Episode 91
Episode 91
"Believe in yourself!"
Perkuntra blurted out words that would normally have been too embarrassing for him to say.
At any rate, this guy was endlessly irritating.
While most other mages would arrogantly spout things like, "I think I can do it! What do you know, spirit? Just watch! I won't die!"—only to fail despite their lack of ability—Lee Han would respond with things like, "I don't think I can," "Why are you being so reckless?" or "Are you saying that because it's not your problem?" even when he did have the skill.
There's such a thing as being too humble...
"Self-confidence comes from objective analysis of the situation, not a few words of encouragement."
"Just focus and do as I say!"
Perkuntra ignored Lee Han's retort and simply said what he wanted to say. He had learned that getting dragged into pointless arguments only pissed himself off.
"Visualize lightning the same way you've handled other elements."
The foundation of elemental magic.
Vividly imagining the element and manifesting it in one's mind.
The process of aligning one's mana properties with the element could be considered the most basic step.
But the lightning attribute was slightly different.
"However, do not imagine a bolt of lightning striking from the sky!"
"!"
The image most mages found easiest to conjure was that of a flash of lightning crashing down from the heavens.
But visualizing such a bolt during elemental conversion with lightning was dangerous.
To cast magic, a mage needed to maintain and control their mana in one place to some degree—yet the image of a lightning strike was the complete opposite of such control.
Burning flames, pooling water, and frozen ice could all remain in one place.
But lightning, by its very nature, could not linger.
A phenomenon destined to scatter in all directions the moment it struck the earth.
If a young mage recklessly visualized lightning while converting their mana into the lightning attribute, they could lose control immediately, causing the lightning to discharge wildly in all directions.
As someone who had nearly died after carelessly interfering with Lee Han's flames in the underground punishment room last time, Perkuntra had to be especially cautious about safety.
Given the sheer volume of this young mage's mana, even a single accident could easily escalate into a major disaster.
"Of course, I understand. You're probably thinking, 'How can I visualize lightning without imagining a bolt?' But countless mages who've mastered the lightning attribute have overcome that limitation! You'll get used to it eventually. A true mage doesn't just accept and settle for reality—they must be able to reshape it according to their will! Now. Lend me your arm."
Of course, Perkuntra wasn't some foolish spirit spouting reckless nonsense without any method, as Lee Han seemed to think.
While he acknowledged Lee Han's exceptional talent, it was undeniably difficult for a young mage to handle the lightning attribute without any prior practice.
Naturally, he had a plan.
Just like last time in the punishment room, he intended to possess Lee Han's arm and help him control the lightning directly.
Though most of his power had been lost upon summoning, he still had more than enough for that much.
But then...
Crackle!
"Done. Should I lend you my arm now?"
"......"
Perkuntra stared in shock at the sphere of lightning formed atop Lee Han's staff.
Astonishingly, this young mage had already completed the elemental conversion and successfully maintained lightning-attribute mana in one place—before Perkuntra could even possess him to help.
'How the hell...?!'
Contrary to Perkuntra's astonishment, Lee Han didn't find handling the lightning attribute particularly difficult.
From the start, his way of thinking was different from other mages.
Lee Han had approached it very simply.
The fact that he couldn't visualize a lightning bolt wasn't a problem at all.
He just imagined a sphere of mana atop his staff and thought of it as a capacitor.
To Lee Han, it was the most obvious solution!
Visualizing electricity charging up inside the sphere like a battery wasn't particularly hard.
Perhaps that method was well-suited to him, because he succeeded immediately.
In fact, it felt far more stable than other elements...
'This is easier than I was told. He was exaggerating quite a bit.'
Lee Han had the impolite thought.
Now that he thought about it, Perkuntra had been rather prone to exaggeration ever since they'd met in the punishment room.
The flames were like that too...
-"You... have quite a talent for lightning!"
-"Is that so?"
Lee Han was indifferent.
After hearing such compliments about his elemental affinities several times, he was starting to grow suspicious.
Wasn't this just empty politeness?
Since confidence was important for young mages, perhaps they just told everyone, "You have a talent for A element!"
And that lukewarm reaction reached Perkuntra too.
Perkuntra was flabbergasted.
For a spirit of Perkuntra's caliber to give praise was truly a rare occurrence.
-"Do my words sound false to you?! You truly have talent!"
-"Yes... Well, I suppose that could be the case."
Lee Han thought that either his frequent all-nighters had given him a talent for lightning, or that lightning attribute magic wasn't as difficult as he'd imagined.
It was probably 99% the latter...
-"By the way, when are you going to possess my arm?"
Lee Han asked with a puzzled tone.
Perkuntra had asked to borrow his arm but was just standing there blankly.
Was there some problem?
-"Wait. I'm possessing it now!"
'Please don't tell me he has memory problems too.'
If a spirit had both mood swings and memory issues, no matter how capable they were, one would have to think twice before summoning them.
While Lee Han was having such thoughts, Perkuntra possessed his arm.
-"From now on, focus on the incantation I transmit to you."
Perkuntra intended to impart his magic to Lee Han.
The magic of spirits was wild and capricious, but if a mighty spirit like Perkuntra lent his arm, even a novice mage could wield it adequately.
The Lesser Perkuntra's Lightning.
This was the 2nd-circle magic that Perkuntra was now attempting to teach Lee Han.
The principle was simple.
Convert mana into lightning attribute and shoot it out!
There was no need to shape it into sharp arrows or spears, nor to imbue it with other complex attributes.
Lightning was sufficient as it was.
-"It's quite large—are you sure this will be enough? Won't it just irritate it for no reason?"
-"Please, just listen when a spirit older than you speaks! Stop talking back!"
Perkuntra half-pleaded, half-shouted.
It was good that the boy wasn't arrogant, but this excessive humility was enough to make Perkuntra's insides burn.
Even so, Lee Han didn't readily accept it. Perkuntra eventually realized that to make this damned contractor obey willingly, only logical and rational persuasion would work.
-"Listen well. Lightning is the most destructive and violent among the elements."
'It sounds a bit different coming from the spirit of lightning himself.'
-"Other elements aren't as easily used for offensive purposes on their own."
Lee Han agreed with that.
Just to use water elemental magic properly for offense, several additions were necessary.
Beyond the 'water' attribute itself, one had to add attributes like 'sphere' or 'spear,' and even 'control' on top of that.
-"But lightning is different. It possesses formidable destructive power all on its own."
-"But fire also..."
-"You don't even need to shape it! No complex aiming either! Because all you need is to hit the target!"
Perkuntra cut Lee Han off and continued his explanation.
-"That summon was originally an ordinary plant monster, but thanks to students fusing it with various other monsters, it gained highly complex attributes. But that's precisely why lightning will work even better. Think carefully. Your goal right now is to rescue the students it captured, isn't it? Not to kill it?"
-"That's correct."
-"Then this Lesser Lightning alone will suffice! The moment it gets hit anywhere, it'll drop all the students it's holding. The power of lightning makes enemies recoil! It won't want to keep fighting you either. Having gorged itself on mana, it'll flee if it takes such an attack!"
'That's quite persuasive.'
Lee Han found himself convinced by Perkuntra's logic. The ancient spirit certainly lived up to its years.
<Perkuntra's Lesser Lightning> was similar to the <Lesser Paralysis Curse> that Lee Han knew.
Both involved converting mana into an attribute and releasing it, and both possessed a paralyzing effect.
The difference was that <Perkuntra's Lesser Lightning> dealt greater physical damage, and unlike curses—which could be dodged or blocked—it left no such openings.
In this situation, it was extremely effective.
-"Understood. I'll cast it now!"
-"Good! Took you long enough!"
Pretending not to hear Perkuntra's remark, Lee Han swung his staff and chanted the incantation.
-"Strike forth, Perkuntra's Lightning!"
-"Well done—"
Perkuntra began to praise him as the condensed lightning-attribute mana successfully shot forth—
But then, belatedly, the spirit realized something was wrong.
The amount of lightning-attribute mana gathered in the orb was far greater than expected.
'...???????!!!'
Perkuntra realized that, in the brief time spent on unnecessary conversation, Lee Han had unconsciously gathered even more mana.
'No!!'
While the students of the Blue Dragon Tower and the White Tiger Tower chased after the Vine Monster, those from the Phoenix Tower and the Turtle Tower acted more wisely—
They immediately set out to find Professor Garcia.
"Professor! Over here!!"
Fortunately, they succeeded in spotting Professor Garcia as he walked.
The Skeleton Principal floated nearby, and Professor Voladi was also present, but the students didn't even bother addressing them.
"Hurry! It's urgent!"
"Everyone, remain calm."
Professor Garcia swung his staff, and the students—who had been screaming as if in panic—instantly quieted.
At the same time, the ground trembled, smoothly propelling Professor Garcia forward. He and the students surged ahead like a gale.
"Is this the right way?"
"Yes! Yes!"
Luckily, the traces left by the Vine Monster hadn't yet faded.
From a distance, Professor Garcia spotted the Vine Monster still engaged in battle.
Students from the White Tiger Tower surrounded it, swinging their swords, but their efforts weren't very effective. In fact, one by one, they were being dragged in.
Professor Garcia raised his staff, intending to first immobilize the Vine Monster with a single strike—
Just then, a thick bolt of lightning shot through the air.
CRACKLE-CRACKLE-CRACKLE!
The lightning struck the Vine Monster's torso dead-on. Even from a distance, Professor Garcia could sense the immense mana packed into that bolt—enough to make his hair stand on end.
-■■■■■■...
The Vine Monster didn't just get electrocuted—it was charred black on the spot. The students it had captured began tumbling out like falling leaves.
Professor Garcia hastily swung his staff, ensuring their safe landing.
"Are you alright?!"
"Ughhh..."
Seeing the students trembling uncontrollably, Professor Garcia worried they might have absorbed mana far beyond their limits.
Since the Vine Monster was a mana-draining creature, young mages caught by it could suffer severe internal injuries.
Dijiling, the priest who had summoned Professor Garcia, looked at his friends with deep concern.
Would they be okay?
"Thank goodness!"
As Professor Garcia's relieved voice rang out, Dijiling also relaxed.
It seemed they were fine after all.
"Is everyone unharmed?"
"Yes. We're all okay. Just a bit electrocuted by the lightning."
"...?"
Dijiling was baffled.
Was that really okay?