Chapter 87
Chapter 87
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 87
Seo-jin sat cross-legged beneath the crystal pillar and fell into deep meditation.
[…….]
Hyeon-wol also kept her mouth shut and quietly crouched down beside Seo-jin.
CHIRITT-.
Afterimages of light moving swiftly within his thoughts.
Seo-jin's consciousness followed the minute flows within his body.
First, the start was the upper dantian.
GOOO-.
Like an unstable flame flickering, the source of madness that was constantly seeking an opportunity to devour Seo-jin's consciousness.
He could feel the Reverse Heaven's mana condensed within his brain.
While the brain is merely a pathway for contracts for ordinary black mages, for Seo-jin it was a reservoir of power.
As the level of black magic rises and the total amount of Reverse Heaven's mana increases, the erosion of madness only grows stronger.
This major premise was a predetermined conclusion that even Seo-jin's talent could not overcome.
Next was the middle dantian.
The Mana Heart, which had frozen cold due to cardiac vessel occlusion, was still maintaining its silence.
‘If the Mana Heart had functioned normally, he might have walked a completely different path from now.’
A very brief thought passed by, but by now he was used to it.
Last was the lower dantian.
The pure internal energy of the Primordial Unity Technique was quietly settled there, but the amount was meager.
With this amount, it was insufficient for using martial arts as a main force.
Seo-jin coldly retraced his own limitations.
The dangers of black magic go without saying. More than that, the problem at hand was that his output capacity was far too insufficient.
Unlike other mages who draw upon external mana, Seo-jin circulates mana through the blood vessels in his body like martial artists do.
The Reverse Heaven's mana accumulated in his brain through such reverse circulation was Seo-jin's substantial mana capacity.
Setting aside the hassle of mana accumulation and the dangers of reverse flow, the problem was that this process depended on his absolute amount of mana.
Therefore, Seo-jin always had to walk a precarious tightrope between magical efficiency and power.
Next was the Primordial Unity Technique.
While he acknowledged it was an incomparably pure and safe peerless martial art, the speed of its energy circulation and absorption was far too slow.
This was natural, as Seo-jin was not originally a martial artist.
Due to his constitution and the characteristics of the black magic he was learning, he had easily mastered it only because he had become proficient in the circulation of internal energy.
Moreover, this absorption was also only possible by using the expedient method through the 'Eye of Insight.'
Not only was the efficiency of mana accumulation poor, but the speed was also abysmal.
Looking back, he was merely covering all sorts of adverse conditions with his innate talent.
The limits of total mana capacity and the dangers of mana reverse flow. On top of that, because he stored that mana in his brain, he even faced the threat of madness.
Furthermore, due to his innate constitution, he couldn't sense external mana, so even the Primordial Unity Technique couldn't display its proper efficiency.
Seo-jin, having assessed his own condition, burst into a hollow laugh.
'……Literally a tattered doll, isn't it.'
Only his frame was intact, while his body was like rags that had been hastily sewn together with thread.
If it tore further, he would hurriedly patch it with elixirs to barely sustain life.
The fact that he was still alive and moving was remarkable enough, yet with such a body, he had fought and won against Lee Seo-mun, a powerhouse of the Frontline Strategy Team. Even he himself could marvel at it.
And right there lay the answer.
Seo-jin smiled and circulated his internal energy.
WOOONG-.
The mana of The Great Cavity being supplied as if being sucked into his body.
'The reason I was able to fight and win against him was precisely thanks to The Great Cavity's mana being supplied almost infinitely.'
Thanks to making the Energy Core his familiar and becoming [Master of The Great Cavity], it was a battle that was made possible because he could draw upon unlimited mana while in this place.
This meant that if he could receive an unlimited supply of mana outside The Great Cavity as well, a considerable portion of the problems would be resolved.
'Although it's not truly unlimited, there is something comparable to it.'
His voiceless monologue circled within his consciousness.
'The Energy Core. If only I could connect directly to that abyssal mana, it could contribute considerably to the problems of mana limitations and absorption speed.'
Having finished his thoughts, Seo-jin concentrated his consciousness and traced the first remnant among the three strands of mana circuits that had disappeared.
Then began the work of breaking through the blocked blood vessels using minute mana and steel-like willpower as a blade.
***
"……You don't know?"
Taebaek Mage Tower.
Guests had visited So-yul's office.
They were Kusanagi, the head of Yamato, Grand Mage Gu-ren, and his attendant Rei.
They had come to receive the compensation that So-yul had promised in The Great Cavity.
At that time, Han So-yul had promised to provide information about the magic nullification ability possessed by the unknown entity they had encountered on the Alpha route.
But now she was making excuses saying she didn't know.
"Hey, are you done talking? Do you think you'll be safe after deceiving us?"
Gu-ren stood up abruptly and growled as if he would pounce on So-yul, but at Rei and Kusanagi's restraint, he sat down while seething.
So-yul raised both hands as if telling them to calm down.
"Don't, don't get angry. I didn't deliberately lie."
At that time, Seo-jin had whispered to So-yul through the communicator to cooperate with the Yamato Guild to break through the situation.
He had told her to present that proposal as a way to persuade them, so she had simply done as instructed.
When she later asked Seo-jin about this.
'They wouldn't understand even if you told them anyway. So just brush it off appropriately.'
Only such an irresponsible answer had come back.
'Then it's okay to tell them, right?'
'It's a trade secret, so no.'
That was Seo-jin's response up to that point.
Though she had unintentionally deceived the Yamato Guild, So-yul was also clearly a victim caught in the middle.
"This is why Korean bastards……."
"……What did you say?"
"Got a problem? If you don't want to hear it, then provide the promised information. If that's impossible, then provide equivalent compensation."
Just as the atmosphere was about to turn ugly.
"Gu-ren-nim."
Onmyoji Rei intervened and scolded Gu-ren.
Gu-ren turned his head sharply and shut his mouth.
"……Tsk."
Then Rei bowed her head to So-yul in apology.
"Gu-ren-nim's words were harsh. Please forgive him. However, there's nothing wrong with that logic. How does the Guild Leader intend to repay the compensation?"
"I know. Therefore, I plan to transfer some of the specimens obtained from this Great Cavity exploration and magic stones worth hundreds of billions to Yamato."
Instead of handing over information about Seo-jin and his magic, Dispel Magic, So-yul decided to give Yamato some of the Mana Sac samples obtained from this exploration and magic stones.
Magic stones aside, giving away Mana Sac samples was regrettable, but according to Mr. Seo-jin, proper analysis wouldn't be possible with just a couple of samples, so there was nothing to worry about.
Rather, Yamato, left wanting more, would make pleading sounds to Taebaek, so if she waited for the right time, she could gain even greater benefits later.
"You think you can settle it with just that kind of stuff? No way, absolutely not. Hand over the promised information."
"Hmm."
Separate from Gu-ren's reaction, Kusanagi seemed quite moved.
In fact, this Great Cavity expedition was a great failure from Yamato Guild's perspective.
An expedition with only expenses and losses without any achievements gained.
Of course, dismantling the Yellow Dragon Mage Tower, which had threatened the supremacy of the magic world through cooperation with Taebaek, was a great benefit.
However, since this didn't immediately appear as numbers written in the ledger.
From Kusanagi's perspective, running the massive guild called Yamato, financial compensation was quite appealing.
The samples said to be obtained from The Great Cavity were also anticipated.
Eventually, Kusanagi, who had been pondering, nodded his head.
"Good. I'll accept it."
"Ah, why are you making the decision on your own? Don't you know how precious information about that guy is?"
"Precisely because it's that precious, they won't easily tell us. There's also a possibility they actually don't know, and even if they do tell us, that information could be false. It's better to receive it as definite physical goods."
At Kusanagi's explanation, Gu-ren glared at Han So-yul then reluctantly nodded as if convinced.
"Well…… how would you know such difficult magic anyway."
"Ugh……."
CRACK-.
A vein bulging on So-yul's forehead.
It was true that she didn't know. It was true, but…….
Though she was a bit angry, So-yul endured and proceeded with the conversation.
"I'm glad you're accepting it. I'll transfer ownership of the magic stones in the near future."
Though the money was regrettable, anyway, thanks to Yamato's cooperation, they had succeeded in buying time and exposing Yellow Dragon's conspiracy.
It was a legitimate expense.
"Thank you, Guild Leader Han So-yul."
Rei, who concluded the negotiation and politely bowed her head. Ebony-like hair flowed down over her white shrine maiden outfit.
Every time that annoying little brat caused trouble, she had to bow her head instead, so her hardships must be considerable.
Having once belonged to the same Frontline Strategy Team, she always felt sympathetic.
So-yul helped Rei up while glancing at Gu-ren.
"Not at all, Rei. You always have a hard time. Because of a certain immature person."
She only smiled in response instead of answering.
"If there's nothing more to say, I'll be going now."
"Please do."
Though they had cooperated during The Great Cavity incident, originally Taebaek and Yamato had an uncomfortable relationship.
As if proving this, Gu-ren left a warning.
"Han So-yul, if you learn of that guy's whereabouts or information, you must definitely inform me. I'll provide a reward."
"Ah, yes~"
‘I know his whereabouts and I know related information, but I'll absolutely never tell you.’
Just as the three who had concluded their negotiation were about to return to Yamato Guild.
KWOOONG-.
Suddenly, a massive vibration occurred and shook the Mage Tower.
***
"Huff. Huff."
Amid rough breathing cutting through The Great Cavity's silence, Seo-jin slowly opened his eyes.
In his bloodshot pupils, traces of pain that had not yet faded swirled together with a bright light.
[You did it, you bastard.]
Hyeon-wol's voice was trembling slightly. Was it admiration? Or had she felt some unknowable fear?
As if responding to her words, three strands of newly carved mana circuits beneath Seo-jin's skin were glowing blue.
'Did I succeed?'
He raised his trembling hand and caressed his chest.
Across dimensions, he could feel the massive waves of mana emitted by the Energy Core connected through contract.
An incomparably infinite torrent of mana compared to before.
That tremendous power was violently swirling within Seo-jin's body.
Of course, he was precisely aware of the limits of this power.
That it wasn't truly infinite, and that he couldn't use it entirely as his own power.
'It's like water filling a massive dam, but the amount of discharge that an old and narrow floodgate can handle is predetermined.'
If the Energy Core was the dam, then the connected path and his own mana circuits were merely inadequately small floodgates.
Just as he had to use [Overclock] to block Lee Seo-mun's strike even in a situation where he could freely draw upon The Great Cavity's mana.
It was neither infinite nor invincible.
Even so, it was truly a remarkable achievement.
"……."
Seo-jin slowly rose from his seat and raised his right hand.
Mana that flowed in through the newly connected path circulated through his blood vessels.
In reverse direction, in reverse direction, in reverse direction.
GOOOOO-.
Reverse Heaven's mana beginning to condense through reverse circulation.
No contracts with great beings were necessary.
Tyrannical mana that could be commanded by his will alone gradually accumulated throughout Seo-jin's entire body.
He channeled this black and viscous mana through the mana circuit in his right arm and processed it into a single form.
The most basic black magic he had used thousands, no, tens of thousands of times.
Black Lightning.
KWARRRRUNG-!
With thunder like a death cry, black lightning that burst from his fingertips split The Great Cavity's darkness.
But that was only the beginning. The single strand of lightning split into two, then into three, then four.
The continuously splitting black lightning exceeded the scope that human eyes could count.
KWARUNG- KWARRUNG-!
Dozens, hundreds of strands of black lightning rampaged like living whips, shattering pillars to pieces, splitting and tearing the floor, and collapsing the ceiling.
A pure manifestation of destruction that indiscriminately destroyed anything it touched.
Seo-jin gazed at that ecstatic spectacle and murmured quietly.
"Strike. Strike fiercely."