Return as a Mythical Archmage Chapter 64 – Fast Travel Has Been Unlocked #1

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White Tower. Their magic could be defined by the word fast.

Fast magic. For example, lightning-attribute spells. There were often those who confused it with Blue Tower, but they wielded distinctly different attributes. Blue Tower primarily used pure, unstoppable water-attribute magic. In contrast, White Tower employed lightning and heat attributes.

[My successor has arrived here. I am truly delighted.]

Blue Dragon Rijingt Ra. The blue-haired woman who appeared when he touched the magic tome.

Her blue locks shimmered like silver under the light. Though merely a holographic projection of magic, her beauty was truly astounding.

[By the Dragon Lord's command, I have made arrangements. I shall grant you the power to move anywhere.]

[The pinnacle of White Tower is transcending space. True speed is not a straight line but the meeting of points—this is the magic theory they created.]

[My successor, you who will one day reach the pinnacle of mages, use this knowledge to right the distortions, gather the scattered powers in one place, and save this world.]

She even left behind burdensome words, like how they had already failed and he was the last hope.

Rijingt Ra bowed politely and was sucked back into the book.

Only now did he understand why this book was related to space.

Lawrence carefully picked up the book. A message appeared before his eyes.

Magic from White Tower up to 4th Circle flooded into his mind. Heat spells that emitted lasers, gravity magic utilizing space… Spells related to speed and space filled his head.

But the heritage's power didn't end there.

Space Cut and short-range spatial movement—Blink. This was a jackpot among jackpots.

"I gotta craft this and use it right away?"

An ability so outstanding it felt overbalanced. If Black Dragon's heritage was an endless inventory, Blue Dragon's was tremendous mobility.

'Come to think of it, Black Dragon's heritage was pretty simple. Guess they didn't make a tower.'

[Black Dragon Yursia was a collector. Rijingt Ra loved research.]

Each left a legacy suited to their nature. Where's the inventory? With that authority, he could mass-produce artifacts freely.

Lawrence grinned from ear to ear and sat down to immediately artifactize the heritage.

At that moment, noisy sounds came from above. Being in a slum building, soundproofing was nonexistent.

So he could clearly hear what was happening outside.

'What is it, a search party? Faster than I thought.'

They weren't close yet. He didn't know who they were, but going out now would mean inevitable combat.

Lawrence pondered. What was the best path to the optimal outcome?

After a moment's thought, he pulled a pen from his subspace.

Not knowing what kind of enemies they were, it was best to hold off on rashly engaging.

"Finish it and escape, then observe the situation."

His mental age was in the thirties, but he couldn't forget this body was eleven years old. To finish quickly, he needed utmost concentration.

His heart pounded wildly.

"Huuu… Let's begin."

A vivid magic circle emerged over the magic tome. Intricate patterns sprawled out like branching trees, chaotically complex.

He could draw it easily if it were just sketching, but the situation was different now.

Still, he had to do it.

'Hope I have enough time.'

Lawrence's hand moved swiftly. Bloodshot veins crept into his eyes, but his hand moved with precision and grace.

Scritch-.

Dust swirled in the ruins where not a speck of light entered. Yet the creator's hand moved without hesitation.

#2

"Are you sure it's here?"

"Yes. His prophecies are never wrong."

"Hmm…"

Shayan Deferter, the summoner of the monster, had arrived at the ruins leading a mage corps.

The edge of the slums. They planned to search thoroughly from here.

Where Alzeras's banners flutter, in the deepest, darkest place, the white relic shall be buried under a pile of dirt.

The prophecy. Words from an old man who appeared out of nowhere to find ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠relics and heritages.

Interpreting them had brought immense wealth and unearthed many relics, elevating them to one of the strongest mage families.

This time was no different.

"Last time at the mining village, there was nothing. It might be the same, so be cautious."

"I know."

"Then, commence the search."

The mages moved in perfect unison.

Kieek-!

Undead occasionally lunged, but they were no match for Deferter's elite, the Shabet Mage Corps.

Alambra's slums were quite vast. Shayan stared at the rotting, polluted slums and chanted.

Mumble mumble, madness flickered in his form as he continuously poured mana.

Like a zealot reciting prayers, Shayan stared blankly at the slums, purifying them. A gleaming madness that seemed ready to explode at the slightest touch shone in his eyes.

Those who met his gaze moved even faster.

[Awooooooo-!]

In the meantime, the monster began to stir.

#3

"The monster is moving!"

"Mages, unleash bombardment! Priests who can't purify, provide support!"

"Understood!"

Bahamut began to move. Toward the slums.

No one knew why the idly sitting beast suddenly stirred, but if left alone, the city would be irreparably polluted, beyond reconstruction.

Thus, the subjugation force mobilized.

Alzeras had already fallen. Now was the time to slay the monster that would destroy the world if left unchecked.

"Cadets, protect the mages. Instructors from the officer academy, prepare for battle!"

Jacob Logan bellowed, his body shielded in aura.

Cadets would only be a hindrance; they could do nothing.

Squelch-.

With every movement of Bahamut, something poured from its body. Remnants of its thoughts, foreign matter. Larvae seeking nutrients to spawn new monsters.

[Kieeeek!]

"Monster larvae!"

"Coming this way! Battle stations!"

The situation turned critical. The moment the larvae were spotted, the mages' bombardment began.

Their strongest spells illuminated the pitch-black sky.

Boom-!

Kaboom-!

Multicolored lights bloomed on Bahamut's body, and the monster staggered from the impact.

"It seems to have taken a solid hit."

"If we keep this up, we can do it!"

"Knights, charge!"

The monster's staggering gave a momentary spark of hope. The sight of the enemy on the verge of falling always bolstered allies.

Aldmiri too led her Saint Knights into the charge.

"Saint Knights! To this heretical monster polluting the land, the light's purification—!"

"The light's purification—!"

The white legion crossed the ground, shields and swords raised.

Clash with the larvae. The first collision was a overwhelming victory for the Saint Knights.

Kwaaaang-!

The light devoured the darkness and grew larger. The Saint Knights charged straight at the monster, blocking its path.

[Grrr…]

Finally, Bahamut turned its head this way. Hundreds of eyes rolled about, assessing the enemy.

Then it changed direction, charging at the human horde.

Kwachik-!

The giant beast swung its foreleg. Saint Knights raised shields to block the massive foot.

"Kaaaak!"

"Hold! Hold the line!"

The price of blocking what should have been dodged was gruesome. The Saint Knights flew like white paper airplanes.

How many casualties from that single blow? No time to worry—the monster's attacks continued.

Whoosh-!

The second strike sliced through the air. Those who had endured the first moved swiftly.

Rumble-. Crash-.

Houses collapsed. Mana pollution crept up.

The following priests hurriedly cast purification magic. They rushed to the wounded with healing spells and strained to block mana pollution.

But limits clearly existed.

"Urgh… Uweeeek!"

"Knight! Pull yourself together! You must draw up holy power."

"Huu… Huuu…"

One drooling blood-mixed saliva. Another's face blackened. Those exposed to the monster's pollution writhed in agony, their bodies rotting from within.

Agonized screams laced with pain, roars of fury. Roars evoking terror. The battlefield was utter chaos amid it all.

'Lawrence, you need to hurry.'

Iron Hanma, watching from afar, clenched his fist anxiously.

They wouldn't hold much longer. He had to appear before then, get close to the beast.

Only then could he stop the calamity befalling the empire.

[Grrr…]

Meanwhile, Bahamut kept trying to head toward the slums. As if tasty prey awaited there.

"Pour on the bombardment—!"

The mages gritted their teeth and continued firing despite faltering chants. They knew: if they slacked, those holding the front would be driven to death.

Bam! Boom-!

Spells kept striking the monster's head and body, but it merely shook momentarily—no real damage.

How on earth could they stop it? The situation only worsened.

"The monster's heading this way, young master."

At that moment, one of Deferter's mage corps searching the slums reported to Shayan.

They were short on time too.

"…We must hurry."

And Lawrence, oblivious to it all.

"Huff, huff…"

Scritch-. He continued his work amid the shaking. Even in this extreme environment with debris falling at every shock, his focus never wavered.