Monica's Disciple Rumors

Just like always, the Mage Gallery was overflowing with shitposts, trolls, bitching, and envy-fueled jealousy.

Amid all that, there was one peculiar post drawing everyone's attention lately.

The massive training ground by the riverside in Bundang. This place, once supposedly used as a soccer field, now housed a magic training arena under a huge roof.

"To think this is the size of the training ground owned by a tower in Busan..."

Even from the entrance, the sheer scale of the training ground hit me.

Monica's personal training space was pretty big too, but nothing like this.

"You mean I get to use this all by myself?"

Honestly, building something this enormous outside their operational area felt almost absurd.

"Haesin Tower was one of the towers that invested in the Bundang New City development."

"Ah..."

"They made a killing here."

Suddenly, memories of the shanties in Bundang soured my mood.

"I see. Back then was peak development time, wasn't it."

"Huh?"

"Nothing, milady."

I climbed the worn stairs, scanning the surroundings.

"But it's pretty rundown."

"Yeah. Built in the '90s, after all. Over 30 years old."

"......"

Sure enough, patches of that '90s concrete-and-round-pillar architectural style dotted the place.

I brushed my hand over the tarnished brass plaque.

Seeing the tiny Taegukgi emblem below it brought back that '90s nationalist vibe.

Stepping inside revealed a well-maintained magic training arena. It smelled a bit musty from age, but the massive stadium scale still thrilled my heart.

"Up until 2015, they held S1-grade matches here. It's up to international standards."

At Monica's words, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I checked the equipment installed everywhere.

"Hmm, not something you'd just hand over on a whim because you like it..."

"I told you, it's all investment..."

Monica glanced around and added,

"Heard he dotes on his granddaughter something fierce, so probably threw in some 'lifesaving' value too."

The image of Hong Jiyeon trembling in the Abyss, speaking formally, made me snicker.

"An investment for the future like this shows real magnanimity, milady."

"Let's fire up the training ground first."

Monica and I found the control room inside the arena. Despite the hulking machines everywhere, the control panel was simple.

Once we powered everything on, the machines hummed to life with equipment activating all around.

Watching it, Monica chimed in.

"Ether's paid, of course. Don't forget? For a place this size, it's gotta be at least 300 million an hour?"

Her words jolted me awake.

"...Huh?!"

Suddenly, the pride-swelling arena felt like a money pit.

"Eight hours a day is 2.4 billion, a month is 72 billion?!"

Damn it.

Checking the gauge, there was about two hours' worth of ether left.

"Still, two hours preloaded."

"Two bars is 600 million..."

As I stammered, Monica burst out laughing.

"You'll rack up cash quick from Abyss raids."

"Got it. Let's train before we head to the Abyss."

I dashed into the arena.

"Ahaha! Kid, you'll trip."

Standing in the center, I sensed the surrounding ether. By my gauge, enough for three 2-level spells.

Feeling plenty, I shouted to Monica.

"Got two new spells!"

"Ooh! Both 2-level?"

I nodded.

"One projection, one control!"

Breathing deep in the vast training ground,

"Need someone to tank it."

"Pardon?"

"Might be dangerous if I screw up."

Monica looked flustered at my words.

"So, you with over 5-level ether sync think it's risky. Got it?"

"Exactly! Ether backlash worries too..."

I grinned sheepishly.

"Can't kill someone testing magic, right?"

"......"

Monica shut her mouth at that.

"That serious, huh? Fine. This 7-level mage will tank it. Fire away."

I nodded, eyes full of trust. Monica could handle it, no doubt.

Ether surged around me wildly.

"?! Kid? 2-level spell! Hey!"

As soon as Abyssorium cast, water jets shot from Monica's hand.

The air froze like ice, starlight raining from above. A massive water guardian rose over Monica.

"Whoa! Tough to block...!?"

Her left eye flushed red.

"2-level spell? You little cheater!"

As Monica struggled,

the arena floor cracked around her.

"But!"

With her shout, the snow-like stars vanished. The guardian's huge spear swung through the air.

"Not quite 6-level!"

Monica wiped sweat, eyeing me.

"Still impressive? Control spell at 2-level."

"What do you think? Deep-sea temps, pressure, deadly starlight raining down."

I blabbed excitedly; Monica chuckled, ruffling my hair.

"Yeah, our kid learned an awesome spell. What's the other?"

I nodded.

"The other too! Ether Shot upgrade!"

"Good, I'll tank that one!"

"Perfect! Give it a try!"

"Aigoo, look at our excited kid."

Monica beamed, floating magic circles around her.

"Hehe, this projection one's gonna be huge."

I hopped, loosening up.

Control spells countered shields or auras—survival types—focusing on breaches and variables, so destructive power lagged ether input.

But projection spells? Just project imagery-infused ether into the world. Simple: input ether equaled output destruction.

Imagining a massive Ether Shot, I prepped the 2-level spell Salvo.

Abyss ether wrapped my imagery core.

As it took on waves and starlight,

my body shook like struck by thunder.

"Cough?!"

Blood surged from my mouth; ether circuits burned.

"Wh-what's happening..."

Through blurry vision, Monica rushed over.

"Mu-magic... stop..."

Uncontrolled ether gathered in the air.

Within it, inky sea, twinkling stars... and something new.

Blue lightning. Azure Thunder.

"Imagery added itself?!"

Between waves and stars, blue lightning crashed.

Three attributes fused in the Ether Shot.

Wooong—

The ominous hum shattered in blue flash.

Kabooom—

Ether waves pierced me, shocking my body. Heart ached; more blood dripped.

"Cough! Gasp gasp."

Stunned, I gawked at the sky.

"Lightning? Outta nowhere?"

Blue sparks lingered amid fading waves.

Monica wiped blood from my mouth.

"Kid! What happened? Imagery changed. Something go down in the Abyss?"

"......"

Feeling my pounding heart, I slumped.

"Blue lightning..."

Definitely the imagery of Im Gwang-cheol, the Azure Thunder mage I'd killed.

"Looks like new imagery got added..."

Monica scratched her head furiously.

"What? New imagery? Mages' imagery doesn't change once set!"

She looked exasperated.

"Added imagery! Never heard of an Abyss like that!"

"But lightning appeared..."

As I sat dazed, Monica placed a hand on my head.

"Yeah, I saw."

"Is that possible?"

Her face hardened.

"One way to check."

"Huh?"

"Visit your Foundation. Imagery ties to its form—something weird's probably on floor 1."

"Then we should go now."

She flicked my forehead.

Thwack—

"Ow!"

"Go where?!"

Hands on hips,

"Recovery's part of growth. Home today."

"But..."

"Don't know floor 1's state. Go at peak condition."

I nodded. No point pushing while hurt.

'Not like I'll need magic inside anyway.'

I rode with Monica home.

In a Seoul parking lot, a boy sighed heavily.

"For real! She's no pushover."

A hulking man snorted at Alexandr.

His voice, opening his mouth, was eerily mechanical, not human.

"Tuner title. Surrender requested."

"You..."

"Mere 2-level mage. Cowardly pants-wetter. Dishonor to tuners."

"Not her—there's a 7-level mage!"

"Retired mage. Lacks combat exp. Favorable odds."

"Argh, fine. Was going today or tomorrow anyway!"

The boy hopped out, slamming the door.

Bam—

The door dented slightly.

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠window cracked down a bit.

"Repair fee claimed. Alexandr ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lacks patience."

"Bill me! Just pay it! Go! I'll handle here. You got stuff in China!"

"China. Mage extermination project. Prep complete. Click, done."

"......"

"Hahaha. Humans. Inferior species. Good luck."

The giant drove off.

Shaking his head at the words,

"Android or whatever, future sucks... Sigh."

His irritated face hardened coldly.

"This time, I'll kill her for real."

No more escape for his kin.

He had to keep the Spectrum Tuner title.