Chapter 103
Chapter 103
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 103
Led by Se-yeon's dance movements, Seo-jin's magic that had been swirling like a whirlwind riding on her staff soon changed its direction and began pouring toward Seo-jin in reverse.
KWARRRR-.
The storm of magic that came rushing with fierce momentum as if it would tear apart everything in sight.
The baptism of countless black lightning bolts and chains that had been shot out were led by the red Energy and aimed at their master's throat.
KUWAGWA-.
Truly a strike that shook heaven and earth.
Seo-jin looked at the tsunami-like magic rushing toward him and unconsciously let out an exclamation of admiration.
'She's grown.'
It wasn't simply admiration for those splendid dance movements and the counter that resulted from them.
Even from a mage's perspective, it was recognizable at a glance.
'She's become more solid under Talis' guidance.'
Whether as a climber, as a warrior, or as a human being.
Growth as an existence, not just a simple increase in power.
This was something worthy of applause.
Hyeon-wol also sat on Seo-jin's shoulder and added a word.
[That child has learned the mystery of softness.]
Martial arts are the form of life that a single warrior has experienced.
In the martial arts of those who have lived rough and difficult lives, those hardships are revealed as they are.
The nature of Ki, the form of will, even in trivial body movements.
But the mystery that child showed just now was clearly the opposite of her rough life.
This meant that Se-yeon had found a new path rather than being a Sword Demon.
"Right."
Seo-jin nodded at Hyeon-wol's words and drew up his energy.
CHIRRRIT-.
As the Reverse Heaven mana exerted its power, intense energy surged around Seo-jin.
His robe fluttered strongly and his hair also rose upward as if struck by static electricity.
Seo-jin greatly drew up his power and looked at the fierce wave that had already rushed right up to his nose.
That originated from Seo-jin, but now it was a separate existence from its master's attributes.
It was no different from new martial arts woven with Kim Se-yeon's Blood Lineage Energy, so it couldn't be broken through with Dispel Magic that cancels magic.
Of course.
'There's also the method of avoiding it with Blink.'
Although it carried risks like teleportation failure or invasion of madness, it was the only way to safely avoid that monster-like wave for now.
But Seo-jin decided to take that attack head-on.
That was the proper courtesy he should show to Se-yeon who had shown that she had grown.
"Black Mist."
CHWAAA-.
Along with the incantation, pitch-black fog that spewed out centered on Seo-jin dyed the entire arena black.
"What, suddenly?"
"I can't see!"
The audience stood up from their seats and made a fuss at the sudden obstruction of vision, but this was what Seo-jin intended.
Right now, this wasn't magic to show to them.
Since Se-yeon had proudly shown her martial way, it was proper for Seo-jin to also show his magical way.
Even if it was a bit of a strain, it was time to respond to this.
Seo-jin let out a small sigh and opened his mouth.
And he recited the incantation of Transcending Heaven True Scripture with his mouth.
"Cut it. Sever it. Every great step comes from separation with the old ways."
CHIRRRIT-.
The mana circuits shone brightly as if they would burn at any moment.
All the mana circuits in his body shone brightly and rummaged through the records engraved in the world.
Within that arrogant cry of wanting to transcend heaven, he pulled out and manifested the concepts that had been carved.
"To move forward, I bid farewell to the past."
FLASH-.
Light that flickered for a moment within the Black Mist.
[Severance]
All space that the ray of light passed through was cut obliquely in an instant.
CRRACK-.
Before this distortion of space, no existence within the same phase was an exception when it came to severance.
If this light had rampaged through the arena and colosseum, it would have literally caused mass slaughter.
PAAT-.
The light of severance moved here and there within the Black Mist that Seo-jin had spread in advance and took the form that Seo-jin intended.
That form was a hexagonal barrier that blocked the front.
The wave that Se-yeon had poured out collided with the barrier of severance completed in this way.
KWAGWAGWA-!
Enormous vibration and noise that shook the entire colosseum.
The red Energy that had woven together Reverse Heaven mana violently shook the barrier.
"Huh, it's shaking!"
"What's happening?"
Fierce waves of mana that spread in all directions along the barrier.
That power was enough to make even the audience who were far away tremble in fear.
However.
"......"
Beyond the barrier of severance, Seo-jin's space was peaceful without the slightest tremor.
Quietness like the eye of a typhoon.
The ear-splitting noise, the vibration shaking the colosseum, the chaotic flow of mana.
Not a single one of them could reach Seo-jin.
That was Severance, one of the defensive magic of Transcending Heaven True Scripture.
Although it's called defensive magic, this too was closer to using a specific concept for defense.
'Truly absolute defense.'
Although it was somewhat embarrassing to use such high-level magic when he had resolved to use only black magic.
Not holding back and giving his all was also what Se-yeon would have wanted, so she wouldn't complain.
Seo-jin stood silently in place and waited for Se-yeon's wave to subside.
KURRR-.
The wave of mana gradually became fainter as time passed.
No matter how strong a power was, it couldn't be maintained infinitely.
Se-yeon's attack that had shaken heaven and earth also gradually lost its power.
And finally.
SAREUK-.
The power that had spewed from the tip of Se-yeon's staff was blocked by the severance and subsided, finally losing its power and disappearing.
'She held out for a long time.'
Even using the mystery of softness, changing the direction of power wasn't an easy task.
To use an analogy, it was like reversing a fierce river current with a single staff.
Moreover, that river wasn't an ordinary river, but black magic that Seo-jin had poured out lavishly without caring about mana consumption. Even more so.
She had bound all that power with a single thin staff and woven it together with Blood Lineage Energy to make it her own.
The fact that she had endured until now was tremendous.
'I'll have to praise her later.'
Seo-jin, who thought the attack had completely stopped.
Just as Seo-jin, who thought the attack had completely stopped, was about to lift the barrier of severance and the Black Mist.
GLINT-.
Something red glinted beyond the black fog.
Soon, a stream of Energy, no, a particle of faint energy touched Seo-jin's cheek.
"......?"
The particle of Ki that gently touched Seo-jin's cheek and was softly absorbed and disappeared.
Seeing this, Seo-jin blankly raised his hand and touched his own cheek where the particle had been absorbed.
Then he pondered the fact with puzzlement.
'The barrier of severance is defense at the conceptual level.'
Power that doesn't possess proper history and meaning can never cross that barrier.
Even if it's a single tiny particle.
But what on earth was this.......
'Was the manifestation of magic wrong? Or was there some mistake?'
"......"
Seo-jin who was lost in thought for a moment.
He soon understood the situation and nodded.
'No. It wasn't a mistake.'
The manifestation of severance was perfect.
Although his level and state were still insufficient to enter Transcending Heaven True Scripture, he couldn't fail to manifest a lower defensive magic like severance.
This was simply that some meaning that Kim Se-yeon held was superior to Seo-jin's.
Whatever it was, she had certainly harbored intense ideals.
Having finished his analysis, Seo-jin waved his hand and lifted the Black Mist.
At the same time, Se-yeon's figure was revealed beyond the dispersing black fog.
"Huff, huff."
Having exhausted all her energy, she was barely standing using her staff as a walking stick.
Se-yeon, who had been breathing roughly for a while, said.
"I lost."
She looked like she didn't even have the strength to stand properly.
Seo-jin nodded slightly and praised her.
"Well done."
***
"The winner of the finals is the Supernova! A result without any surprises!"
"WAAAAH!"
The host's declaration shook the colosseum and the cheers of the audience.
"Huhu, the match is decided."
The great beings who had been watching the battle between Seo-jin and Se-yeon from the audience seats showed different reactions.
First to smile and stand up was Rosaria.
Rosaria puffed out her chest and proudly declared victory.
"He won without any sense of crisis. As expected of my disciple."
To this, Gabriel answered with a disapproving expression.
"He's not your disciple, as far as I know."
That Supernova was clearly a disciple of Witch Circe, one of the elders of the magical path.
Rosaria had only temporarily taken charge of guidance for this cycle, so he couldn't be called a formal disciple.
At Gabriel's nitpicking correction, Rosaria smiled broadly.
"Hm? All black mages who walk the magical path are disciples of Pandemonium, right? I guess the great Pantheon doesn't recognize anyone as disciples unless they're direct lineage?"
GRIND.
The sound of teeth grinding.
For Gabriel, who had always advocated solidarity and harmony, that all are equal under God, it was a fatal blow.
Satisfied that she had landed a hit, Rosaria also said a word to Talis.
"Old man's disciple fought well too. Though she couldn't match our little one."
Unlike Gabriel, Talis readily acknowledged this.
"Right, but I don't think of it as a defeat."
"Oh my. Moral victory?"
"Perhaps so."
However, there was no resentment or disappointment to be found on Talis' face as he answered.
Rather, his face seemed to feel even pride in what Se-yeon had shown.
That's right. She lost but it wasn't a loss.
Because he had seen even greater possibilities through today's battle.
She had shown everything she had learned. No, more than what she had learned.
One who pioneers a path on their own without being taught, that's the attitude of a true warrior.
While the four beings were chattering and talking like this.
"......"
Only Nimrod maintained silence while sitting quietly in his chair.
His gaze was fixed on Seo-jin who was leaving the arena.
Through that match just now, he had gained a certain conviction.
'So that's how it was. That's what it was.'
He had noticed from their first meeting that he was no ordinary being.
No, looking at the track record he had built up so far, the expression "no ordinary" was an infinitely insufficient impression.
Moreover, the magic called 'Transcending Heaven True Scripture' that he had used.
This should be seen as something else entirely, far from skills.
It was special magic that couldn't be used even if one reached high levels and states.
No, should that even be viewed as something like magic in the first place?
It was of a different class from magic that goes through the aggregation of mana and restructuring.
The essence of that power was the manifestation of concepts.
What's needed for the manifestation of concepts is karma, the records that a being has accumulated.
No matter how outstanding one's talent, if there's one thing that absolutely cannot be done.
'Calling forth records that don't exist.'
Of course, since 100 achievement points were used to record that magic in the world, there were no procedural problems.
But the very course of obtaining those 100 achievement points was a bundle of questions.
Moreover, the depth, obsession, and resentment contained in that Transcending Heaven True Scripture exceeded his current history.
Such things happening without any causality doesn't make sense.
But there's a clear answer that can explain this.
'Karma calls forth more karma.'
What if the current situation was the result of the lump of karma and history he had built up growing like a snowball?
What if all the achievements he had accomplished while climbing to the 12th floor were thanks to that 'previous' history that others couldn't know?
Then all questions would be resolved.
There happened to be decisive evidence proving this.
'The track record he showed on the tutorial floor.'
Nimrod recalled the trial he had given him at that time.
Leviathan's Fang used to cut Behemoth's belly.
It didn't make sense for someone who had just set foot in the tower to know about that.
Moreover, he had even made an imitation of it with blood magic and defeated a monster that was immeasurably above.
Having gained conviction, Nimrod nodded readily.
"Well, such things do happen in the world."
Anyway, value judgment wasn't Nimrod's role.
He was just an administrator. A being who acted on behalf of the tower's will.
As long as the tower had let him inside, there would be no problems.
However, he couldn't help but become even more interested in him.
Having finished his thoughts, Nimrod stood up from his seat.
"Since the match is over, it's time for the award ceremony now. Shall we go?"