Episode 995
Episode 995
Before the opponent could even finish speaking, the Crazy Doppelganger shoved his disciple aside.
Duels where you wait for your opponent to finish speaking before exchanging moves in a fair fight only exist in stories.
Real battles between mages always begin with ambushes and schemes.
"Si..."
Just as the Crazy Doppelganger began chanting a spell to strike first, he sensed something amiss.
Since the Crazy Doppelganger and the Skeleton Principal shared the same origin, they could predict each other's thoughts to some extent.
There was no way the Skeleton Principal wouldn't be preparing his own first strike while he was doing the same...
Could it be?
Too late. "Bagrak!"
As the Skeleton Principal's abstract command rang out, Professor Voladi emerged from behind the doppelganger.
In the professor's hand was a single sword. The blade, transparent like glass, radiated an alien energy in all directions as if to prove it wasn't made of any substance from this world.
Then came the sharp sound of tearing flesh. Professor Voladi thrust his blade like lightning before the Crazy Doppelganger could react.
Targeting the vital points of the neck, heart, and lungs in succession, Professor Voladi didn't let up.
Even with such an overwhelming advantage, the tide could turn with just one simple mistake. That's how powerful their opponent was.
Professor Voladi sought to completely neutralize his foe by borrowing the power of the Small World he'd currently invoked.
The magic sword the Skeleton Principal had provided was a weapon that condensed concepts from another dimension into physical form.
While it was the perfect weapon to incapacitate a Thought-form that couldn't be felled by ordinary physical damage, even the sharpest blade is useless in the hands of an unskilled wielder—incapable of cutting through even an empty palm.
As Professor Voladi calculated his remaining strikes, his disciple's shout reached his ears.
"Professor! Please wait a moment!"
Professor Voladi instantly halted his assault.
Immediately, the Crazy Doppelganger began recovering his strength. The surrounding space distorted strangely, forcing the ambusher back.
Realizing the ambush had failed, Professor Voladi abandoned all hesitation and retreated by leaping through dimensions...
"Are you even my disciple!??!!!?"
The Skeleton Principal, utterly dumbfounded, glared at Professor Voladi who had returned to his side.
Though the Skeleton Principal usually insisted on honorifics for anyone holding a professorship (except Professor Verdus), this situation was so absurd that even that rule was forgotten.
No matter the circumstances, for his own disciple to stop just because someone told him to...
"My apologies."
"Apologies won't cut it! Are you even Bagrak!?"
He'd deliberately left Professor Garcia behind to avoid any perceived weakness, but who could have guessed that Bagrak, of all people, would make such a blunder?
"...You've prepared quite thoroughly."
The Crazy Doppelganger spat out the words.
Had it not been for the disciple's shout, that sharp assault would have sealed his fate.
"That sword..."
"It's a blade refined from pure concept, striking directly at one's existence. You should feel honored. A single activation of that sword cost a year's budget from the estate."
Despite having escaped the opponent's trump card, the Crazy Doppelganger's expression remained grim.
The Skeleton Principal's attitude exuded absolute confidence.
It meant he was so thoroughly prepared that even if this particular tactic failed, it wouldn't matter.
'Truly monsters from the Heaven beyond Heaven.'
The Hamster squeaked in complete awe.
Thanks to the lingering effects of the potion, Lee Han could comprehend what had just occurred with his drastically enhanced wisdom.
First, Professor Voladi's ambush hadn't used ordinary invisibility magic but rather dimensional teleportation magic.
Lee Han could accept that, but with so many archmages present (one currently in hamster form), deceiving all their senses would be impossible with mere invisibility magic.
It was clear they'd pre-set spatial coordinates, stationed the professor in a sub-dimension, and signaled him to launch the ambush.
But even if he could roughly guess the method, he had no clue how it had been implemented.
'Other dimensions aren't places that can be conveniently used as passageways for spatial movement like that. Does such a dimension exist where a mage can use it as they please?'
At least with the ambush, he could vaguely grasp the method, but when it came to the Magic Sword, he couldn't even begin to fathom how it was possible.
Extracting a concept to forge a sword—what kind of absurdity was that?
"It seems you didn't heed the royal family's warning. Are you so confident you won't regret it, even if your domain is destroyed?"
The Crazy Doppelganger spoke while gathering magic.
Originally, he had been prepared to die by his own hand, but that only held meaning if it was his own decision.
Moreover, being sealed away by some insignificant doppelganger wasn't even worth discussing.
No matter that this disciple belonged to the Magic Tower, the Crazy Doppelganger had no intention of going back on his word.
The moment the Skeleton Principal violated the non-aggression pact and approached, the duel had already begun.
And that duel would destroy everything in the vicinity.
Even if I don't say it aloud, you must have already guessed as much.
"......"
The Skeleton Principal's words sent a chill deeper than any threat.
The Crazy Doppelganger instinctively realized—
The Skeleton Principal, being a being akin to himself, would never have come here recklessly without any countermeasures.
Look outside.
As he spoke, the surrounding debris was completely cleared away, and the cave vanished. The open vista of the mountain range and Einrogard below came into view.
And above it all, the bizarre Veil of Dreams that blanketed the sky.
"You've expanded a Unique World over the entire domain?"
Indeed.
The Skeleton Principal answered calmly.
There was no need to explain just how much preparation and cost this grand magic had required.
The Crazy Doppelganger nodded as he observed the veil that turned any damage into mere dreams.
"Impressive. This is a magic even the royal family doesn't know."
Of course. You are a being who has been sealed away.
Behind the Skeleton Principal, a geometric collection of circles resembling a mandala began to form intricate patterns.
In response, the Crazy Doppelganger summoned a crown and a staff. The head of the staff bore the carving of a rooster, the tip a serpent, and along its shaft, a warrior.
A being unacknowledged in any time or space... I won't claim I feel no regret, for it is my own karma. That is why I showed you more mercy than necessary.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Are you saying an ant not daring to touch the sun is also an act of mercy?"
But you crossed the line. How dare you kidnap my disciple within my own domain.
As he spoke, the Skeleton Principal prepared to unleash his magic.
At that very moment, Lee Han shouted—
"Please wait a moment, Headmaster!"
What is it, Batnaz?
"...Huh?"
You traitorous little brat. All these professors and gold coins are suffering for your sake, and you take their side?
Lee Han was left speechless by the sudden accusation.
What kind of—?
"What do you mean, 'take their side'? None of this would have happened if the Headmaster hadn't left his post in the first place!"
I must have told you. Preparations were needed to seal him away. So you should have lulled the enemy into complacency and struck from behind, not foolishly get captured and side with them! Hmph. Utterly disappointing.
The Skeleton Principal waved his hand as if he no longer wished to hear his bat-like disciple's interference.
Even the Crazy Doppelganger didn't seem to want the disciple's input. As the two archmages joined forces, all outsiders were forcibly expelled beyond the distant outskirts through spatial displacement.
O Wheel of Dharma!
"Be released, Abraxas!"
-It's the end of the world. We must flee further away!
The Hamster squeaked in panic as he realized the two archmages were about to clash with their Unique Worlds.
But Lee Han shook his head.
"No. I'll persuade them!"
-...What kind of elixir did you drink to go this mad?! Snap out of it! You're going to crawl into that colliding world— Gahk!
The Hamster groaned under the oppressive pressure from above.
Professor Voladi signaled for him to stay quiet. The Hamster despaired at the realization that yet another insane mage had joined the fray.
"Do you think you can persuade him?"
"...I'm not certain, but I intend to try."
"That doppelganger could turn dangerous at any moment. You're aware of that, right?"
"Yes!"
"Very well. I'll send the signal."
Professor Voladi nodded as if to say he wouldn't question further.
The reason the Skeleton Principal sought not just to reverse-summon but to permanently seal away his opponent was precisely because of that danger.
Even if reverse-summoned, the same situation could recur if the entity descended again later. Thus, the Principal aimed to seal it permanently in a place where neither summoning nor reverse-summoning would be possible.
Yet, despite knowing the risks, his student had stepped forward, determined to persuade the Skeleton Principal.
As his teacher, all he could do was trust and support him.
"...Thank you, Professor."
Lee Han expressed his gratitude sincerely.
For Professor Voladi, this couldn't have been an easy decision.
The Skeleton Principal was both his superior and his mentor—and he had already defied his orders once.
Moreover, in the current situation, Lee Han's claim that he could persuade the Principal didn't seem particularly plausible.
Yet, because he was his student, the Professor chose to believe in him and lend his aid.
This was the depth of trust between master and disciple. Lee Han felt pride in being Professor Voladi's student.
After bowing to the Professor, Lee Han also turned to thank Hamster.
"Thank you, Lord Hamster."
-...
Why me... you, you?! Don't tell me you're taking me along?!
Hamster, initially puzzled, shuddered as he realized Lee Han's true intentions.
This madman was planning to drag him into the storm of that world!
"I need a mage to advise me. And the alcohol's effects are wearing off."
-There's another mage right beside you! You brat, don't tell me you're taking me because it's dangerous!
After silencing the squeaking Hamster, Lee Han focused on the confrontation.
He couldn't afford to miss a single moment—he had to find a way to intervene and persuade the Skeleton Principal.
The staff wielded by the Crazy Doppelganger was itself a Unique World. With each swing, a new sky unfurled, beneath which countless angels manifested.
But to the Skeleton Principal, even a Unique World was merely an ancient grand spell he had long since learned from the dragons. Naturally, he was fully prepared to counter it.
As the Wheel of Law began to turn, the angels were erased outright. The Skeleton Principal declared with finality:
"With Abraxas severed, you can't use Gnosis either. What's next? Hurry up and cast it. Let's finish this before the day ends. Unlike you, I have a mountain of paperwork piling up."
Both were grand mages, but one knew every facet of his opponent's magic, while the other was completely unfamiliar with it.
Moreover, one was the lord of this domain, able to wield its full authority.
The Crazy Doppelganger's struggle could only buy time—nothing more.
As mountains transformed into lakes and the Veil of Dreams covering Einrogard strained to the brink of tearing, the outcome of the battle gradually became clear.
Thud!
The Crazy Doppelganger dropped to one knee. Though he said nothing, his pale face alone made it obvious—the match was over.
"Professor Voladi, contact those below and prepare the seal. They've waited long enough. ...Professor Voladi. Professor Voladi. Bagrak, what are you doing?"
Sealing away an entity like the Crazy Doppelganger permanently required extensive preparations, and mages suited to the task were waiting below—hired by the Skeleton Principal at great personal cost.
When Professor Voladi, who was supposed to relay the order, remained silent, the Skeleton Principal shouted in irritation.
"Bakjnaz. You keep playing the spy—"
Just as he was about to rebuke Lee Han—who was, to any observer, the obvious culprit—standing beside Professor Voladi, the Skeleton Principal finally sensed something amiss.
That was a fake!
'Small World!'
To his astonishment, his disciple had mastered the Small World Basilios perfectly.
The Skeleton Principal had never expected Lee Han to grasp the Small World technique so completely—and now, he had been caught off guard.
Using the Small World, Lee Han had concealed his presence and closed the distance to his target.
By the time the Skeleton Principal realized it, Lee Han was already standing before the Crazy Doppelganger, blocking his path.
"Please, wait just a moment!"
-Just let me go and talk it out between yourselves...
Hamster squeaked in a pitiful whimper.