Episode 1217
Episode 1217
Perkuntra, who was running alongside Lee Han, muttered to itself.
The mage's condition is strange. He's being excessively passive.
"Could he be setting a trap?"
That didn't seem likely. There was no reason for someone in such a desperate situation to choose such a time-consuming method.
'Hmm. That makes sense.'
Lee Han inwardly agreed.
Truth be told, as someone trained by Professor Voladi, he could sense it too.
Professor Voladi's combat philosophy was always about taking the initiative through aggressive attacks - defensive tactics like this weren't his style at all.
Just look at how he immediately fled when given the chance, slipping away when others let their guard down...
'Ah, damn. Now's not the time to criticize the professor.'
Lee Han focused his mind.
Under normal circumstances, he would have aimed a Thunder Spear at the exposed opening.
But with the professors in this state, it seemed he'd have to join in and help stop it.
They absolutely couldn't allow the grand magic Professor Garcia was casting - the one disrupting and interfering with the enemy's perception of time - to be stopped.
"Can we handle the thought-form?"
To some extent. But the longer it drags on, the more dangerous it becomes.
Perkuntra spoke coldly.
It had already been summoned for a long time, and its contractor was pushing himself to the limit.
Against a rampaging thought-form like that, the longer the battle went on, the more perilous it became.
Yet Lee Han nodded without hesitation.
"That's enough for me. Let's go!"
With a thunderous roar, Lee Han charged toward the thought-form astride Perkuntra.
'Voladi's acting strange!'
Among the professors, Professor Kirmin was the first to notice something was wrong.
Professor Garcia was sweating profusely while concentrating on her magic, so that was understandable.
Normally, there was a set method for dealing with powerful enemies like this thought-form.
Professor Kirmin would confuse the enemy while Professor Voladi delivered damage with his penetrating and impactful magic.
But now, instead of dealing damage to the thought-form, he was solely focused on defense and evasion. It was almost as if he was avoiding attacking.
BOOM!!!
"Wardanaz!"
As his student joined the battlefield from the relatively outer area, Professor Kirmin quickly glanced at the other two professors in that brief moment.
Fortunately, Professor Garcia was too focused on her magic to notice, and Professor Voladi was occupied with the thought-form at the front to do anything about it.
Given the circumstances, Professor Kirmin decided to set aside his professorial conscience and accept his student's combat strength.
"Good timing. It seems Voladi might be injured! Seeing how he's avoiding direct attacks..."
"I'll attack instead. Please distract the enemy!"
"Hey!!"
When Lee Han immediately mounted Perkuntra and took to the air again, Professor Kirmin was startled.
Naturally, the professor should be the one attacking while the student provided distraction from behind, yet this kid was trying to do the exact opposite.
And he didn't even give them time to stop him before taking off again!
'That brat! He only learned the worst from his teachers!'
Profanities bubbled up his throat, but it was too late to stop his student who was already about to engage. Trying to stop him now would only lead to greater disaster.
Gritting his teeth, Professor Kirmin provided support. A series of illusions appeared in Lee Han's path, confusing the Evil God's thought-form.
What is this?!
Ordinary illusion magic that relied on the five senses couldn't deceive a thought-form like an Evil God.
These illusions were powerful phantasms, each containing fragments of souls and possessing their own strength. When such illusions suddenly appeared, even an inexperienced Evil God couldn't help but be momentarily bewildered.
And that moment was all they needed. Perkuntra let out a roar and struck a heavy blow against the Evil God's flank.
Attack while it's still disoriented!
Perkuntra knew well.
Unlike ordinary opponents with physical bodies, such entities wouldn't die easily from being slashed or stabbed a few times.
They had to keep chipping away at it, imbuing each strike with intent, like grinding a massive boulder into sand.
"Fall back!"
Professor Voladi shouted at his student in the loudest and most resolute voice he'd used all day.
"This isn't your place to intervene!"
Lee Han was demonstrating the demeanor of a mage who'd long been contracted with a spirit.
He'd succeeded in communicating with the spirit through thought alone, without issuing commands or engaging in conversation.
KRRRRUMBLE!
Thunder crashed, drowning out Professor Voladi's voice. Lee Han shamelessly shouted back,
"Sorry! It's too noisy—I can't hear you!"
'My contractor is truly an absurd fellow.'
Perkuntra swung his Lightning Hammer while thinking this. The evil god's avatar, struck once more, roared as its eyes glowed crimson.
Hundreds of eyeballs bubbled up and flashed across its body like bursting foam. It was a chilling sight, as if the creature had finally regained its senses.
Beware! Its mind has returned!
Despite all the chains and magic restraining it, the continuous pain had clearly sharpened the evil god's consciousness.
Before Perkuntra's warning even finished, the evil god spoke.
How dare you attack me when you should be serving me. Insolent!
"Still on about that? If you feel wronged, you shouldn't have given it in the first place!"
Lee Han scoffed mockingly.
To think it was still whining over some acting he'd put on just to receive a key.
Other imperial temples had generously blessed Lee Han even as he systematically took their divine magic, yet this evil god was truly petty-minded.
"...I'm not talking about you, Wardanaz!"
Professor Kirmin shouted in alarm.
The evil god was currently directing its words at Professor Voladi!
"What kind of insane nonsense... If there's one person in the Empire who'd never believe this till the end, it'd be Professor Bagrak."
Then why was it hesitating to attack me?
Lee Han stopped retorting.
His opponent was spouting nonsense even dumber than Gainando getting caught stealing food from the kitchen by the Skeleton Principal.
As if the Skeleton Principal would just let Gainando off like that?
No—he must have let it pass because he had a far greater and more sinister scheme in mind.
Speak honestly. When you wandered seeking vengeance, didn't you crave power? Can you truly claim you never once thought of offering your enemies as sacrifices to me in exchange for strength?
Though fractured and weakened, the evil god's consciousness was growing more threatening.
The fierce battles against powerful foes in this short time had taught and strengthened it.
Left unchecked, this evil god could become an entity rivaling the ancient archdevils whose infamy once shook the continent. It had the potential—it only needed its mind to mature.
Sensing this, Professor Kirmin felt a chill down his spine.
He'd only considered overwhelming the enemy with force—he'd never anticipated this kind of situation.
'It's... persuasive.'
Professor Kirmin glanced at his friend's face. Though still expressionless, he could tell Voladi was deeply shaken.
Clearly, Voladi had been considering it to some extent!
It wasn't entirely unreasonable.
The incident among the western vampire families had been truly horrific, and his friend had been out of his mind with vengeance until the Skeleton Principal captured and imprisoned him.
He would have sought power by any means necessary—could he truly claim he'd felt no temptation from the evil god then?
Perhaps it was this very thought that made Voladi hesitate to attack recklessly.
What if his friend's explosive thirst for vengeance only empowered the enemy...
"Quit your nonsense. I went to your fortress recently and checked your register! All sorts of names were there, but the professor's wasn't!"
"!?"
At Lee Han's shout, Professor Kirmin's eyes widened.
"Is that true?"
"Yes! If he'd truly been a believer, the bastard would've done something earlier. Isn't it obvious from how it's only wagging its tongue now when things have gotten this dire?"
Well said!
Perkuntra praised his contractor as he silenced the evil god. The eyes blooming across the evil god's body were swept away in unison by a tidal wave of lightning.
Once again interrupted by Lee Han, the Evil God let out a bone-chilling roar of fury.
Professor Kirmin took advantage of the brief respite to wipe his chest and let out a sigh of relief.
It was truly fortunate. Had it not been for Wardanaz's confirmation, a horrific situation might have unfolded.
If his friend had coldly calculated everything alone and then rationally chosen to end his own life...
"You checked well, Wardanaz. To think you found such a list. When you disobeyed and entered the fortress, I was ready to swear I'd throw you into the Punishment Room!"
Artifacts like a list imbued with an Evil God's power weren't easy to find.
It was only because Sanguiros was confused and immature—had he been composed, he would never have left something like a register of his followers' true names exposed.
"Shh. I didn't see anything like that."
"...What?"
Professor Kirmin froze for a moment.
"I was too busy destroying magic. Didn't have time to look for artifacts like that."
"...You said you saw it!"
"I meant if it existed, I would've. Did you really think I'd trust an Evil God, Professor?"
"......"
Professor Kirmin was utterly speechless. The demon and spirit assisting Lee Han were equally dumbfounded.
What kind of bastard is this, seriously?!
"Seeing how he couldn't counter it, it must've been a bluff from the start. And even if you believed it for a moment, that's ancient history now. Getting angry won't give him any power. Even imperial law would consider that mitigating circumstances."
"...Anyway, good job!"
Professor Kirmin vowed to take what he'd just heard to his grave.
There was no need to tell his friend about this.
He's coming this way!
-He's coming!
Perkuntra warned that the Evil God he'd been restraining had broken free. Mahuda also shouted about the enemy's approach.
Lee Han nodded.
While exchanging arguments with the Evil God earlier, he had already prepared for this. He'd discussed this scenario with Perkuntra and Mahuda even before arriving.
Someday, the bastard would surely charge in a rage.
'Didn't expect him to come after being refuted, though.'
Just as skilled and trained divination mages could foresee the future without casting spells, Lee Han could vividly and confidently predict what was about to happen.
The bastard would charge at them.
And he would counter by piercing him with every possible spell at his disposal!
"He's coming... You!!!"
Professor Kirmin panicked and tried to stop Lee Han as he darted forward like an arrow.
If the two of them split up now, wasn't it painfully obvious who the Evil God would chase?!
Above Lee Han's head, now reunited with Perkuntra, a simple and modest crown materialized.
Small World Basilios.
The Evil God's movements noticeably slowed as he entered its range. It was a different kind of stasis compared to Professor Garcia's time manipulation.
As Mahuda poured the last of his strength into Lee Han's arm, a single outer garment appeared behind him.
Small World Euangelion.
Faced with endlessly splitting space, the Evil God momentarily lost his way and wandered. The waves of malice he wielded drifted aimlessly, unable to find their target.
Finally, Lee Han's vision turned red once more. Despite his sight being sealed, he could clearly see the enemy's soul burning crimson.
Small World Dynamis!
Prepare the Thunder Spear!
-Even if your arm shatters, so be it. Just protect your vital organs!
Originally, the Thunder Spear of Demon Annihilation was a joint effort between Perkuntra and Mahuda, so they had been mindful of the caster's burden to some extent.
No matter how powerful the magic, it couldn't kill its contractor, after all.
But now, with Dynamis amplifying the mage's power, it was as if those restrictions had been lifted.
The Spirit King was more worried about whether his contractor would survive than how much destructive power this spell would unleash.
Not to mention the strain of the magic itself—how much backlash would that accursed Small World bring?
The spirit in the staff was already screaming.
"!"
Lee Han's gaze wavered for a moment. Unconsciously, he had glimpsed a vision of the future.
The mage immediately changed his choice. As a single small droplet rose in place of the Thunder Spear being prepared, the Spirit King lost his composure and cursed.
You said you'd only use Small World Dynamis once!