Chapter 107: Subjugation of the Floating Island (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 107: Subjugation of the Floating Island (3)
Märchen Academy Administrative Center, Bartos Hall.
In the central conference room, the Hegel Magic Tower Master and all key academy staff—with the exception of Headmistress Elena Woodline—were gathered around a large round table.
At the very center of the table, a miniature, levitating model of the Floating Island rotated slowly, emitting a mysterious glow. The structure was intricately constructed from tightly clustered grains of mana.
It was a masterpiece created by Aria Lilias, the Master of the Hegel Magic Tower and a grandmaster of elemental magic. Using real-time data transmitted by her wizards at the tower, Aria had replicated the Floating Island’s exact form in the empty space.
Suddenly, a pale blue flash sparked at a specific point on the model. It represented a surge of mana so tremendous it rivaled the Floating Island itself.
Every official in the room knew exactly what that mana signified.
“Tower Master Aria, was that…?” the Vice Headmaster asked, his eyes widening as he recognized the identity of the vanishing blue light.
“Black Monster. Appearance,” Aria Lilias replied in a flat, emotionless voice. She was a petite woman, her reddish-brown hair swept to one side.
The Black Monster. An unidentified menace that had appeared out of nowhere, annihilated demons, and vanished just as abruptly. At the news of its arrival, a ripple of unease spread through the staff.
“As expected, it showed up…”
“It never misses an appearance when demons are involved.”
“Damn it, are we really supposed to trust that thing…?”
Within Märchen Academy, the consensus on the Black Monster was colored by a deep-seated fear. The entity was undoubtedly an Archwizard-level existence. According to Professor Fernando’s testimony from the first semester, the creature had effortlessly wielded apocalyptic magic to defeat a moon demon that ruled its own world like a god.
Simply put, the Black Monster was not a force the academy could control; its power already eclipsed the capabilities of the entire Empire.
While the staff acknowledged that the Black Monster had consistently protected the academy, they were not so reckless as to grant their favor to an entity whose identity and motives remained a total mystery.
“Black Monster. Our side,” Aria declared, her voice cutting through the murmurs. “If it is too difficult to trust the Black Monster, then trust me instead.”
Aria Lilias was a pillar of the magical world. Beside her stood Headmistress Elena Woodline, a woman whose insight remained unparalleled despite her often clumsy or confused demeanor. Both women, for reasons unknown, maintained a remarkably favorable attitude toward the Black Monster. It was largely due to their influence that the academy had not launched a formal investigation into the entity’s identity.
“…!”
Suddenly, a sinister wave of mana swept through the room like a cold wind, raising goosebumps on everyone’s flesh. A heavy silence descended. Everyone present felt the eerie chill that had just permeated the air.
Aria furrowed her brows and turned toward the window.
Something was coming.
*
“Enemies! From the ground…!”
On the grounds of Märchen Academy, white demons began to crawl out of the dirt. They took various forms—some animalistic, others resembling twisted dwarves or hags. These were the minions birthed by the Floating Island.
Limping on creaking joints, the creatures let out gleeful, high-pitched cackles. “Nihihi!” They began their collective assault on the academy. To them, human bodies were nothing more than prime ingredients to be harvested for the Floating Island’s consumption.
[Nihihi!]
Fuoooooo—!
[Nyahaha!]
Kwakakang—!!
[Nehehe!]
Sseuk—!
However, this was the greatest academy on the continent. The halls were filled with staff and students of exceptional caliber. Together, they rose to meet the threat. Magic clashed with magic, and blades sparked as they tore through the demonic ranks.
The academy was now a battlefield.
While the main force stayed behind to defend the campus, an elite subjugation force was assembled to strike at the heart of the Floating Island. Mounted on flying familiars, the expeditionary force charged toward the sky.
The unit totaled a hundred members: combat-specialized professors, Imperial Knights, security forces, and a handful of exceptionally powerful students. Yet, against the backdrop of the Floating Island—which was the size of a small country—the subjugation force looked like mere specks of dust.
Their mission was clear: rescue Ian Fairytale and Mateo Jordana, who had ventured onto the island alone, eliminate the demons in control, and survive.
This was before they realized the terrifying truth: the Floating Island itself was the demon.
If they failed, and the dark brown magic circle unfolding beneath the island reached completion, everyone would perish. The weight of that reality pressed down on the subjugation force as they reached the island’s edge.
As time ticked away—
[────────.]
The sound of a massive woodwind instrument shook the atmosphere. The Floating Island’s wail echoed across the sky and the sea.
A threat far greater than the army of minions loomed over the Arkins Sea. The numerous magic circles etched into the Floating Island’s mass began to glow with a violent, reddish-brown light. It was preparing to fire.
Its target was the island housing the continent’s most prestigious institution. The academy was a dense concentration of high-level mana—a natural enemy and a prime target for the Floating Island.
Then, the island vomited its malice toward Märchen Academy.
「Seismic Wave (Earth Element, ★8)」
Kwaaaaang───────────!!!!!!
The reddish-brown magic circles unleashed a massive beam that tore through the sea toward the academy. The wake of the attack caused the waves to roar and the very foundations of the island to shudder.
“Kyaaak!”
“Everyone, take cover!!”
In an instant, diagonal fissures were carved into the island like a cracker being snapped, forming jagged, towering cliffs. The staff mages combined their strength, casting powerful protection spells to keep the buildings from collapsing while repelling the secondary beams.
But the Floating Island’s [Seismic Wave] had only just begun.
Kuuuuuuuuuu─────────!!!!
A fierce wall of water, imbued with reddish-brown mana, surged forward. It looked like a literal wall traversing the world, its height so immense it seemed to touch the heavens. The pressure of this giant wave, packed with high-density earth mana, did more than just crash against the shore. It pulverized everything in its path, shattering solid earth as if it were dry soil and triggering massive seismic shifts.
The standard protection magic of the academy’s wizards stood no chance. This was the true power of country-destroying magic.
“What is this madness…?”
Atop Bartos Hall, a woman in a white robe watched the approaching wall of death with an expression of pure despair.
Her hair was neatly tied back, and her face remained that of a woman in her twenties thanks to the Blessing of Eternal Youth. It was the rosy-haired beauty, Headmistress Elena Woodline.
She wondered why she was facing one crisis after another since taking office. A wave of self-doubt washed over her, and she felt a lump form in her throat.
“I should’ve retired just a year earlier…”
She was more than old enough. Without her blessing, she would have been a wrinkled, gray-haired woman in her seventies.
But her regret lasted only a second. She looked at the Floating Island with teary eyes, gripped her wand, and channeled every ounce of mana flowing through her veins.
“Fine. Come at me, you asshole.”
As Elena brandished her wand, petal-shaped motes of mana began to drift into the air, and a sturdy barrier expanded to cover the entire institution.
Koooooong────!!!!!
The [Seismic Wave] slammed into Elena’s barrier. Pink flames erupted with a deafening roar, desperately trying to incinerate the earth-infused water. A dull thud, like steel striking stone, echoed across the coast.
Jjejejeok—.
The [Seismic Wave] exerted its full force, trying to shatter the barrier before finally sinking back into the sea. In its wake, fierce currents attempted to engulf the academy from all sides. Elena poured the last of her strength into restoring the barrier. No matter how powerful the waves were, ordinary seawater could not break her defense.
“Ugh…”
Elena’s mana was nearly depleted. Dizziness washed over her, and she leaned against a pillar for support.
Kwaaaaaaang─────!!!
“…!”
Once again, beams of earth mana lanced across the sea. A second reddish-brown wave was already approaching.
Her mana had been exhausted blocking just one attack. Facing a second country-destroying spell was an impossible task, even for her. Nevertheless, she could not retreat. She had to protect her students.
Elena squeezed out the final, agonizing drops of her mana. It was weaker than before, but she poured it all into the barrier.
Can I really stop this?
She bit her lip, her brow furrowed in concentration. It was unlikely, but…
“I have to.”
Determined to give everything, Elena shut her eyes and focused.
That was when it happened.
[Kyaaaaaaaa─────!!!]
At the sound of a thunderous roar that drowned out the approaching torrent, Elena’s eyes snapped open.
Kreunggg────!!
Kwakang────!!
The clouds glowed a violent purple. Lightning tore through the sky with the wrath of a god. A giant black bird soared through the air, spreading its wings and unleashing a massive surge of lightning magic.
Elena stared in astonishment at the Thunderbird, Galia.
Beneath the creature, a female student stood on the edge of a cliff, her right arm extended as she channeled a staggering amount of lightning mana. The purple flashes only served to highlight her cold, elegant beauty.
“…”
Every year, Märchen Academy admitted students with heaven-sent talent. Compared to geniuses like Dorothy Heartnova or Alice Carroll, even the prowess of the staff could seem trivial.
Among those geniuses was Luce Eltania, the top-ranked freshman of the Magic Department.
Violet thunderbolts snaked around her like chains, extending in every direction. Her rose-gold hair and school uniform fluttered wildly in the magical backlash. Her ocean-blue eyes were fixed solely on the Floating Island.
Empowered by the Thunderbird’s strength, Luce’s mana merged with Elena’s magic circle, spreading across the entire island.
Crackle──────!!!!!
「Thunder God's Barrier」
The legendary lightning barrier of the Thunderbird—the same power that had dominated the end-of-semester evaluations—fused perfectly with Elena’s defense. This seamless integration was only possible because of Luce’s overwhelming [Elemental Efficiency].
Crackle────!!!
Kooongggg────!!!!!
Countless lightning bolts scattered, neutralizing the mana imprinted on the towering waves. The Thunderbird, a legendary beast that had ruled the southwestern skies for centuries, boasted a defensive capability that was now on full display.
The earth-infused waves crashed against the [Thunder God’s Barrier], but it held firm, echoing only with the sound of electrical discharges and heavy impacts. The academy was safe.
Wooooong—.
The ominous glow of the magic circles on the Floating Island dimmed. It seemed the entity needed time to recharge before its next assault.
Atop Bartos Hall, Elena let out a long sigh of relief and sank to the floor.
[Luce.]
The Thunderbird’s calm voice echoed in Luce’s mind. Luce looked up at the colossal bird soaring above. With every flap of its wings, violet storms erupted.
[What is your next move?]
“I’m going to that island.”
As the violent currents crackled in the air, Luce stared at the Floating Island, her voice cold.
“After all, Greung must be there.”
The Black Monster, whom she called Greung, always appeared where there were demons. He was undoubtedly on that massive island. Luce was already nearly certain that Isaac and the Black Monster were one and the same.
She had wasted so much time searching for Isaac when the island first appeared. If Isaac had reached the island in his persona as the Black Monster, it would explain why she couldn’t find him.
She wanted to erase the final shred of doubt. She needed to see it with her own eyes.
The confirmation that Isaac was Greung.
“Take me there,” Luce commanded.
The Thunderbird tilted its head.
[…It might be wise to reconsider.]
“…?”
The Thunderbird was a legendary beast, far stronger than Luce herself. With its immense mana perception, it had already sensed a terrifying presence on the Floating Island.
Whooooosh─────!!
In the distance, a silver wind tinged with frost began to swirl. It swept across more than half of the Floating Island—a storm so fierce its roar reached the academy. Someone was controlling that wind as if it were a mere familiar.
Then, a formidable explosion of ice mana erupted over the island.
“…?”
Luce’s sharp eyes caught movement. A group was evacuating the island—the subjugation team. Among them, she saw Mateo Jordana carrying an unconscious Ian Fairytale on his familiar. Kaya Astrea was there too, looking back at the island with a face full of worry.
“…!”
Suddenly, hundreds of massive magic circles filled the heavens. Because of the silver wind, their colors were blurred, but it was clear they were at least 7-star spells.
[Even if we go up there, we can do nothing but die.]
Amidst the purple lightning, Luce and the Thunderbird held their breath, watching the Floating Island from afar. The sky had become a battlefield for monsters—a place even the Thunderbird feared to tread.
One hour ago.
“You guys are…?”
On top of the Floating Island, Kaya and I stood over an unconscious, black-haired young man.
Kaya was restless, her eyes filled with bewilderment and anxiety. I just stared at him blankly.
At that moment, Mateo Jordana arrived, his bangs swept up as he looked at us. But I couldn’t bring myself to respond.
‘You were doing just fine a moment ago…’
The student lying peacefully unconscious on the Floating Island was, as always, Ian Fairytale.