Disappearance (2)
“I think he’s still alive. If they’d wanted to kill him, they would’ve done it right there.”
Even after the Tower Master’s words, the heavy silence lingered. No one had anticipated that the Magic Tower’s people would be attacked, let alone that the life of someone nearly pure-blooded like the faction leader’s son would hang in the balance.
The real shock is that even with the Magic Tower’s immediate response, they still haven’t caught the culprits’ tail.
The Magic Tower. One of the world’s strongest forces. The fact that they had mobilized instantly yet still couldn’t track the enemy meant the perpetrators were meticulously organized and wielded tremendous power.
“Kim Hee-yeon. Her sacrifice was immense.”
Jo In-hu’s eyes trembled at those words. She had followed him loyally for so long, her gentle nature making him dote on her like a daughter. When Jo Yeonho had insisted on tagging along to retrieve the Thunder Protection Jade, she had volunteered to escort him.
“Did Hee-yeon… go peacefully?”
A tone laced with irrepressible sorrow escaped Jo In-hu’s lips. The Tower Master met his gaze and nodded gravely.
“Her sending that rescue signal, disregarding her life, made all the difference.”
Without her, they might not have even learned of the attack until it was too late. The enemy had been that cunning. Thanks to her sacrifice, however, they’d been able to seal off the surrounding area immediately.
“Tracking teams from the Magic Tower have already been assembled and dispatched. I’ve notified the other faction leaders of the severity and requested their support.”
The Tower Master scanned the gathered individuals before speaking.
“I’ve spread a mana field over the entire incident area to ensure no one escapes. But the tracking teams alone aren’t enough. That’s why I’m asking all of you here to assist in the search.”
“Y-You mean… you’ve sealed the entire region with a mana field?”
The Tower Master nodded at the stunned question. Shock and awe spread across everyone’s faces.
To blanket and seal an entire region with a mana field—what a miraculous feat.
That radius has to be at least several kilometers…
Kim Jehyun was floored. It meant the Tower Master could topple a whole city if he wished.
An 8th Circle master was this powerful. How immense must a dragon’s strength be?
He indirectly realized why dragons could wipe out nations overnight or upheave continents on a whim.
“Time is of the essence, so prepare immediately. I can’t maintain this avatar for long either.”
“……!”
Everyone’s faces registered fresh shock at his words. The Tower Master before them wasn’t his true body but a mana-constructed avatar. In the chaos, not a soul had noticed.
It was that precise.
While deploying a mana field over that vast area, he was also operating an avatar?
Mind-blowing. No wonder he was counted among the world’s pinnacle powerhouses. The sheer mana reserves and mastery of laws required were beyond comprehension.
“As expected…”
“He’s gotten even stronger since last time.”
Murmurs rippled through the group as they eyed the Tower Master. Most here were 7th Circle mages—some faction leaders, others top talents from the tower, including his disciples. Even they gazed in admiration.
“Then let’s move out. We need to catch their trail quickly.”
Everyone nodded. Jo In-hu’s face, in particular, burned with grim resolve. Kim Jehyun could see Jo Yeonho’s features in his—father and son shared a strong resemblance. Yeonho would probably grow into that same look.
Jo Yeonho… I want to save him if I can.
Rescue Jo Yeonho
📍 Objective: Track down the traces of the kidnapped Jo Yeonho and rescue him.
Rewards: ??? Treasure Chest +7, 300,000 Points
Sudden quest!
Kim Jehyun’s eyes locked on the rewards. A +7 treasure chest and 300,000 points. Combined with his savings, that could fund a new piece of gear.
I wanted to save Jo Yeonho anyway… and now with a special quest? Perfect for me.
His eyes sparkled. He was determined to succeed—claim the rewards and rescue Yeonho no matter what.
Please… just stay alive.
Kim Jehyun wished it from the heart.
* * *
‘Ugh…’
A boy with sky-blue hair and pale skin groaned. Sweat beaded on his forehead—he seemed trapped in a nightmare.
In truth, Jo Yeonho was reliving the recent horror in his dreams.
…….
…….
“Wh-What’s that noise?”
Weeeeeeng.
A massive explosion rocked the building, followed by blaring alarms. Clan leader Seo Jang-won couldn’t hide his alarm at the sudden crisis.
“J-Just a moment. I’ll check immediately.”
He rushed to the intercom and picked up the receiver, contacting the situation room to learn what had happened.
It was Seo Jang-won’s gravest mistake.
Shhh.
Under the sunlight streaming through the window, his shadow tinged pale purple. Jo Yeonho spotted it first, clutching the Thunder Protection Jade tightly while watching uneasily.
“Th-There!”
He pointed a slender finger at the shadow. The others noticed too late.
Pfuk.
A purple thorn erupted from the shadow, piercing Seo Jang-won’s heart.
“Kuhuk.”
He stared down in disbelief, dropping the receiver from limp hands.
“F-Father!”
Seo Cheol-hee screamed in anguish. Seo Jang-won met his son’s eyes, opening his mouth to speak—but a purple blade from the shadow severed his head.
Thud.
Seo Cheol-hee collapsed, legs giving out, staring blankly at his father’s corpse.
But the assault wasn’t limited to him.
Pfush!
Blood sprayed from both sides of Seo Cheol-hee. Of the nearly twenty people there, everyone but him was impaled by purple thorns from the shadows.
“Ah… ah.”
Jo Yeonho trembled, eyes wide in shock. He looked at Kim Hee-yeon, who had shielded him. Her left hand was mangled beyond recognition, blood pouring like a waterfall.
A mid-thirties genius who’d reached 6th Circle, she was one of only four who’d blocked the thorns on their own. She’d used her right hand for her own attack and sacrificed her left to protect Yeonho.
Thud.
Bodies hit the floor. The clan leader’s office became a bloodbath.
First, contact them.
Even now, she thought clearly. She didn’t grasp the ability fully, but it was assassin-level—far beyond them.
Kwaaaang!
Kraaaah!
S-Save me!
Explosions and screams echoed outside. Simultaneous attacks. No external help was coming; the enemy’s forces were overwhelming. Isu Clan, mid-tier, was crumbling without resistance.
Must alert the Magic Tower.
She squeezed mana into the ring on her right index finger.
Boooong.
The ring activated the embedded spell—a rescue signal to the Magic Tower.
Pfuk.
A fresh thorn pierced her abdomen.
Ku… kuhuk.
Her pupils dilated. Blood gushed from her mouth. She turned to Jo Yeonho.
“Y-Yeonho… y-you must survive and return. I’ve sent the signal. Tell the three m-masters…”
With that, Kim Hee-yeon crumpled.
The three surviving Jupiter Faction mages gazed at her in despair. Her wisdom and sacrifice had bought them hope of rescue.
“Tch, too late by a hair. As expected of Magic Tower mages.”
A figure rose behind her fallen form—a masked woman, eyes only visible. She murmured admiration for Kim Hee-yeon’s quick signal.
“She seemed skilled enough. If she’d fought for her own survival, she might’ve lasted longer. Though she’d still have died by my hand.”
Her voice was languid. She eyed the dazed Jo Yeonho staring at the body.
“Who are you? She protected you desperately. Intel didn’t mention a kid like you…”
Before she finished—
“Uwaaaaaah!”
Jo Yeonho’s agonized scream unleashed explosive lightning. His black pupils vanished, drowned in deep blue. Vast electricity surged from the Thunder Protection Jade, resonating with his power.
“N-Noona…”
His cry fused the energies, blasting toward the woman.
“Hoo.”
Amused, she flicked her hand. Purple energy coalesced into a shield at her feet, blocking the lightning.
“Ahh… n-noona.”
Drained, Jo Yeonho staggered and collapsed.
“What an entertaining kid. Barely 1st or 2nd Circle, yet that power?”
She smiled, reaching for him. That was the last sight before he blacked out.
…….
…….
“Mmph!”
Awakening from the nightmare, Jo Yeonho tried to scream, but the gag muffled it. Limbs bound, eyes blindfolded—he was terrified.
Wh-Where…
Kim Jehyun noona? The other mages? Questions swirled.
“Oh? Awake already? This kid’s no ordinary one.”
The attacker’s voice returned.
“Mmph!”
“Hehe. Wonder what you want to say? Not now, little one. Sleep more.”
Sleep overtook him again.
N-No…
He resisted futilely, head drooping.
* * *
“Damn, they trashed the place.”
Song Jiseok surveyed the razed Isu Clan grounds. “Trashed” was no exaggeration. New buildings lay half-destroyed, bodies strewn untended, wounds unnatural—traces of an incomprehensible energy lingered.
“As discussed, let’s split into teams and search.”
Kim Jehyun teamed with Song Jiseok and Jo In-hu. The group from the Tower Master’s office had divided into threes and fours.
“Should we examine the wounds on these Isu Clan bodies first?”
Song Jiseok and Jo In-hu nodded. They approached a nearby corpse.
“This energy… it matches the intruders in the Magic Tower recently.”
Song Jiseok spoke while inspecting.
“Those bastards… they actually…”
Jo In-hu gnashed his teeth viciously, calming himself to study the traces.
“This energy is making the search hell.”
They’d headed to the clan leader’s office first, but it was contaminated too. Detection and trace spells failed against it.
“Hm? What are you doing?”
Song Jiseok noticed Kim Jehyun staring blankly into space.
“Perhaps… I can track this energy.”
“……!”
“Wh-What?”
They gaped at him.
Overmind comprehension has exceeded the threshold.
Successfully pierced the residual Overmind energy. Can now read traces of this energy.
“Yes, I think I can detect the traces this energy left behind.”
Kim Jehyun replied, eyes on the floating messages.