Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: 19. Pursuit
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People's screams couldn't be heard. The moment Master deployed her field, that area became a secondary dimension. To me, who could distinguish between reality and illusion, both the real and the unreal were visible simultaneously.
The primary dimension of reality, our three-dimensional world, Master's secondary dimension. I swallowed hard. The man was unharmed. Something black enveloped the two men and Minhee. I widened my eyes as I looked at it. It wasn't just darkness. Something sparkled embedded within the black mana. Stars...? Yes, that's right. It was just like... the night sky.
I widened my eyes and examined his mana. His mana color was a soft sky blue.
"Aion of the Sky. As expected of your title."
"You're one to talk. Dimension Meister."
The man cloaked in the night sky smiled. Their mana clashed, devouring each other like flames. It was terrifying. Even I, a character from a dream, felt chills. It was only because I'm a sensor type that I could perceive it. The other kids couldn't sense it at all—it was mana from another dimension entirely.
Han Jaeil wrapped his coat around Minhee's body protectively and spoke up. He waved at Master with a sly grin.
"Hey, noona Mina. Long time no see."
"Shut your mouth, you ungrateful bastard. I spared you because you were my little brother's friend..."
"Oh dear, that's why you shouldn't have spared me."
"You've got some nerve?"
Master snapped venomously. Han Jaeil shook his head with a wry smile.
"Go easy, noona Mina. You planning to level the whole area? This kid won't make it out unscathed either."
As he spoke, Han Jaeil stroked Minhee's head, whom he was holding. I clenched my fists. Master's expression grew even colder.
"You fool. You think I earned the title Dimension Meister for nothing?"
"Hmm, maybe? But..."
At that moment, the man cut in, blocking Han Jaeil. Mana stirred in the man's hand.
The man's mana spread instantly through the surroundings. I couldn't see it again. By the time I noticed, it was already there. Master's pink mana was partially dyed in the man's color. I gasped in shock, swallowing my breath. Parts of Master's spell unraveled. Simultaneously, the surrounding scenery melted away like sludge.
"You're not going to pretend you didn't know, right? That I'm a territory mage too."
Master's eyes filled with gravity.
The scenery around us began to blend. Due to the nature of Master's magic, fights over territory were rare. But this man's magic made it possible.
'What the hell is sky magic?'
I knew it was a special attribute magic. But as an innate magic, sky magic had to be different from mere special attributes.
I watched them tensely. Then Inha grabbed my hand tightly from beside me. A foreign sensation different from warmth, yet the cozy feeling and trembling emotions transmitted clearly.
"Minhee... she'll be okay, right?"
I nodded firmly, holding back tears.
"Yeah."
I gripped Inha's hand tightly.
"She'll be fine."
I looked back at Master. Whoosh! A spell shot out from under Han Jaeil's feet. Teacher Min had cast it.
The figures of others, hidden and fused within Master's magic, revealed themselves.
Daehyeon Academy was founded to protect young, talented mages. That's why so many powerful mages mobilized over the kidnapping of one child. Five A-rank mages, seven B-rank, three C-rank. Terrifying forces. Enough to destroy a star already.
But the man just laughed at the sight.
"I'll ask again. You okay with that?"
"..."
"Even if this whole city gets wrecked? Dimension Meister, your dimension magic doesn't work on me. I can shift through space too."
As he said that, the man pressed down on the hood over his head.
"And you know, right? There's an overwhelming power gap between you and me."
What? I gaped. Clearly, just by numbers, their forces were superior. But his relaxed tone suggested he wasn't at a disadvantage.
"Daehyeon is strong, but most under it are greenhorns. Even A-rank mages are fledglings. Among those here, only one is over fifty. Me? I'm over 120 this year. I've been A-rank for seventy. You think these rookies compare?"
His voice was soft, contrasting his tone. I stared at him in momentary shock. He looked not even twenty. The youthful face peeking from the hood was boyish. Only those eyes, holding the sky itself, lent credibility to his age. Master glared straight at him and said.
"If needed, the city goes. And don't underestimate us. You think we'll let you take our disciple with five A-rank mages?"
"Oh? This kid's your disciple?"
The man pointed at Minhee as he spoke. Someone ground their teeth at that. Smoke-like something shot toward the man.
"She's my disciple, you bastard!"
"Baekhan!"
The smoke twisted eerily before exploding in an instant. I turned to see a man in white robes. A scruffy face with patchy beard, but that ash-gray hair and glasses were familiar. Minhee's teacher.
The sight of the smoke being devoured by sky-blue something was spectacular. The man said quietly.
"So, you're saying you'll try?"
"Your magic isn't spatial shift, you fucker. If anything, it's time retrieval. No idiot here can't escape the ocean depths. Police aren't for show. They're already on standby."
The man glanced indifferently at Minhee's teacher. His eyes were endlessly cold.
"You've got a foul mouth."
"Don't like it? Hand over my disciple."
"Fine. Let's do it."
This time, the man cast without hesitation. The moment I thought mana gathered in his hand, the spell activated. A blue vortex pressed in from all sides!
'What? Couldn't see it.'
I bit my inner cheek.
'From earlier, keeps being invisible.'
As I grew anxious, Master shouted.
"Watch out!"
The C-rank mage retreated. Needless to say, the fight began.
Master immediately redeployed her field. Holding her master's staff, she buffed everyone.
Game magic wasn't originally for offense. If anything, it was for suppression.
Teacher Min was like me. Uses many spells. Swordsmanship as skills, magic as skills. Sometimes wields absolute power. Relies on items too—even real ones from games.
One-versus-many. Precisely, two-versus-many.
The others focused solely on the sky man, ignoring Han Jaeil glued to Minhee's side. In that instant, his magic exploded outward again.
Impossible to track mana at that speed. Show yourself, please. I watched anxiously.
Then, that occasional 'sensation' came.
'...?'
Time perception slowed ever so slightly. And this time, I saw it. A ring of light spreading from the man's body, filling the surroundings. Stunned briefly, I clicked my tongue in admiration. Overwhelming mana. Everywhere it touched vibrated. Master reinforced her field and yelled.
"Freeze the field!"
The mana's vibration halted instantly. Seizing the gap, everyone unleashed spells at him.
Their spells streaked with dazzling lights. Not just colors, but power too. Just sensing it made my body tremble. The mass of lights exploded around.
Hummm.
But it was blocked by a subtle tremor. His territory froze momentarily, but the extended magic remained his domain. Spells couldn't pierce it. Incredibly sturdy magic.
I scanned that high-level spell I couldn't copy. The sensation came once and faded, but thanks to it, his magic became faintly visible. Sky magic. Before innate, definitely special attribute.
Then another explosion beside the man. While most tackled the sky mage, two went for Han Jaeil: Teacher Min and Je-hyeon oppa. Teacher Min's spell froze everything it grazed. Literally froze Han Jaeil's poison solid. I exhaled with complex emotions.
"You bastard, even if so, touch our side?"
"You've changed a lot, Yumin. Not just for Honey, huh?"
"Makes me sick. Cut it out! Knew you were like this...! You! Targeted our disciple on purpose?!"
"Spot on. Knew her position in your school too, so figured the two girls had talent."
Han Jaeil sighed as he said it. Je-hyeon oppa ground his teeth at him.
"Shut up and return my sister. Release the hypnosis and let go."
"Whoa, junior. That supposed to be talk?"
"That junior's scary, so brace yourself. Think you can take us both?"
Terrifying mana swirled around Teacher Min and Je-hyeon oppa. Han Jaeil raised a hand casually.
"Nope."
"You..."
"But you can't beat that guy. That's why I don't care."
As he spoke, Han Jaeil hugged Minhee close. Teacher Min and Je-hyeon oppa couldn't attack, gritting teeth. Attacking while protecting one inside isn't easy. Only control specialists like me or those with dedicated magic like Master could.
Moments later, Teacher Min said with a furrowed, complicated expression.
"Why'd you join that?"
"Huh?"
Han Jaeil's eyes widened like he'd heard nonsense. Crashing sounds echoed around. Amid it, Teacher Min looked at him with pained eyes.
"You're a lone wolf. That's why you never joined anywhere for years. Calli isn't dark, but not exactly legit either—lawless group. Like a small nation's space fleet. Doesn't obey laws, doesn't cause big harm. Why suddenly join that mess?"
Teacher Min's eyes were pained. Though ties nearly severed, that man was like a friend to him. Once his most trusted.
Han Jaeil, looking at Teacher Min, suddenly chuckled.
"You still don't get me."
He spread his arms.
"Liked it. That's all."
In that instant, mana engulfed them. The area was already wrecked. Though secondary dimension, the ground was cratered, space sparked with static, sky-blue mana patched voids.
The man had removed his hood. Short bob hair faded blue-white upward, darker downward. Black crystal earrings dangled from ears. Contrary to immense magic, movements and expression serene.
Scenery shifted. Azure sky, higher—the dark atmospheric layer. I widened eyes. Saw it again. Magic vibrated, slowly yet swiftly covering. Master's field melted away.
Everyone's state changed. Gasping, bodies crushed, collapsing.
"Urk... hngh...!"
Even groans swallowed, voices flapping in void. Massive vibration. It etched cracks everywhere.
Field gone, city buildings cracked and crumbled one by one. Worried the ceiling holding the city might fall.
That ceiling was tough, withstanding deep-sea pressure. But no match for A-rank power.
I eyed the sky man anxiously. No wind in his space. True empty airspace.
"Kyaaah!"
People screamed, fleeing. Master resisted the sky, raising mana for spells. But no incantations. Others attacked with magic too. Yet the enveloping magic persisted.
The man glanced at Han Jaeil. Voice telepathied.
「Take the kid and leave. Board the ship and bolt to space. Poured mana all at once, can't hold long. They're near our level anyway.」
Ground cracked, nearby buildings collapsed to rubble. Man twitched brow at Han Jaeil, who nodded. Then someone slashed the sky vault.
"Ha, sky attribute... kinda like me...!"
Inho oppa. Wind-lightning blade scattered. But power dissipated before reaching the two. Couldn't win against sky airspace.
As all faltered, Han Jaeil moved. Hugging Minhee, mixed illusion magic, slipped away. We panicked.
"Sh-shouldn't we block that?"
"Not 'shouldn't we'—we must!"
Others didn't notice. Even Teacher Min and Je-hyeon oppa, pinned by sky, couldn't. Detecting his illusion-aided escape was hard.
"But we can't do anything now."
"M-Minhee, what do we do."
Hyunho whimpered. Losing her here is disaster. My tracking has limits, especially in space—I couldn't pinpoint. Face paling, I stiffened.
"H-how can't we?! Right, magic... ugh... no."
Hyunho strained, then pouted. Obviously. We're ghosts now. Worse—mere mental fragments here. We see and speak one-way; unseen, unheard, intangible. We watched the receding man and Minhee anxiously. Suddenly Hansu whipped toward me.
"C-can't you at least poltergeist?"
Poltergeist?
Ghost phenomena. Magic world, but ghost myths linger. Unexplained even by magic. Mages can't see ghosts.
"We're ghost-like!"
"Even so..."
Strictly, I wasn't helpless. But it'd drag fighters into mental world. Then I could speak, alert about the escaping man. But creates openings. In tight fight, momentary lapse is deadly—I knew.
Clenching fists, I glared.
'Break Minhee's hypnosis? Then...'
Shook head. Useless now.
Suddenly, feeling struck. Looked at hand, thought.
'Really can't use magic?'
Question stuck.
I'm ghost-like. But wander dreams via illusion. Mental magic works now.
Doubt arose. Really impossible?
What's source of mages' magic? Mana—stored where? Body? Only body?
Then I shouldn't cast in dreams.
Maybe irrelevant. But I've cast in dream worlds many times. As illusion dream mage, perhaps...
'Argh!'
Before too late, reached out. Worth testing. Better than helpless.
Others tried too. Failed, but couldn't just watch! Aimed at Han Jaeil's spot, glared.
'Move.'
Muttered inwardly.
'Any magic.'
Any would do. Just signal Minhee's there. Cracks spread, ceiling's thick magic-glass fissured. Sky time flowed. Azure sky's edge turned crimson.
End brings night. Instinctively dangerous. Master's chants, Seonghu oppa's ice, others' magic flew at man. Seemed mere threat.
Focused.
So... how about this? Illusion materialization. Manifest mental illusion.
That... high chance?
Using dream-casting feel, cast.
Result immediate.
Clangclangclang!
Ice—no, crystal. Crystal flowers bloomed there. Tore Han Jaeil's illusion. Fighters couldn't miss.
"What...?!"
"Ha... who the hell."
"That guy, when?!"
"Damn..."
Sky mage clicked tongue. Yelled at Han Jaeil.
"Go, idiot!"
"Yeah yeah, on it."
Scenery snapped.
Man's magic changed. Night sky with twinkling stars. Moon high. Incongruously, heart raced. Felt 'like me' momentarily. Then anxiety surged.
"Think we'll let you?!"
Je-hyeon oppa's darkness flew at Han Jaeil. Man's night sky blocked all, but surely interfered with Han Jaeil's too. Han Jaeil flew, dodging.
"You bastard!"
Powder scattered from Teacher Min's hand. Spread, multiplied fiercely. Touched things sliced sharp, froze. Giant formless vibration blade.
But form crumbled after. Deep night swiftly covered their magic. Speed too fast—furrowed brow, then sensation brushed, saw magic flow clearly.
Night sky spread fast, blanketing buildings, people in darkness. People retreated nonstop.
Master vied for territory control but seemed insufficient. Instead, support spells freed actions/magic. Summoned new weapon: 'Sword of Radiance.' Teacher Min's heavy/slow magic lunged at Han Jaeil. Meanwhile, Eunhee unni acted.
"Crystal! Wind Chime! Song of Morning Dew!"
Used 'night' name. Spirits force morning. Aiding Master.
But even A+B-rank combo, man pressed attack. Glass wall shattered, seawater poured. Blocked by man/Master's mana, flowed around not above. Excluding them, deep-sea water flooded. Hole widened, wall collapsed helplessly.
Spirit song beautiful amid chaos. Anxiously tracked, kept blocking Han Jaeil.
"Please, please..."
Hansu whispered pleadingly beside. Inha/Hyunho cheered.
"Path..."
Easier second illusion.
"Twist!"
Rare direct space-time magic sans barrier/gate. Closer to illusion mimicking space-time. Han Jaeil, fleeing, suddenly returned.
"What're you doing?"
"No, suddenly..."
Han Jaeil panicked, clueless why back. Odd feeling; looked at hand. Reality to them, dream to me. Made illusions too easy.
"Been thinking since earlier."
Han Jaeil looked up, face hardened. Still holding Minhee one-handed. Dissolved attacks with poison veil, said.
"Seems another mage here besides us."
"What?"
Man scanned surroundings incredulously. Pushed night like waves. Night infested city. All visible dyed night sky.
"Then we'd have noticed. Can't miss presence."
"But..."
Heard exchange, pondered. Priority: separate man from Minhee. How? Invisible to them, but avoid detection. Still... method?
Thought, reached. Different type, but man uses illusion too. Notice or not.
'Doesn't matter. Separate first.'
Then sky mage new spell. Fingered circle, blew breath. Puffy cloud formed shape.
"Fly."
Like thundercloud. Wolf-cloud shot; suddenly flashed, lightning burst explosion.
"Ugh...!"
"Crystal! Clear it!"
Eunhee unni/Inho oppa centered, blocked whirlwind lightning. Half-hit half-blocked. Eunhee unni shocked but deflected. Inho oppa tanked with body. Lightning weak on him.
Self-explode cloud shards proliferated at feet. Je-hyeon oppa/Teacher Min stubbornly targeted Han Jaeil, but no more.
Clouds blanketed ground. Sky-earth inverted. Then wind-lightning storm below. Clouds swirled, engulfed.
Han Jaeil dodged again. Seized gap, shot illusion into his mind. Suggestion, brain implant.
'Let go.'
Whispered again.
'Release Minhee.'
Fingers loosened. One, two, three. Unnoticed, Minhee dropped limply. Soft thud—all eyes turned.
"Dropped!"
"Why suddenly?!"
"Han Jaeil!"
"Damn! Why...?!"
Han Jaeil gritted, grabbed own wrist. All seized moment. Turned protection to attack, separated. Han Jaeil dodged; Inho oppa rushed, scooped Minhee. We clasped hands in thrill.
"Got her back!"
"Minhee!!"
Hands together, jumped in place. Finally, Minhee free from psycho!