Chapter 69
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 069
Chapter Title: The Dead and the Black Mage (4)
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"Lord Heros!"
At that moment, Conall shouted my name.
He seemed startled to see me in danger.
I glanced over at Bear. He was fending off enemies charging at him while keeping an eye on me.
The burly trio's in a bad spot too.
The burly trio.
They were desperately holding back dozens of ghouls that were all gunning for me.
On top of that, a few black mages hiding among the undead horde were casting spells to harass them.
It meant they couldn't come to my aid anytime soon.
So I had to overcome this crisis on my own.
Still, it wasn't all for nothing.
The longer we kept Desmond, the ghouls, and the black mages pinned down here, the more the diversion team would gain.
"I've got enough strength to protect myself! Don't worry about me—focus solely on the enemies right in front of you!"
I commanded Bear and Conall like that.
If they got distracted worrying about me, they could end up seriously hurt.
As I gave orders to the two knights...
New information popped into my head.
It was about the second spell from the Earth Turtle Grimoire.
Oh ho.
The name of the new spell I'd learned was Hard Carapace.
It wrapped my body in a shell of earth to protect me from external attacks.
It increased my mana by 50, but cost 100 to cast.
Given how much mana it required, the defense had to be impressive.
A fine defensive spell to add to my arsenal.
Plus, with my mana restored to 710 from 660 after using Hard Flesh earlier, it'd be a big help in this fight.
I've received a gift, so I should return the favor, right?
With that thought, I released my mana.
Aiming to hit Desmond with Level Ground.
That was when it happened.
"Eek!"
Did he sense my mana stirring?
Starling suddenly screamed, hurling the goblin he held and fleeing in terror.
Desmond scowled and yelled after him.
"You pathetic wretch...!"
As Desmond cursed Starling...
I spread my mana out evenly.
Forming the spell.
And dropped it over the enemy's head.
That left me with 610 mana.
Boom!
A massive roar echoed as the ground around Desmond flattened out.
But he was unharmed.
A faintly glowing purple cloak.
Had to be its effect.
A magic tool protecting the wearer from spells, no doubt.
Eh, doesn't matter.
Truth be told, I'd expected as much.
Desmond, draped in countless magic tools.
He wasn't going down easy.
Even so, I'd cast Level Ground specifically to deal with the undead that had been sniping me with arrows.
Clean work.
The cloak only shielded Desmond.
His mule was left with just a torso, head and hindquarters gone.
The ten undead flanking him were reduced to chunks of flesh.
No more sniping from them now.
Let's keep the momentum and press the attack.
I'd seized the initiative.
No way was I handing it back easily.
So I followed up right away with Lightning Bolt on Desmond.
Mana left: 585.
"Your magic can't touch m—"
Desmond bellowed confidently, but cut off as he spotted the bolt hurtling toward him and hastily dodged aside.
His movements were sluggish, though—he couldn't evade it.
Yet the cloak kept him unscathed again.
Still, it wasn't pointless.
His reaction just now gave me some confidence.
Even with that cloak, he tried dodging the spell. Means it can't block unlimited attacks. If I drag this out, its limits might show.
With that in mind, I cast Stone Thorn next.
Mana left: 560.
Rumble!
A sharp rock jutted from the ground.
And shot toward Desmond.
His response was different this time.
"Don't toy with me!"
One of the rings on his right index finger.
The gem embedded in it shattered.
And in that instant, a spell activated.
Crack!
A square pillar erupted from the ground, smashing the incoming Stone Thorn to pieces.
Right after, the gems in three rings on his left pinky, middle, and ring fingers all burst at once.
Three spells manifested simultaneously.
Water Magic, Plant Magic, and Fire Magic.
So that's how he fights.
A combat style relying on magic tools.
Considering how insanely expensive they were, it was like throwing money into the dirt.
Of course, they packed a punch.
The advantage was casting spells at speeds rivaling my own.
"Hyah!"
Three spells came flying at me, so I dodged out of the way.
A massive water droplet big enough to engulf me.
Thorny vines tearing up the earth as they advanced.
And flames shaped like arrows.
All spells triggered via Desmond's magic tools.
I didn't neglect to counterattack while moving, though.
Bang!
A rock burst from the ground.
Flying at Desmond.
Stone Thorn again.
Mana left: 535.
"You're using magic tools too?"
As Desmond shouted that, the gem on his right thumb ring shattered into pieces.
A translucent hemispherical barrier enveloped him.
Some kind of shield, most likely.
"Nah, I'm not."
As I answered Desmond's question...
The Stone Thorn struck the hemisphere he'd summoned.
But it couldn't pierce it and crumbled away.
Just as I'd figured—a protective barrier.
"Don't lie! How else could you cast spells that fast?"
"It's called skill. Unlike you, I'm not some fake playing at being a mage."
"Playing? Anyone who can use magic is a mage, no matter the method! And I'm a mage too, of course!"
"No, you're not a mage."
Desmond squawked indignantly.
I fired off a Lightning Bolt at him with my retort.
From here on, I'd use minimal mana to force him to burn through his tools.
Otherwise, I'd be at a disadvantage.
Mana left now: 510.
Over twenty rings on one hand. Both hands together, that's around fifty.
Plus more magic tools beyond the rings.
Meaning he could outlast me in spell volume.
First time facing this type of opponent.
"Hik!"
The lightning bolt streaked toward him.
Desmond twisted away with a yelp.
But it clipped his belly.
The cloak blocked it again.
Meanwhile, I cast another spell.
Swallowing Earth.
It turned the targeted ground to mush, dragging anyone stepping on it down into the dirt.
Cost a whopping 100 mana, but if it pinned Desmond in place, it'd be worth it.
Mana left: 410.
If it doesn't harm him directly, it might get through.
Swallowing Earth affected the ground.
Not Desmond's body directly, so the cloak might not block it.
That's what I was banking on.
Please work!
I stared at Desmond with that desperate hope.
And soon enough, I saw what I wanted.
Slurp.
Desmond, cloaked for protection.
His feet slowly began sinking into the ground.
For me, who'd been half-doubting even as I cast Swallowing Earth, it was a relief.
"Wh-what?"
Finally noticing something off?
Desmond looked down at his feet and screamed.
But only for a moment.
His expression turned vicious.
"Cheap trick!"
Snap!
Rings on both hands.
Several gems shattered in sequence.
Easily over ten by a glance.
Meaning over ten spells headed my way.
The moment I realized that...
All sorts of magic began manifesting before him.
And suddenly, darkness blanketed my vision.
Unnatural.
Had to be magic.
Shadow Magic.
Definitely Shadow Magic blocking my sight.
I could sense spell positions via mana, but with my vision gone, dodging was impossible.
So my only option right now...
Defend against Desmond's onslaught in place.
Gilbert, attack Desmond.
First, I mentally ordered Gilbert.
If Gilbert charged him, Desmond would turn his spells on the golem instead of me.
With that minimal countermeasure in place...
I crouched and cast Hard Carapace.
Twice in a row.
Mana left now... 210.
Rumble!
Soon the ground shook, and the battlefield din faded sharply.
The air grew cozy.
Hard Carapace had activated perfectly.
Now, what was left for me to do?
Wait it out.
Somehow endure until this storm passed.
That was when...
Kaboom!
A fierce shock rocked me.
Desmond's magic had definitely hit.
"Die! Die! Die!"
The hemispherical rock encasing Heros.
Desmond glared at it and bellowed.
Dozens of rings on his fingers.
Each time a gem shattered, a new spell flew toward the rock.
Earth Magic, Water Magic, Plant Magic, and more.
A wide variety.
But even more astonishing was the rock's durability.
Even as man-sized boulders smashed into it, thick water jets battered its surface, and massive vines whipped it—it stood firm without budging.
Just a few cracks on the surface.
But if it kept taking magical hits like this, it'd eventually shatter.
What do I do? Should I bail now?
Starling trembled, watching Desmond unleash a barrage of spells with roars.
He seemed sure to win.
Then, someone caught Starling's eye charging at Desmond.
A hulking man with a blank expression.
He dispatched blocking ghouls in single strikes, closing in on Desmond.
Reckless, ignoring safety—his padded armor was in tatters, wounds all over.
Yet the giant didn't stop.
And he wasn't the only one targeting Desmond.
"Lord Heros!"
"Everyone, get out of the way!"
The first giant to charge.
Knights of equally massive build cleaved through ghouls, approaching Desmond.
One was a face Starling recognized.
Wearing the chain armor he'd given him.
Heros... you have three men willing to risk their lives for you...
The three giants fighting valiantly.
It struck deep in Starling's heart.
Yeah, I can't spend my life bullied under Desmond forever. Time to help them. Repay Heros for making me a true mage. You can do this, Starling!
The three giants struggled to close the distance on Desmond amid harassment from ghouls and black mages.
But they drew plenty of attention.
Thanks to that, Starling summoned his Nahcheras undisturbed.
Ten in total.
With preparations complete, Starling glared at Desmond's position.
"Let's see you tank this!"
Desmond, oblivious to Starling targeting him.
Unable to contain his rage, he pulled a parchment from his robes and tore it without hesitation.
Vast mana poured out, and flames bloomed before him.
Whoosh!
The flames rapidly swelled.
Soon growing house-sized.
"Die!"
As the spell completed...
Desmond shouted triumphantly.
The fireball hurtled toward Heros's position.
Right then.
"Everyone, attack that pig!"
Starling yelled at his Nahcheras.
His loyal familiars obeyed, charging Desmond.
"What the—?"
The sudden Nahcheras onslaught.
Desmond panicked at first, then glared wide-eyed.
"Starling! Have you lost your mind? This is how you repay the one who saved your life?!"
"Saved me? If you hadn't captured me, I'd have fled the east ages ago!"
Starling bellowed at Desmond.
Anxiety plain on his face, he glanced at where Heros hid.
The rock, now flame-shrouded and formless.
And Heros inside it.
Imagining Heros there, Starling prayed fervently.
That while he bought time like this, Heros would emerge and take Desmond down.
How much time had passed?
The Shadow Magic blinding me...
Its effect had ended, but I was still in darkness.
Meaning it was pitch black inside here.
Still, I could vaguely grasp the outside situation.
By sensing mana, I knew what spells Desmond was casting.
Fire Magic, huh.
Desmond's last spell was Fire Magic.
The enormous mana used suggested massive power.
And sure enough, my guess was right.
After it hit, heat began seeping in here too.
So I cast Hard Flesh again, coating my body in earth to shield from the scorching air.
Mana left: 125.
With basic defenses set...
I waited.
For the Inextinguishable Flame Grimoire's permission.
"Ah, the moment has arrived at last. Shatter the boundary between you and the flame, young one. Thus shall you be reborn in fire."
⟨ Inextinguishable Flame Grimoire ⟩