Episode 1215
Episode 1215
"Demons aren't usually cooperative, are they? It's only natural to be surprised when they're being so helpful. In contrast, I always trusted you, Lord Perkuntra, the great General of Lightning who bears the title of Thunder King, as my steadfast supporter."
The more urgent and regrettable the situation, the longer and more detailed Lee Han's flattery became.
Though Perkuntra could clearly see through the tactic, it still found itself swayed. It seemed this contractor had grown unnecessarily close to it.
...Hmph. Fine. Since we've come this far, let's see it through to the end.
-Isn't this too easy for a Spirit King?
Though Mahuda voiced his doubts, Perkuntra ignored him.
No spirit was foolish enough to be swayed by a demon's words.
The Thunder Spear could deliver a proper blow if it could just land a hit. But...
This combined attack of Extermination of Evil, merging the Thunder King's lightning with the infamous spear techniques of a demon, boasted power several levels above ordinary Small World magic.
Even if the opponent was a divine-level being, that wouldn't change.
But the problem was landing the attack.
Right now, the Yaksha King and Sanguiros were literally tearing through and shattering domains in their battle.
The professors and knights of Einrogard were moving swiftly to establish multiple layers of encirclement and strike at Sanguiros, but this was only possible because they were professors and knights.
Could Lee Han, still a student, sharply penetrate between those clashes to deliver his strike?
Moreover, the enemy had already seen your attack once. If they sense similar energy, they'll be on guard immediately.
"I understand. But he'll definitely reveal an opening."
That might be true.
Perkuntra couldn't deny even that statement.
A proper divine being wouldn't reveal any openings. No, they wouldn't even be fighting like this in the first place.
But their opponent was a corrupted, immature Evil God that had gained a sense of self.
They'd already confirmed multiple times that it acted emotionally and impulsively.
An opportunity would surely come!
Good. But stop using that Small World magic.
"Are you referring to Basilios?"
......
"Euangelion?"
Can't you stop before going too far?!
As his contractor shamelessly feigned ignorance, Perkuntra rumbled angrily.
It was obvious which Small World magic he was referring to, yet he was playing dumb.
It meant the magic that pulled the future forward. That magic was dangerous. Mages drunk on magic always met terrible ends.
Being drunk on magic wasn't something only Hamster could experience. This Wardanaz could too.
Especially Small Worlds like Dynamis were even more dangerous. Because they were so powerful and tempting, the mage couldn't gauge their limits and would keep inhaling deeper.
That omnipotent sensation of bringing impossible magic into reality.
Such a sensation was sweet poison to a mage.
"I understand. I'll keep that in mind."
Good. Now you're listening.
"Then how about just three times?"
......
-Did the Yaksha heal him for nothing?
Even the demon was flabbergasted.
Was this mage completely fearless?
No matter how much vast mana supported him, the toll on his mind and body's exhaustion...
-If you're relying on the staff's spirit or bracelet's demons, I recommend stopping now.
Truthfully, Saratan and Mahuda cooperating at all was already extremely rare.
There was no reason for this violent exiled spirit or vicious avenger demon to voluntarily share the burden of magic.
But even that was nearing its limit.
In Saratan's case, he was originally a spirit who'd lost his power and was barely enduring by using the staff as his body.
No matter how strong a spirit, he couldn't share the burden while risking the destruction of the staff serving as his physical form.
Can't the demons share more?
-We're on the verge of rebellion too. If I descend down there now, I won't be able to return for a long time.
The demons in those depths, not even fully awakened yet, were half-maddened from the sudden influx of agony.
If those demons went berserk, there was no telling what might happen. They couldn't allow dozens of demons to emerge from the bracelet and fight over Lee Han's body.
-"Hah. I'm fine."
Saratan, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. Immediately, the spirit and demon mocked him.
'Don't show off, brat.'
-"No wonder you got captured."
-"...You damn bastards! If I had my original power, I'd have buried you both as saplings!"
Though Saratan raged, the two paid him no heed.
To begin with, a wandering spirit like him was merely laughable to Perkuntra, a King-class spirit, and Mahuda the demon had no respect for spirits to begin with.
Instead of arguing with those two, Saratan tried to persuade Lee Han.
-"Trust me. I can endure it."
"You're really sure... Wait, you've been wrong pretty often—"
-"This time is different. My life is on the line here—you think I'd mess up?"
'That's convincing.'
Indeed, Lee Han couldn't help but waver at this argument.
No matter how often this spirit miscalculated, would he really make a mistake when his own life was at stake?
...Just once. Only when absolutely necessary.
In the end, even Perkuntra and Mahuda's resolve weakened.
Just once, at the most critical moment.
At that level, they could probably manage the aftermath.
"Don't worry too much. Considering the Yaksha King wasn't surprised when I arrived, it's clear he predicted everything up to this point. That means he must have accounted for me using Dynamis too. It'll be fine."
Perkuntra stared at his contractor in disbelief.
After cursing the Yaksha King like an enemy every chance he got, now he trusts him?
'That shameless...!'
Though the Yaksha King had never properly explained his plan, the moment Sanguiros revealed himself, everyone present instinctively knew how to act.
The Yaksha King was the shield-bearer.
With his immense defensive power and foresight, this wise king directly withstood the murderous aura and madness emanating from the Evil God, anchoring him in place.
And the Death Knights were the spear-bearers.
Like whalers hunting a massive whale, they swiftly maneuvered around the Evil God's colossal form, driving chilling Yin harpoons into his bloated body.
Though each strike didn't deal significant damage, with every spear thrust and chain link, the Evil God's existence was gradually whittled away.
Already itching to tear the Yaksha King's flesh apart, Sanguiros roared in irritation as these pesky insects stung at him.
"GET—LOST—YOU—WRETCHED—THINGS!"
His convulsions suggested his patience had run out. The real reason you're so furious right now is...
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
The Yaksha King redirected Sanguiros' attention back to himself.
Even without a single curse, his skill at drawing all the enemy's hatred left the knights newly impressed.
Perhaps the most formidable of the Yaksha King's Authorities was this very ability.
An Authority that incited hatred indiscriminately!
"Time becomes the warp, space the weft, weaving the fabric of magic..."
Finally, the professors took up their original roles as mages.
Powerful sages creating variables on the battlefield.
While the grand spell was being prepared, Professors Kirmin and Voladi deflected incoming attacks, protecting the professors focusing on the casting.
Professor Garcia, lacking combat magic training, had weaker resistance to such chaotic situations. She needed solid protection until the spell was complete.
"I-I'm sorry."
Embarrassed, Professor Garcia apologized. Professor Kirmin seemed puzzled by her apology.
"Why say such things, Professor Kim?"
"If you'd undergone combat magic training, you both could've moved independently..."
"You're not Professor Bagrak—what use is a mage practicing brawling? Don't trouble yourself over it."
"Lee Han also said he couldn't trust me because I didn't receive magic combat training."
"......"
"......"
A brief, awkward silence hung in the air.
Professor Voladi shot a look at his colleague. It was a look that said, 'Comfort the junior professor properly, will you?'
'This bastard. Does he think I have a prepared answer for every situation?'
Professor Kirmin felt a surge of irritation.
This guy never treats me like a friend normally, but now he's dumping this on me as if it's my responsibility?
"...I'll prepare a few more spells in case the bastard's focus shifts this way!"
In the end, Professor Kirmin chose to divert the topic.
Because he genuinely couldn't think of anything else to say.
And to be fair, it was a decent enough diversion. After all, Professor Kirmin did need to prepare his magic as well.
He couldn't just leave everything to the junior professor.
With an incantation, <Kirmin's Consciousness Wedge> was prepared. This 7th-circle magic, cast based on three limited Small World spells, was highly effective against thought-forms like evil gods.
The cost of casting was high, but this wasn't the time to be stingy about saving reagents.
Professor Kirmin took out three rings and five spirit crimson flowers, then drew a line across his palm. As his blood made contact, the Small World magics stored within the rings awakened and rapidly combined, taking shape.
The magic, having greedily consumed the flowers, sought its next sustenance. Without pause, Professor Kirmin fed it reagents, mana, and incantations while aiming the spell.
"Fly forth, new consciousness. Coil within the enemy and..."
As the magic neared completion, Professor Voladi spoke.
"Can you cast an Illusion Labyrinth around the area after firing?"
"Huh? It wouldn't mean much against an evil god, would it?"
This Consciousness Wedge was a type of parasitic thought-form magic that, upon striking the target, awakened a new sense of self within them.
While it was an immensely powerful spell, it was especially effective because their opponent was an evil god unfamiliar with the concept of self. The less certain one was about their own identity, the more alien this new consciousness would feel.
In comparison, an Illusion Labyrinth would be meaningless in this situation.
No matter how wide he cast it, the moment Sanguiros moved, it would be torn apart—why waste magic like that?
"I'd like to keep Wardanaz at a distance so he can't approach."
"...Save your grumbling about disobedient students for later!"
Not that he couldn't understand his friend's concern.
After all, Wardanaz was also Professor Kirmin's apprentice.
Seeing the Spirit King wielding a lightning blade down below made it clear that Wardanaz hadn't left the battlefield yet.
And if so, his intentions were obvious.
He was determined to land at least one blow on the evil god, no matter what.
'I may have said I respect Wardanaz as a mage, but that didn't mean I respected this kind of madness.'
His respect only extended to hunting evil god worshippers outside the academy—it absolutely did not include joining professors and knights in battle to charge at an evil god.
Had he shown too much respect?
'Maybe I should have never let him leave the academy in the first place...'
But the deed was already done, and Wardanaz was proving to be as stubbornly defiant as his teacher.
Just look at how he'd stubbornly chased after them, even hijacking dimensional travel to do so. And from what he'd heard, it was highly likely he'd used Small World Dynamis.
If he cast an Illusion Labyrinth, Wardanaz might even try to break through it using Dynamis.
"...May the students of this world learn to listen to their teachers a little better. Now, go!"
Professor Kirmin fired the completed spell as a single arrow of light.
Unlike magic from other schools, it didn't shake heaven and earth or make spirits and demons tremble—but that didn't matter. The Illusion Magic school didn't care about such superficial displays of power.
What mattered was striking deep into the enemy's soul...
"AAAAAAARGH!"
When Sanguiros suddenly screamed as if possessed, Professor Kirmin jolted in surprise.
Was it really this effective?!