Chapter 92
Chapter 92
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: An Unprecedented Upset
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As the black mist cleared and the outcome of the battle was laid bare, the entire colosseum fell into a state of shock.
Everyone had forgotten even to breathe at the defeat of the Ranker, Ixion.
But among them, the reactions of those who hadn't been able to see the fight properly through the black mist and those who had witnessed the process with their own two eyes were markedly different.
A wave of dizziness washed over Allen. He shook his head and gritted his teeth.
‘Lee Si-woo… what are you? What in the world did you do to Ixion?’
Lee Si-woo had fought hard, but he was no match for Ixion.
Just as the consistently overwhelmed Si-woo was about to be finished, it happened.
When Si-woo broke the limbs of a doll he pulled from a cloth, Ixion’s own limbs began to break one by one in response.
‘Alright, calm down. An artifact? Magic? Honestly, I have no clue what it is, but there’s no way he can use a power like that freely. The very fact that he only brought out that doll at the last moment, after being pushed back, proves it.’
If there were no restrictions on such a technique, there was no reason for Si-woo to have brought out the doll so late.
Therefore, there must be a specific condition that needs to be met to use that curse, or doll art, or whatever it was.
‘First, I need to understand that strange ability of Lee Si-woo’s. Until then, it’ll be difficult to touch him. It’s unlikely, but if by some miracle that ability has no restrictions… there’s no guarantee I wouldn’t fall victim to it myself.’
In any case, one thing was certain: the situation had become complicated.
‘And the bigger problem is… Ixion lost. And to a 2nd Circle mage, not even in the same Circle.’
The defeat of a Ranker was bound to cause a seismic shift in the rankings, but this loss was particularly significant.
It was because Ixion had lost not to another Ranker, but to an Unranked opponent.
And that wasn’t all.
Lee Si-woo wasn’t just any Unranked; he was a 2nd Circle mage, a Circle lower than Ixion.
‘This upset, the first in twenty years, will undoubtedly capture the attention of the entire frontier continent.’
The act of a low-circle Ranker defeating a high-circle Ranker was called an upset, a term meaning the heavens had been overturned.
Cases of a low-circle Ranker defeating a high-circle ordinary mage were surprisingly frequent, but for such a thing to happen between two Rankers, regardless of their standing, was considered next to impossible.
However, that upset had happened right here.
An unprecedented upset where an Unranked low-circle mage defeated a Ranker high-circle mage.
‘Moreover… as far as I know, there has never been a single case in the history of the Main Dimension where an Unranked low-circle defeated a Ranker high-circle. Phew… Isabelle, what the hell did that madwoman bring into the Magic Tower?’
Allen couldn't even begin to fathom the ripple effect this event would create.
Lee Si-woo’s name would resound throughout the frontier continent, and his influence in the Senior Magic Tower would become immense.
A human? A multi-rooted mage?
Such shortcomings would surely become meaningless in the face of Lee Si-woo’s fame, potential, and ability.
A Ranker capable of such an upset was just that valuable.
“Do I have to kill him for the match to be over?”
At Lee Si-woo’s question, who had grown tired of waiting for a verdict, Allen, who had been lost in thought gauging the repercussions of Ixion’s defeat, snapped back to his senses.
“No, the match is over. It is your victory, Lee Si-woo.”
An uncomfortable silence fell over the colosseum at Allen’s declaration.
Normally, the birth of a Ranker capable of such an upset would be met with cheers and celebration, but because the subject was a human mage, feelings of displeasure took precedence.
A victory without applause or elation.
Though the aftertaste should have been bitter, Lee Si-woo left the arena without a word.
Allen’s gaze followed Lee Si-woo like a shadow.
‘Whatever he possesses, it is clearly dangerous and desirable. So I will watch him slowly… and carefully. An opportunity will come. Yes, a chance to seize everything he’s hiding…’
Allen’s eyes gleamed with greed.
***
Returning to the spectator seats, Yahalong said nothing to Lee Si-woo.
He felt a strange pressure from Si-woo, who sat without a hint of a smile despite having won against a Ranker.
‘The first of the six Forbidden Arts. The Doll Art is as powerful as it is difficult to use, and its penalty is immense.’
His master, Autoreu, had told him that the Doll Art had one risk and one penalty.
The risk.
The Doll Art required the target’s blood and hair, untouched by the caster’s hands.
It meant a proxy was necessary, and the caster had to be meticulous in their selection.
If, by any chance, the proxy brought the blood and hair of the wrong target, the Forbidden Art would fail, and Si-woo would suffer a fatal injury from the backlash.
‘That’s why the Doll Art is so tricky to use. If the proxy were to betray me, I could be defeated before I even fight the enemy. The Doll Art is a double-edged sword. If used incorrectly, I could be the one who gets hurt more…’
The penalty.
When using the Doll Art to inflict harm on a target, the user must receive an equivalent amount of damage in return.
This was a form of equivalent exchange, which could not be defended against by any magical means.
‘…Equivalent exchange. This is the biggest reason why the Doll Art must not be used recklessly.’
If you broke an arm with the Doll Art, the caster’s arm would break. If you broke a leg, the caster’s leg would break.
That was why the Doll Art could injure a target, but it could never take their life.
To take the enemy’s life, one had to offer their own.
Therefore, under normal circumstances, Lee Si-woo’s limbs should have been shattered just like Ixion’s due to the penalty.
Yes, if he were a normal user of the Forbidden Arts and not a ‘Beneficiary.’
‘For reasons unknown to me, the yellow eye that favors me has granted me a special privilege.’
Si-woo had learned of this privilege when he was practicing the Doll Art on a chicken.
At the time, he had made a cut on the chicken’s leg using the art, but strangely, the penalty did not come immediately.
And then, through his sixth magic root, he heard the voice of the yellow eye.
-You are special to me. Therefore, unlike the others, I will allow you to choose the ‘timing.’
Before long, Si-woo realized just how great a privilege the yellow eye had bestowed upon him.
The yellow eye had allowed him to decide when the penalty would activate.
In other words, unlike other users of the Forbidden Arts who had to accept the penalty immediately, Si-woo could choose for it to manifest a month later, a year later, or at any time he desired.
The only problem was that he couldn't use the Doll Art again until the penalty was resolved, but that didn't matter.
The advantage he had gained was so incredible that such a drawback was trivial by comparison.
When Autoreu learned of this, he trembled at the sheer unfairness of it all.
The Doll Art was a technique powerful enough to deal with even an invincible foe, but its risk and penalty were immense. Yet, Si-woo could manage the penalty, making its applications limitless.
He had been so envious that, at the time, Autoreu couldn't contain his frustration and had snapped at Si-woo.
-Fine, go on and take all the good stuff for yourself.
Regardless of his master’s chiding, Si-woo had been able to orchestrate his plan against Ixion with a clear mind.
Although he would have to endure the penalty of broken limbs in the near future, it didn't matter.
If he could defeat a powerful opponent like Ixion with such an injury, he was willing to endure it ten, even a hundred times.
“Round 3, Lee Si-woo. A bye due to the opponent's withdrawal!”
At Allen’s subsequent declaration, Lee Si-woo sat up straighter with a more relaxed posture.
This was precisely why he had gone to the trouble of shattering all of Ixion’s limbs.
An overwhelming victory and the gruesome state of the loser were the most effective means for him to avoid pointless, draining fights.
Thanks to this, Lee Si-woo could focus on recovering his mana in peace.
‘Thankfully, it seems most of them are going to withdraw. Phew, what a relief. If anyone had charged in, I would have been in considerable danger, having exhausted my energy against Ixion. Well, with this… even if some reckless fools appear, I’ll have earned enough recovery time to face them.’
Having overcome a major hurdle, Lee Si-woo breathed a sigh of relief.
Of course, even without the Forbidden Art, the current Si-woo possessed the skills to look down on most 3rd Circle mages.
However, as the evaluation was a tournament and not a single match, variables could always arise.
For instance, having to face formidable opponents like Schizo and Nobrad in succession.
‘Oh? Look at this? Looking at the bracket… things are getting quite interesting, aren't they?’
It was only natural.
Allen had created a bracket favorable to his man, Ixion. Thanks to that, Lee Si-woo, who had defeated Ixion, was now able to reap the full benefits of the rigged bracket.
Lee Si-woo smirked as he saw the semi-final bracket, where Schizo and Nobrad would face each other, while he would meet a relatively easier opponent.
‘Ha, well now. I was so drained from fighting Ixion that I was ready to settle for second place if need be… but it seems I won’t have to.’
***
Schizo, who had advanced after a bloody battle with the 3rd ranked Nobrad, versus Lee Si-woo, who could not use his Forbidden Art.
The final match between the two was nothing short of fierce.
Although exhausted, Schizo, who harbored a competitive spirit toward Si-woo, fought the final with his life on the line. And Si-woo, despite not being in his best condition, had to face a top-tier 3rd Circle mage without his Forbidden Art.
But in the end, victory belonged to Lee Si-woo.
The wall that was Lee Si-woo—who had preserved a significant amount of stamina and mana thanks to an easy semi-final opponent, and who was plastered with the three great buff spells, their effects doubled thanks to the elemental stone.
That wall was far too high for an out-of-condition Schizo to overcome.
‘I almost lost.’
Lee Si-woo’s condition, as he looked down at the unconscious Schizo at his feet, was a sight to behold.
His gray robe was practically in tatters.
His body was covered in burns and cuts, his face blood-stained.
He looked as though he had crawled back from hell, but Lee Si-woo could smile.
Because regardless of the process, the goddess of victory had smiled upon him.
‘It’s a shame for Schizo, but if he hadn't been exhausted, he wouldn't have fallen for my strategy of luring him into close combat with CC, and he could have used his natural air superiority to gain an advantage. But… what can you do, even if it's unfair? If you can't shake off a leech, you're bound to be sucked dry. Or he can just blame Allen for setting up the bracket this way.’
“Tournament winner… Lee Si-woo!”
At Allen’s declaration, Lee Si-woo stretched his stiff neck, savoring the victory.
He didn't know how many evaluation missions were left, but having achieved results in the tournament—the alpha and omega of the evaluation—securing first place would be a piece of cake.
Allen approached the leisurely Si-woo and asked.
“You struggled far more than I expected. Hmm, is it because you didn't use the magic you used against Ixion?”
To Allen’s question, which probed as subtly as a dagger hidden in a sleeve, Lee Si-woo replied with a grin.
“Because he wasn't an opponent who warranted its use.”
“Hoh, quite confident, aren't you? May I relay that message to Schizo when he wakes up?”
“Well, I don't particularly mind if you do, but if you must, please pass this along as well. Whoever made the bracket, it was a real cakewalk.”
Allen chuckled like a mischievous boy.
“Now, now, someone might think the bracket was rigged. You participated too, Si-woo, you know it was a fair lottery, right?”
“True, there are few methods as fair as a lottery. Hmm, it’s a bit concerning that the bracket coincidentally paved a highway for Ixion had he won… but well, I’m sure a just man like yourself, Lord Allen, handled it properly.”
His smile vanishing at Lee Si-woo’s nerve-grating words, Allen brushed past him and whispered.
“A promising junior is being quite impertinent today. Tsk, but an Elder can’t be bickering with a junior so far beneath him, so I, in my generosity, will let it slide. So, junior, let's have a meal together sometime later. Ah, I'd appreciate it if you didn't think of refusing. I think I'd get quite angry if you did.”
A subtle anger laced his voice.
No doubt, if he hadn't resolved to treat Si-woo as cautiously as possible, he would not have tolerated Si-woo’s insolent attitude that kept prodding his nerves.
But, he ended it with a sharp warning. That's how highly he had come to rate Si-woo after this incident.
Lee Si-woo shrugged and replied.
“How could I possibly refuse a meal with an Elder as great as the heavens? Just say the word anytime. My schedule is always open for you, Elder.”
Allen clicked his tongue at Lee Si-woo’s immediate submissive attitude, as if he had never been the one to snarkily get on his nerves.
The more he dealt with him, the more he realized this guy was no pushover.
‘In any case… the Magic Tower is going to be quite noisy because of Lee Si-woo from now on. The problem is, I don't know if that will be a good thing for me.’