Episode 682
Episode 682
While Lee Han was summoning Perkuntra and making preparations in the back, Yukveltire also belatedly sensed something amiss.
"The angle of the forty-fourth magic circle is different. Who touched it?"
"......"
"......"
As the mages remained silent like honey-drunk mutes, Yukveltire glared at them with icy eyes.
The artifact they had prepared this time was so complex in its creation that even moving it after completion required meticulous concentration.
Knowing this, Yukveltire had planned to reassemble the artifact once more after moving it and before the presentation began, to eliminate any potential variables.
Naturally, the mages from this exchange meeting had participated to assist with that very task.
Yet to discover a minute error in one of the magic circles now...
"I—I apologize! It seems I made a mistake!"
One mage confessed with a pale face.
"Hey! How could a mage like you make such a mistake...!"
"I—I was so astonished by Gawon's magic earlier that I lost my focus..."
"Do you call that an excuse now?!"
"It—It may sound like an excuse, but I compressed all the mana required for the magic into the Black Shadow Sand."
"Really? That... that's astonishing."
Even the colleagues who had been blaming the mage for losing focus and making a grave mistake buzzed in surprise for a moment.
Who knew Gawon would demonstrate such magic!
"Forgive me, Lord Yukveltire."
"Enough. It's not your fault."
"Your Highness the Princess...!"
The mages were slightly moved by the Princess's gesture of covering for their mistakes.
"This is my fault for entrusting work to fools like you."
"......"
Struck by the sharp, Einrogard-style retort, the mages' faces stiffened instantly.
Ignoring them, Yukveltire moved to address the situation.
Clang!
With a sharp sound, eight golden needles embedded themselves into the rim of the oval Dimensional Gate. Then, with a short incantation, <Bakwantalana's Isolation> was cast.
CRACK!!
Amid the sound of shattering space, the Dimensional Gate was completely sealed.
The powerful Enchantment Magic had interfered with space itself.
"This is unbelievable...!"
Even the mage who had just been insulted forgot his humiliation, struck by the flawless response.
Most high-level enchantment mages focused primarily on artifact creation or body enhancement magic, but Yukveltire, as if refusing to be bound by such conventions, wielded Enchantment Magic with such mastery that it revealed an astonishing realm of possibility.
At this rate, even if cracks formed, the gate would remain shut.
But magic always defies a mage's expectations.
Crack—
As the sound of the isolated space splitting echoed, an immense energy began pouring from the Dimensional Gate.
The mages broke into cold sweat down their spines as they realized the gate had connected to one of the more dangerous random dimensions among those possible. 'At this level...' 'A demon! And a Duke-class one at that!' While the mages froze in terror, Yukveltire cast the next spell.
The eight golden needles emitted light and completely combusted as <Bakwantalana's Repulsion> was cast.
The spell, carrying lethal damage, surged forth like a torrent and struck the entity beyond the Dimensional Gate with tremendous force. Its edge was so sharp that the mages momentarily thought it had been blocked.
But the voice that echoed from beyond the gate plunged them back into despair.
Ah-ha—
An exceptional—
Human—
Mage, I see—?
'No damage!'
As both of Bakwantalana's arcane spells were blocked without effect, even Yukveltire's pupils trembled.
This was the worst-case scenario they could have imagined.
A connection to a threatening dimension, a gate with no significant restrictions, and a Duke-class demon attempting to cross over!
How unfortunate—
No matter how wise you are—
What determines—
The world—
Is power—!
Though the demon's voice was cultured and dignified, not a single mage was fooled by its demeanor.
Pleased to meet you—
Call me—
Duke Garisaima—!
Yukveltire burned with a frigid glare and steeled their resolve.
Even if the opponent was a powerful Demon Duke who had revealed his name, an Einrogard student would never back down.
Especially one who was about to advance to the fifth year!
"Bavkon..."
'Welcome, Garisaima! Now get lost!—'
"!!!"
BOOM!!!!!!
The Great Spirit's power surged like a thunderstorm and tempest, tearing the Arrogant Duke to shreds.
The mages on stage looked up in shock at yet another colossal being that had appeared in their midst.
Though Lee Han had summoned Perkuntra just in case, he froze in slight panic upon seeing Yukveltire's spell.
'...'
Did I call him for nothing?'
Judging by the feel of that magic, it seemed like it could handle the situation—which meant Perkuntra might genuinely get angry.
He'd already grumbled so much last time about being summoned for trivial matters, after all...
Surely this time, he'd been called for a proper reason, right?
Just then, Perkuntra fully crossed the boundary of the contract and spoke.
The booming, thunderous voice made Lee Han feel a pang of guilt.
"My apolog—"
"The Arrogant Duke! What mad mage summoned the Arrogant Duke?!"
"Excuse me?"
'That's the aura of the Arrogant Duke, isn't it?! To try summoning a demon like that without any restraints—!'
"It wasn't intentional—it was an accident! Perkuntra, sir! Can't you stop it with that spell?"
'An accident! You short-lived mages are always causing accidents. That spell won't stop him. It's refined, but lacks power!'
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the Demon Duke tore through the magic and stepped through the gate, revealing himself.
The opponent was a demon clad in a chaotic mix of extravagant attire—hats and helmets, shirts and dresses, pants and skirts—all thrown together without a hint of cohesion.
If not for the ominous energy radiating from him, Lee Han might have mistaken him for some eccentric mage making his debut in high society.
'Look!'
"Perkuntra, sir! Please help! We have to stop him!"
'There's only one way.'
"What is it?"
'Welcome, Garisaima! Now get lost!'
Without another word, Perkuntra launched a preemptive strike.
The sheer force of the attack could have shredded even a formidable opponent, leaving Lee Han flustered as he asked,
"Is it alright to attack first without any negotiation? What if the opponent gets enraged?"
'Any Demon Duke capable of crossing into this world would never negotiate unless forced into a disadvantage! Since they're not fools, it's better to weaken them first and then talk!'
Oh—
'Welcome—'
'Thunder King—'
The Arrogant Duke, who had been torn apart, instantly regenerated his body.
Without even responding, Perkuntra drew deeply from Lee Han's mana and unleashed another devastating blast.
Thunder and lightning shook the entire Exchange Meeting hall.
'Gently—'
'Thunder King—'
'You must—'
'Not be—'
'As comfortable—'
'As I am—'
'Right—?'
Despite being struck twice with tremendous force, Garisaima remained unshaken, merely smiling faintly.
He was an entity who had crossed the Dimensional Gate without suffering any penalties.
In contrast, his opponent was forcibly summoned by borrowing a mage's power.
The imbalance was far too obvious—there was no need to recklessly oppose or exert himself.
The fact that the other side was attacking so desperately likely meant time was running out.
'How much—'
'Is left—'
'One—'
'Or two—'
'More strikes?'
'Fine! See for yourself!'
Perkuntra was no pushover either.
The moment he realized the Arrogant Duke was underestimating him, he laughed heartily and drew even more of Lee Han's mana.
Lee Han gave Perkuntra a dubious look.
'Aren't you being a bit wasteful?'
Sure, he had mana to spare, but was such an extravagant attack really necessary...?
One, two, three strikes.
The Arrogant Duke had laughed off the first two, but by the third, his smile stiffened as if sensing something amiss.
"Bwahahaha! Die!"
A bolt of lightning as thick as a pillar swung down like a spear, incinerating the Arrogant Duke.
By the fourth and fifth strikes, the Duke's expression had turned completely grave.
'The mage—'
'Played a trick—!'
He hadn't expected such a cunning method of replenishing mana—so subtle even the Duke himself hadn't noticed.
Whether it was an artifact or some separate magic, it was commendable.
The mage
-Your
-soul
-shall receive
-special
-favor-!
Crack!
In an instant, the Arrogant Duke launched his counterattack.
Having realized that the strategy of depleting Perkuntra's mana wouldn't work, the next best method was to subdue the mage directly.
Perkuntra summoned a massive cloud over the Exchange Meeting hall, unleashing a thunderstorm before enveloping Lee Han's body.
'He's targeting you. Be careful!'
"Yes!"
Lee Han, who had been preparing various spells in anticipation, pondered which additional magic to cast.
But Perkuntra shook his head.
'What do you think you'll accomplish with that kind of magic? I'll protect you myself!'
"What do you mean—"
Perkuntra merged with Lee Han's body, initiating a complete fusion.
Boom!
The tangible aura of lightning emanating from Lee Han's entire body began to erode the surroundings.
A shiver ran down Lee Han's spine as he felt absolute dominion over the lightning element in his body.
It was as if he had become the ruler of all lightning elements in this domain. 'What in the world...?!' Lee Han moved his fingertips, summoning bolts of lightning from the air.
In an instant, the bolts intertwined, forming a massive chain that lashed out at the Arrogant Duke.
The Arrogant Duke drew a blackish-red sword to block the attack, grumbling.
The mage
-If you entrust
-your body
-to a Great Spirit,
-you'll burn
-to death.
-Isn't it
-better
-to offer
-your soul
-to this
-Arrogant Duke-?
'Ignore that nonsense!' Perkuntra, now inside Lee Han, shouted firmly.
Of course, borrowing power by fusing with a spirit in this manner was indeed an extremely dangerous method.
Spirits, by nature, were not living beings like mages, so they often didn't know how much mana a mage could expend before becoming a wreck.
For Great Spirits, the danger was even greater—just a few seconds of fusion could completely drain a mage's mana and kill them.
But Perkuntra didn't particularly care.
Because it had nothing to do with this young mage!
'Are you sure this is okay? I was planning to hold out with my own magic...'
'You call that magic? Yours is nothing but child's play!'
Perkuntra scoffed at Lee Han's words.
It seemed it was time to show this young mage what true magic really was.
'Watch!'
With that cry, Perkuntra borrowed Lee Han's body to condense lightning at his fingertips.
Lee Han easily recognized the spell.
Because it was none other than the <Lesser Perkuntra's Lightning>.
But the result was on an entirely different level. The white-hot lightning crackled with a ferocity and brutality far beyond anything Lee Han had ever wielded.
Having been beaten repeatedly by Professor Voladi while learning elemental transmutation theory, Lee Han instinctively understood. 'Attribute enhancement!' Just as compressing and refining water element could create destructive power beyond imagination, the lightning element was being condensed and purified to create a higher-tier element.
Crack!
The white-hot lightning bolt shot forth.
Perkuntra swung his staff, unleashing bolt after bolt.
Despite being a simple spell of gathering and releasing, its destructive power was beyond imagination. The barriers summoned by the Arrogant Duke shattered in a single strike.
'If you want to wield lightning element, this is the bare minimum! Understand?!'
'Look! Look ahead!'
Seeing the Arrogant Duke surging forward, Perkuntra raised a hand and summoned the Lightning Spear and Lightning Cloak.
But just like the earlier Lesser Lightning spell, the power was on a completely different level from Lee Han's own magic.
Though it was a chaotic moment, Lee Han desperately tried to grasp even a fraction of the lightning element manipulation techniques flooding his mind. 'The mana is the same, so how is this possible...?!'
The Arrogant Duke dodged the lightning spear and swiftly circled behind Lee Han. Perkuntra smirked and radiated the Lightning Cloak.
The Arrogant Duke let out an irritated noise as he distanced himself. The sound of the surrounding air burning was downright eerie.
Thunder King
-You really
-do seem
-to hate
-that mage,
-don't you?
-Have you
-decided
-to kill him-?
'Gasp.'
'What do you mean, "gasp"? I'm doing this because your mana can handle it!'
Perkuntra hastily explained in response to Lee Han's reaction.