intensified,
Discreet Punisher, the leader of Tenebris, was checking the surroundings to see if the “Outer Being” had escaped.
“Hmm…”
To a beastman with heightened senses, the presence of the monster designated as the “Outer Being” was quite distinct.
Discreet realized the monster had indeed escaped, as Oz had feared.
Judging by the explosions coming from the vicinity of the lab, the initial plan had failed.
Swipe
Discreet, sword in hand, moved like a ripple in the shadows.
He intended to kill the Outer Being, as per his agreement with Oz.
“Hmm?”
As Discreet followed the monster's trail, he felt a sense of unease.
The monster’s movements were strange.
It was moving in a specific direction, as if being guided.
“I didn't want to think this, but…”
Perhaps Oz’s fears had become reality.
Even so, Discreet didn't stop.
It was still just a hypothesis.
He couldn’t be certain until he confirmed it himself.
“It certainly seems to have troublesome characteristics.”
Discreet frowned as he finally located the monster.
As Oz had said, its appearance was constantly changing.
And it didn't feel strange. If he hadn’t been informed beforehand, he wouldn’t have even noticed.
The fact that its form was constantly shifting meant its combat style would also be diverse.
“Sigh…”
Discreet sighed deeply as he stood before the monster.
The monster itself wasn't particularly strong.
He could probably sever its head with a single blow.
But Discreet couldn't bring himself to swing his sword.
He stood frozen, erasing his presence, and simply observed the monster's movements.
After the monster passed by him, oblivious to his presence,
“…You’re surprisingly sentimental.”
Discreet spoke cautiously.
The one who breached the magic barrier, which even an elder mage would struggle to penetrate in a short time.
The one who was guiding the monster towards the area where combat students resided.
The one who colluded with…no, aided Prudence Loa’s plan.
“Lady Tiamat.”
[KP Dragon Emperor]
Tiamat
Tia, looking at Discreet’s nervous expression, replied,
“You don't know me very well. I’ve always valued my people.”
“Even if it was Professor Prudence Loa’s doing, the blame will fall on you, Lady Tiamat.”
“Since I allowed it, it’s only natural that I accept the blame.”
Tia agreed with Prudence’s views to some extent.
That monster would become a spark of war. But she didn't intend to force it upon everyone, like Prudence.
She simply wanted the combat students, who would inevitably face such creatures in the future, to experience them beforehand.
They didn’t need to fight it directly. Just witnessing it would be enough.
That’s why she was guiding the monster’s movements.
“Professor Prudence Loa and Prince Oz should be fighting by now.”
“Probably.”
“Aren't you going to stop them?”
“There’s no need.”
Tia brushed past Discreet, following the monster.
“Only one of them was destined to die from the start.”
Her voice was low and heavy, laced with displeasure.
Discreet suppressed his heightened senses and waited for Tia to pass.
This was the time to remain hidden.
“…All Tenebris agents still on-site, abort mission and withdraw immediately.”
After Tia was out of range, Discreet issued his orders.
“And Agent Lucia, relay a message to Prince Oz.”
–What message…?
Discreet pulled out one of the many communication devices he carried and spoke quietly.
“Tell him the operation has failed. He’ll understand.”
–But…!
“Agent Lucia,” Discreet interrupted Lucia’s protest.
“That’s an order.”
–…Yes.
He understood her concerns, but getting involved with the [Dragon Emperor]’s affairs was unwise.
And as long as Tia was involved, it probably wouldn't become a major problem.
“Sigh…”
As silence returned, Discreet looked up at the sky, painted crimson by the aftereffects of ultimate magic, and murmured,
“Perhaps I should have talked to Professor Prudence more…”
Discreet hadn't interacted much with Prudence, but he respected him to some extent.
He, like Discreet, had reached the realm of talent through sheer effort and hard work.
But after tonight, he would be gone.
“Tsk…”
Discreet clicked his tongue, a hint of bitterness in his voice, as he watched the revolutionary’s final flames, painting a part of the night sky crimson.