Chapter 7
I Devoured the Tower with the EX-Rank Character I Raised - Chapter 7
I walked carefully and returned to my room.
"...Wow, I survived. I thought I was really going to die."
When synchronization is on, I'm an Awakener. When synchronization is off, I'm an old-era human. If I use mana intensely in between those states, I suffer a recoil so severe it could literally kill me.
...I hadn't expected this.
"Was that pain just now the price of 50,000 MP?"
It was a good thing I stopped after shooting just one Permafrost. If I had gotten careless and bombarded magic just to test things out, my internal organs might have ruptured and killed me.
'That was dangerous.'
As expected. A human only stops repeating the same mistakes after getting their head smashed once.
And there was one more thing I learned.
When I hunted the monster, I absorbed light dust, and that light dust healed my body that had been struggling from the recoil.
I could feel a compulsion: if you want to use magic freely, you must kill magical beasts to absorb 'light dust'.
At the same time, it was a threat that if I used magic and failed to kill the beast, I could die from the aftereffects.
What this meant was clear.
"It means if you draw your sword, you'd better cut at least a radish."
It wants me to use this ability to hunt and kill magical beasts.
Rationally speaking, that makes sense. But... the guy who handed me this synchronization ability misjudged me.
"Pretty arrogant, huh?"
I hate this kind of coercion. If you give me a binary choice of 'die vs. choose', I'm the type to find a third path no matter what it takes.
And when you reach the level of a veteran in a game, the ability to find exploits to escape these 'forced choices' comes standard.
"You're dead."
You son of a bitch. How dare you try to control me? I'll break through this no matter what.
"There is one fact I've learned."
The aftereffects? It hurt. It really hurt, but... I didn't die.
"I don't die even if I use up to 50,000 MP."
Thanks to that, I knew.
—That this was the safety line.
The trick to scare and control me was now broken. Instead, it ended up giving me the safety net of 'you won't die up to this point'.
Moving on. My brain was working sharply.
Even though I didn't die, perhaps because I had just returned from stepping somewhere near death's door, I could feel my entire mind entering a state of intense awakening.
'This cool and heavy sensation... It's been a while.'
Not using synchronization was not an option. In that case, I needed to develop a safe way to use it.
'Fight only with Ice Arrow?'
Rejected. 'It's weak.'
Ice Arrow is originally just for taking out mobs around a boss. It would be hard to land a decisive blow on a boss with it.
'Use Permafrost weakly?'
Rejected as well. Why is it called a special move? Permafrost is a high-power skill created 'specifically to kill' threatening bosses.
'Using a special move 'gently' doesn't even make sense.'
My gaze returned to the monitor in front of me.
'Come to think of it...'
Compared to the Ice Mage in Lost Honor, the efficiency was like heaven and earth.
'Han Seol-ah, you really use magic inefficiently.'
In Lost Honor, the MP cost for Ice Arrow, the Ice Mage's basic magic, is a mere 5. Compared to Han Seol-ah's Ice Arrow taking 500 MP, it's incredibly cheap.
What about special moves? The difference is even bigger here.
There's no need to even go up to the ultimate magic you can use when you max out an Ice Mage at level 99. Even an advanced skill like Blizzard, which can be used from the mid-game, costs 1/10th the mana while boasting equal or greater power.
If only I could use magic like that...
But it's just imagination. Even though Lost Honor is a strange game... the magic in the game and the magic in reality must be strictly different.
Leaving aside whether it's even possible in the first place. I didn't even have a clue how to cast magic right now.
'It makes no sense.'
... Hmm. Wait a minute.
...Does it really make no sense?
"...Does awakening an Incompetent Awakener make sense then?"
Besides. Does kidnapping an S-rank hunter, who exists perfectly fine in reality, straight from a press conference into a game world without anyone noticing make sense?
...Right. I'm the very person who tasted a miracle through Lost Honor.
'Miracle...'
—Don't set limits.
My instinct whispered so. I felt like I had realized another layer about my current ability—'Synchronization'.
'In the realm of miracles... nothing makes no sense.'
I spread my palm wide.
—How does one use magic?
A fundamental question. My answer is simple. I don't know that stuff!
Ice Arrow, Permafrost. I didn't know how to use either of them, but they just cast themselves.
—How does one cast the magic that exists in the game?
The same applies here. I don't know. There's no need to know in the first place.
Synchronization. That's not how this ability operated.
—I want to use it.
...If I wish for it like that.
"—Blizzard."
The boring, pedantic, and complex things.
It takes care of them on its own.
Tremble—
My mana hole vibrated.
See. Even now, the moment I poured my will into it and chanted the trigger word, the mana residing in my body began to squirm.
Whaaaaash—
A magic circle, so complex and multifaceted that it couldn't even be compared to the mandala Han Seol-ah drew when using Permafrost, was being etched internally.
Just glancing over it was enough to make my head spin. Moving at such high speeds that my senses couldn't keep up...
Flash!
Soon. A single message window popped up.
[Please designate the area of effect.]
In the game, when you activate Blizzard, an AoE skill, a magic circle appears to designate where to shoot it. Just like the one that popped up before my eyes right now.
'...It worked.'
It can be used. The magic from the game.
Right now, at this moment.
I have advanced one step further.
The time was when Han Seol-ah met the 'True Ice Dragon' in the 'Other World'.
Ever since she first obtained Eternal Winter, Han Seol-ah had been feeling an omnipotence as if she were the only existence in the universe.
And understandably so; her chronic problem with her total mana pool had vastly improved, and as a result, Han Seol-ah became an EX-rank Hunter. The third on Earth, and the second to make a name for themselves as a damage dealer.
Furthermore, this... 'crazy' staff!
Its specs were so incredible that just holding it gave her the illusion of becoming a god of magic.
But the moment she met the 'True Ice Dragon', Han Seol-ah realized her place.
—ROAAAR!
EX-rank was not the pinnacle.
Look at the creature in front of her. Just looking at it made her legs feel like giving out. Her mind went completely blank, and her mana froze solid. Realizing the overwhelming difference in power, her will to resist vanished.
'...That's the True Ice Dragon?'
The difference in status was so great that the one she saw on Earth felt like a grass snake.
Han Seol-ah peeked to her side.
Over there....
'He', who was incomparably more terrifying than the Ice Dragon in front of her, was staring at her intently.
'...Wh-why is He watching me?'
Her legs felt like they were going to give out...
After that.
The blatant 'trap' disguised as an elixir. Han Seol-ah had to step into it even knowing what it was.
Because He was staring at her point-blank. Staaaring intently, as if saying, 'What are you doing? Go pick it up.'
The sight of her eagerly picking up and eating the elixirs casually tossed onto the floor must have looked as ridiculous as a small beast waiting for its master's touch.
But she didn't have the luxury to feel shame. The killing intent beyond the abyss-like helmet was choking her as if it would snap her neck at any moment.
As a result.
The battle began.
And Han Seol-ah fell into a panic.
"I-I can't win! The Ice Dragon is immune to ice magic... My magic won't work...!"
The moment she looked back like that.
The abyss-like eyes looking down at me.
The gaze of an absolute predator that froze her down to her very soul the moment their eyes met.
She made eye contact with it.
An overwhelming demonic energy that human cognition dared not comprehend sent shivers down her spine.
'Eek!'
Whip. Han Seol-ah looked straight ahead.
'Yep! Let's fight!'
The desire to run away vanished. More precisely, a far greater terror crushed her trivial... fear.
ROAAAAR!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The Ice Dragon approached at high speed.
'KYAAAAAK!'
Han Seol-ah screamed at the top of her lungs inwardly.
At that moment.
Flash!
Eternal Winter flashed with a faint light, and her rigidly frozen mana began to flow inside Han Seol-ah's body on its own.
Feeling a chill as if she had been drenched in freezing water, Han Seol-ah forcibly regained her senses.
Right. I am Han Seol-ah. South Korea's Guardian...!
Han Seol-ah gritted her teeth and drew upon her ice mana to the limit.
However, at that moment.
[Hey, hey hey. Stop.]
She had no choice but to freeze at the male voice echoing in her head.
'...?!'
[What kind of way is this to handle ice mana? The Creator handed over the ownership so I was just going to endure and watch... but I can't take it anymore. Even a passing dog wouldn't manage mana like this. Is your intelligence at the level of a dog?]
'Wh-what?'
I, Han Seol-ah. Am an S-rank though....
[Sigh. Just do as I tell you. If you don't want to hear that you've disappointed the Creator.]
'!'
Snapping to her senses, Han Seol-ah immediately fixed her posture.
[Point me forward.]
'Me? Ah. Don't tell me, from this staff...'
[Right. I am 'Frozen', the artificial spirit of Eternal Winter. If you understand, do as I say.]
Han Seol-ah extended the staff, Eternal Winter, forward.
Vwoooom—!
'Gasp.'
With that, she felt all the mana in her entire body being entirely drained toward the staff.
'Eeeek.'
[Endure it. You can't even handle this much? You're supposed to be my user.]
'W-wait a minute.'
[You can't hold out any longer? Damn it. It's my first sortie, and I won't even be able to show a cool side to the Creator. Fine. Then, in that state, shout loudly.]
Han Seol-ah's entire body was trembling violently.
"Permafrost!"
The moment she shouted the trigger word.
A white light erupted from the deep blue jewel embedded in Eternal Winter. Deep blue mana swirled in front of the extended staff, and in the blink of an eye, a sphere of ice the size of a human head was completed with a chwararak!
"Huh?"
It was... different from usual.
There was no need to concentrate her mind. No need to draw a magic circle internally. No, there wasn't even a need to rouse her will to touch the mana.
'Permafrost isn't a magic that's cast this easily, is it?'
It was as if... someone had done the complex calculations for her.
'Could it be?'
Flash!
The sphere shot out at an invisible speed, touching Scathach.
BOOM!
Just like that. Scathach exploded and died.
[Well, this is decent enough.]
'...Did you do that, Spirit-nim?'
[What 'nim'. Just call me Frozen.]
'Yes, Frozen.'
[Yeah. Your mana management skills were so atrocious I couldn't hold back.]
'...Atrocious?'
[The completeness of the magic is well... not bad. In fact, it's praiseworthy.]
Frozen's voice continued rapidly in her head. Communicating at the speed of thought was quite a strange feeling.
[It's a miracle on the level of a goblin using stone tools building a skyscraper. How could you create such a high-tier magic with such primitive and barbaric mana management?]
'...Excuse me. I've been listening and all, but I'm not that terrible...'
[By my standards, it's terrible.]
'No...'
[Having just received my assistance, you won't say you don't know the difference, will you? At least if you're an intelligent being.]
'...'
That was true. Because Permafrost wasn't a magic that cast 'this easily'.
[How did you use this magic until now?]
'...I just concentrated my mind...'
As she recalled the method of using Permafrost in her head.
[...Wow...]
A gasp of admiration followed.
[What kind of... Shock and horror. It's a miracle your body didn't explode and die... No, rather, perhaps you survived with such a primitive method because you had this level of talent... 'Earthlings' are real meatheads...]
Ring—
[Notice: 'Possession Quest' has been completed. You will return to Earth in 10 seconds.]
Han Seol-ah lost consciousness immediately after, and as her mind sank into a distant abyss, she heard fragmented voices. It was a conversation of 'Frozen' arguing with an unidentified voice in a black space.
'I think they said... meatheads... or charity work...'
Gasp—!
Like a protagonist waking up from suspended animation. Han Seol-ah hurriedly exhaled and woke up in her bed.
"Wh-where is this?"
Looking around, it was her familiar room. Empty soju bottles she had drunk after the subjugation failure were rolling around nearby.
"...I'm back."
Earth. South Korea. My room.
'Was it... a dream?'
It wasn't. The amount of mana she felt in her body was undoubtedly EX-rank. Furthermore...
[Ugh.]
A pleasant male voice echoed in the relieved Han Seol-ah's head.
"Frozen!"
Han Seol-ah's heart filled with joy.
The divine weapon gifted by the transcendent she met in 'that place'. Eternal Winter.
The staff, so beautiful it put her in an ecstatic mood just looking at it, lay beside Han Seol-ah's pillow.
Han Seol-ah hastily picked up the staff.
[Hmm, where is this? The mana concentration is terrible. What's with this filthy environment? It's the perfect place for the weak to live.]
"...It's my room."
[I thought as much.]
Han Seol-ah shut her mouth.
"I should go out for now. Please help me, Frozen."
[Of course.]
Han Seol-ah hurriedly headed to the rooftop.
[Hmm?]
"Why?"
[No, I just felt an incredibly powerful ice-attribute mana.]
"Ah, sorry. It hasn't been long since I became EX-rank, so my control is..."
[?]
"?"
Silence lingered for a moment.
[...No, your skill is still at a pathetic level. What kind of misunderstanding do you have?]
"...That's harsh, really."
[It's mana of high concentration and purity that doesn't even compare to you. A management so stealthy and swift that I barely noticed it. Moreover, this... is a power that touches closer to the 'source'. To think there was a supreme-tier mage like this 'here'?]
"Uh..."
Han Seol-ah looked around, and after confirming no one was there, whispered to Frozen.
"The thing is... there is no ice mage greater than me here."
[What?]
"I'm the strongest ice mage on Earth."
[...The strongest?]
"...It's true though."
[....]
Frozen couldn't voice out any words. But Han Seol-ah felt like she had definitely just heard a sigh.
"Anyway, you probably misread..."
[No, that's impossible. This. Hmm. I see, so that's it.]
As if doing high-speed calculations, Frozen's jewel twinkled brightly.
"Eek."
The mana used for the calculation was, of course, Han Seol-ah's.
Although her mana pool had grown to absurd levels thanks to the elixirs 'He' bestowed upon her and obtaining Frozen, the amount of mana Frozen was drinking up was just too vast.
[The power I felt just now was definitely similar to your 'Ice Crystal'. There was a difference in magnitude, of course—if your Ice Crystal is a snowflake, this Ice Crystal is like a Blue Dragon's heart.]
"...Tch."
Frozen spoke in an amused voice.
[You said you're the strongest ice mage, right? Yet, an ice mage incomparably more powerful than you appeared right after you returned to Earth?]
"...!"
Han Seol-ah's lazy eyes shot wide open.
"Could it be?"
[Yes. It seems to be my Creator, 'Him'.]