Mutants (2)

Jehyun faced off against the mutant right in front of him. In the suffocating tension, the mutant moved first.

"Kieeeeek."

Its speed was even faster than when it first appeared. Having devoured the Hamlet boss's corpse, the mutant had grown stronger. Scaly armor had formed over its body, and its speed had jumped another level. It wasn't for nothing that Shin Yesung, a 2nd Circle mage, had nearly been caught off guard by its ambush.

"D-Danger...!"

As the mutant charged at Jehyun, Shin Yesung cried out in shock. But Jehyun remained utterly calm. He had baited it into coming at him first.

'Air Bolt.'

Jehyun unleashed the spell he had prepared. Chunks of wind materialized in an instant. Even if it was just a 1st Circle spell, the casting speed was ridiculously fast.

"...!"

Shin Yesung's eyes widened at the sight. Wind-attribute magic was his specialty, and Air Bolt was one of the 1st Circle spells he had practiced endlessly. Yet even he couldn't cast it as quickly as Jehyun just had.

Boom boom boom!

The mutant, lunging toward Jehyun, took repeated hits to the chest from the Air Bolts and was flung backward.

"Kyaaak."

It let out a screech as it tumbled away. Jehyun had amplified the damage by leveraging the mutant's own charging momentum. Thanks to that, the 1st Circle Air Bolt inflicted more harm than Shin Yesung's 2nd Circle Air Boom. And on top of that, the barrage pushed the mutant far back, securing crucial distance for a mage.

"Magic isn't for just smashing down with brute ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠force like you did. You have to use it appropriately, in the right place at the right time."

Jehyun glanced at the fallen mutant and lectured Shin Yesung.

"Grraaah."

The wounded beast's roar shook the boss room. The Dragon Fear mixed into that roar tried to stiffen Jehyun's body.

It was useless against Jehyun, whose completed Mana Core granted him high resistance.

"Grrr."

Seeing that its Dragon Fear had no effect on Jehyun, the mutant grew cautious. It instinctively realized this was no easy opponent and refrained from charging recklessly, biding its time carefully.

At that, Jehyun moved first this time.

Vmmm.

Golden mana erupted from both of Jehyun's hands like an explosion. At the same time, he added to his explanation for Shin Yesung.

"And if you want to smash with brute force..."

Whoosh.

As Jehyun spoke, golden flames flickered into existence around him. 1st CircleFire Bolt, infused with golden attribute power.

"Kaaah."

Sensing danger, the mutant desperately rushed at Jehyun. But Jehyun's spell was already complete. With a single word and gesture toward the mutant, he declared,

"You do it like this."

Swoosh!

Countless golden fireballs streaked golden trails through the air, raining down on the mutant. Shin Yesung's jaw dropped at the bombardment-like assault.

"Wh-What the...?"

This was a 1st Circle mage's Fire Bolt? It didn't feel like it at all. The destructive power and casting speed were beyond even what he could imitate. It felt like something only a fully mastered 2nd Circle could replicate. The proof was how the mutant—which hadn't even flinched from his own spells—was melting away under mere 1st Circle Fire Bolts.

Screeech, squeal.

Engulfed in golden flames, the mutant writhed and let out pitiful cries. Its tough armor had long since melted. Thud. It collapsed soon after.

"N-No way..."

It was an unreal sight. A beast that seemed equivalent to an E-rank boss monster couldn't last more than a few exchanges against Jehyun. Shin Yesung had thought he'd need to go all out just to handle it. Yet Jehyun had crushed it with raw power. Overwhelmed, Shin Yesung's mouth hung open. And in that moment, he realized.

This guy was a freak. Outside the norm.

Sometimes, the world produced peerless geniuses. They accomplished feats beyond their apparent power—like a fresh 1st Circle mage overwhelming something on par with an E-rank boss. The epitome of irrationality. Beings with talent that transcended common sense. Usually, such people grew into the "absolutes"—the giants of the world.

And Shin Yesung knew one such being well.

'He's in the same league as big sis.'

His eldest sister, Shin Yerim. The world only saw her beauty and judged her by that. Even at just 17, she was destined to be counted among the world's top beauties once she matured. They said she hadn't inherited her mother's talent, only her looks.

'They're wrong. Big sis is an absolute genius.'

At 17, she already commanded intermediate spirits—equivalent to at least 4th Circle magic power. She just focused on personal training rather than showing off, but if her true abilities were revealed, the world would be shocked. Shin Yerim, Shin Yesung's eldest sister, was poised to succeed Kim Miri—the Nature Clan's clan master, wielder of supreme spirits, and one of the world's strongest—as the next great talent.

'This guy's on her level.'

Shin Yesung realized he'd been reckless. Memories of his rude behavior when they first met flooded back, flushing his face red.

"Hyung-nim, I'm sorry."

He immediately bowed his head. Bowing to the strong was no shame. Shin Yesung valued strength ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠above all. Those with power deserved respect. That's why he revered his mother and sister, who possessed such might—though he resented that they no longer pushed the clan's expansion despite it.

"What for?"

Jehyun chuckled. The kid was so transparently obvious.

"I overstepped without knowing my place. Let me kowtow in apology. Ah! And thank you for saving my life. I'll definitely repay the favor someday."

Shin Yesung responded politely to Jehyun. A complete 180 from their first meeting.

"Fine, make good on that repayment. And work on your manners from now on."

Jehyun accepted the apology readily, leaving Shin Yesung quietly moved. He knew how arrogant he'd been, yet Jehyun forgave him so coolly? Not just talented, but a good person too.

"Yes! I'll etch your words into my bones and—"

Just as Shin Yesung shouted his response loudly,

"Wh-What's all this?"

The rest of the party finally entered the boss room. They stared in bewilderment at the trashed room and Shin Yesung bowing to Jehyun.

The mutant's appearance created a minor stir on the Superhumans message board. Mutant outbreaks were rare, so anything related always sparked some buzz.

The rumor of a 1st Circle mage slaying the mutant spread, but people were skeptical. Mutants typically surpassed their dungeon's boss in power. Even a skilled mage would struggle to solo an F-rank boss alone, let alone a mutant.

Shinseongz. The term for rookies with proven talent and skill to potentially succeed the absolutes. Jehyun's name briefly came up among them—the first footprint he left on the world, though he'd later be called the Radiant Mage or Golden Nightmare. But for now, no one knew. He wasn't just comparable to them. He'd soon ascend to the same rank as the absolutes at an absurd pace.

"I should've flicked that brat on the forehead."

"Enough. He's at that age where he can't think straight."

"That's how I'd vent my frustration!"

Jehyun chuckled at Alkasha's outburst.

'Shin Yesung, huh.'

In the future, Shin Yesung would rise to fame, leading the Nature Clan. Jehyun had planted a debt in that future sprout—it would come in handy later. Plus, the kid was only 15. Back in the day, they said lots of kids that age suffered from middle school syndrome, an incurable disease. As the elder, it was his duty to guide the poor patient, he'd preached to Alkasha.

"Tsk tsk. More like you're scheming to strip a future mega-clan heir bare later, you materialistic punk..."

Jehyun didn't deny it. That was part of it, after all. He'd chosen pragmatism. Why not use the rice cake that rolled right into his mouth? He'd definitely find a use for it someday.

"Anyway, enough of that."

Jehyun set aside thoughts of Shin Yesung and eyed the notification window before him.

Jehyun had finally ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠buttoned the first step toward acquiring his first dragon legacy. All that remained was entering the Magic Tower's 1st floor, where it lay dormant.

'Ascension Tower exam score filled too.'

This dungeon clear had covered the shortfall for his Ascension Tower exam score. Including the mutant kill, it even exceeded requirements. Not bad. That score would be useful for the 2nd floor exam next time.

Only the Ascension Tower exam left. The first legacy was within reach.

"Now, before that..."

Jehyun gazed at the box scattering golden light before him.

"Open it."

With those words.

Flash.

Golden light poured before Jehyun's eyes.