Chapter 162: Remnants of the Dark Magic Association (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 162: Remnants of the Dark Magic Association (3)
It was as if a whirlpool had opened in the air, swallowing the sea.
Heaven Reversal relentlessly siphoned mana from the academy cadets and the mages of the Dark Magic Association alike. Dozens of mana streams, drawn by the sphere’s gravitational pull, flooded the dim cave with brilliant, chaotic light.
Screeeech—! Screeech!
The piercing shriek generated by Heaven Reversal amplified as it ricocheted off the cavern walls.
In the cave, which had become a scene of absolute carnage in an instant, only four mages remained standing.
There was Jin, the one who had unleashed Heaven Reversal, and Enya, clinging tightly to his side. Then there was the fake Orton, who was spitting out a thick trail of blood, and one other mage from the Dark Magic Association, trembling violently.
That’s the one. The mage who created this cave.
Unlike Orton, who was barely keeping his feet, this man was muttering incantations, deploying a shield, and struggling with all his might to stabilize his mana.
He’s likely an 8-star.
If not for the reverse flow system—and specifically its ultimate technique, Heaven Reversal—Jin wouldn't have been able to trigger even a minor backflow in him. In terms of pure mana, the enemy was on another level.
“Austin, raise a shield. The orcs will regain their senses soon.”
Maintaining Heaven Reversal while performing simultaneous casting was still too much, even for Jin.
“Ah, yes!”
This was Enya’s first real combat experience, so she was not yet adept at responding to the flow of battle. Over ten seconds had passed since Jin unleashed Heaven Reversal, and she had been standing frozen, unsure of what to do.
Still, Jin didn’t think Enya was being incompetent.
Actually, she’s doing great. This is her first real fight, and even though I gave her no warning, she’s keeping her head on straight.
Most sixteen-year-old mages or aspirants would have descended into a state of total panic. Seeing Enya calmly deploying a shield filled him with a flicker of pride.
“Now, aim for that guy with your strongest offensive spell.”
“Not Orton, but the mage in the black robe, right?”
As Jin nodded, beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Heaven Reversal was a spell that originally required 9-star mana to cast. Since Jin was currently at the 7-star level, he could neither unleash its full power nor sustain it indefinitely.
“Ku… cough…!”
Unable to withstand the backflow, the fake Orton finally collapsed, vomiting blood and foam. The 8-star mage, however, seemed to have regained some stability, his breathing evening out.
Shhhk!
Sharp wind mana erupted from Enya’s hand. It was the 4-star spell, Wind Blade. It whistled fiercely as it tore through the air, but it wasn’t nearly enough to pierce the man’s shield.
As the Wind Blade dissipated against the barrier, the man glared at the orcs.
“Get up and… fire your bows!”
Fortunately, he was also in the early stages of backflow. This meant he couldn't directly unleash the formidable offensive magic of an 8-star mage.
But once Heaven Reversal fades, he’ll immediately start spamming mid-level spells or higher.
If possible, Jin had to finish this without expending any more mana after deactivating Heaven Reversal. According to Orton, another enemy was outside and would be searching for the cave soon.
“Kark!”
The orcs staggered to their feet and drew their bowstrings. More than half of the twenty orcs collapsed while trying to aim, but four or five arrows were still loosed toward the pair.
The arrows struck Enya’s shield with dull thuds.
“Brother, what should I do? If I borrow Lord Olta’s power, I think I can take out a few orcs. But I can’t break through an 8-star mage’s shield with my own strength…”
“Save Olta’s power. Just block a few more arrows.”
“Yes!”
A faint smile spread across the 8-star mage’s lips.
He could feel the energy of the Heaven Reversal floating near the ceiling growing weaker. He correctly sensed that Jin’s mana was being depleted at a rapid pace.
Naturally, the 8-star mage fell for the illusion that time was on his side.
He must be certain by now that my mana will run out soon and victory will be his.
It wasn't an entirely wrong assumption; if Jin didn't withdraw Heaven Reversal soon, he would be the one to suffer a backflow reaction.
“You got me good. I suppose you’re some hidden disciple of Kidad Hall?” the 8-star mage shouted at Jin.
Because the sphere of Heaven Reversal had shrunk significantly, he was beginning to regain his strength.
“Does a man about to die need to know that?”
“Don't talk nonsense. I was careless and almost fell for your trick, but I’ve already realized you’re only at the 7-star level. I am Rolt Jo! Surely you’ve heard the name at least once?”
Rolt Jo.
He was the younger brother of ‘Cold Jo,’ once known as the greatest rival of the late Andrei Zipple. Jin’s eyes gleamed with interest upon hearing the name.
“I’ve heard rumors that Cold Jo’s half-brother was a master of earth magic. I didn't know his name was Rolt Jo until now.”
“I’ll be blunt. Join the Dark Magic Association, disciple of Kidad Hall.”
“And if I refuse?”
“I’ll slit your throat the moment your mana runs dry. Isn't that obvious? Your chance to win ended the moment you failed to finish me off with that sneak attack.”
When Jin didn't answer, Rolt ordered the orcs to cease fire.
“Your master, Kidad Hall, maintained a good relationship with us while he was alive, so I am showing you mercy. It won't be long until Heaven Reversal is completely extinguished, and your mana must be nearly exhausted. What will it be?”
“According to you, I don't have a choice, do I? It’s either join or die.”
“That is why I called it mercy.”
Jin sighed and looked at Rolt.
“Rolt Jo. Where do you rank in the Dark Magic Association?”
“Are you asking about your future position? Let’s just say I’m within the top ten. Even setting aside our relationship with Kidad Hall, your ability and potential are truly tempting. If you join, I’ll let you serve as an executive directly under my command, effective immediately.”
Within the top ten? Jin’s brow furrowed slightly.
“You’re saying there are at least nine more people at your level in the Dark Magic Association? I thought you were just a bunch of has-beens causing trouble by relying on old infamy, but this is quite intriguing.”
He spoke nonchalantly, but he was hiding his surprise. If Rolt’s words were true, the Dark Magic Association was not an organization that could be dismissed as mere ‘remnants.’
“Of course, your induction will happen after we fix that insolent attitude of yours. You seem young, and having achieved so much already, I can understand why your arrogance pierces the heavens.”
“By the way, aren't you curious why I bothered to come here? And hidden as a servant to academy mages, no less.”
“I can find that out gradually during your re-education. It’s obvious enough, anyway. You probably wanted to test your reverse flow magic. Kidad surely bragged that every mage in the world would be beneath your feet when he handed over the Book of Reverse Flow.”
Jin smirked and nodded.
“Fine, I’ll join the Dark Magic Association. However, I have one condition.”
“A condition?”
“Defeat me. I can’t serve under someone weaker than myself.”
“Puhaha! You really are something. Still have the energy left to bluff? As expected of the one Kidad chose as a—”
“You’ve been mistaken from the start. I’m not Kidad’s disciple. Come to think of it, you haven't heard my name yet. The Book of Reverse Flow was simply the reward I took after killing him.”
“...What?”
Vooooom—!
The Heaven Reversal, which had shrunk to the size of a human head, suddenly turned pitch-black.
In the next moment, the sphere expanded frantically once more, dyeing the ceiling in darkness.
Spirit energy was reinforcing the spell’s fading power.
Spirit energy possessed a potency at least two stars higher than an equivalent amount of aura or mana. Adding 5-star spirit energy to the spell was like pouring the full power of a 7-star mage into it all over again.
“You… urk!”
Splat!
Rolt instinctively covered his mouth as he vomited blood. It had been barely a minute since he had fallen into the early stages of backflow from the Heaven Reversal Jin cast with pure mana.
At that time, he had leveraged his dignity as an 8-star mage to prevent the backflow from fully progressing.
But now, it was a different story. He had been certain that Jin’s mana was depleted, and he had to endure a second Heaven Reversal while the aftereffects of the first still lingered in his system.
That was impossible for a mage of Rolt’s caliber to withstand unless they were perfectly prepared.
“Th-this…!”
A name flashed through Rolt’s mind. An unfamiliar name that was said to have been carved into the wall of the deceased Kidad’s laboratory.
Jin… Gray!? Could it be? And that black power!
Spirit energy.
The dark, potent power that all mages yearned for. A light of despair seeped into Rolt’s trembling eyes.
The Contractor of Solderet that Kinzelo is looking for is this brat! Not only can he use Heaven Reversal, but spirit energy as well…!
There was no way to calm his chaotic mind. The orcs, seized by an instinctive fear, backed away. Rolt was forced to realize he had made a fatal, irreparable mistake by being careless.
“For someone who claimed he almost lost because he was careless, you sure were careless again, weren't you?”
“Aaaagh! Argh!”
Shring…
As Jin drew Bradamante from beneath his robe, a dark light flowed from the snow-white blade.
“You… ba… stard…!”
Spurt! Gush!
The backflow erupted fully.
Confirming that blood was geysering from every orifice on Rolt’s face, Jin withdrew Heaven Reversal. Then, he strode toward him.
“Kidad Hall had a similar reaction. If I had my way, I’d keep you alive and ask you many things. The scale of the Dark Magic Association, your headquarters, your goals.”
“Kah-ack, cough!”
“But I can just interrogate the fake Orton, who’s currently knocked out. More importantly, it seems I’ll soon have a battle with ‘that person’ you mentioned earlier—the one who likes living prey.”
Slash! Thud!
With a light swing of Bradamante, Jin sent Rolt’s head tumbling to the ground. Seeing this, the orcs that had been backing away turned and fled for their lives.
“I’ll take care of them!”
Enya swung her staff, firing Ice Spikes. A pack of orcs was not normally something a 4-star mage could handle, but firing spells at their retreating backs was hardly a difficult task.
The orcs struck by the Ice Spikes collapsed among the unconscious mages of the Dark Magic Association.
“Good job, Austin.”
“Thank you, Brother!”
“But you’ll have to do well one more time starting now. It feels like something incredible has entered the cave…”
Thump, thump, thump!
Heavy, distant footsteps echoed from the path they had just come through.
They had just finished the battle with Rolt.
A humanoid figure revealed itself before the two. And this time, even Jin found it difficult to hide his bewilderment.
A White Wolf…?
The creature had returned to the cave after enjoying a brief ‘game’ with the mages the fake Orton had left outside.