Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 078
Chapter Title: Last Chance
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"Aaaargh!!"
A merciless barrage of light magic rained down relentlessly.
Some tried to throw up defensive spells at the last second, but it was futile.
Of course, the hastily conjured incantations were full of gaps due to their panic.
But more than that, it was because Kyle's mana carried an "exorcism" property that clashed directly with the mana of those contracted to demons.
"Nooo!!"
"Lord Malpas!!"
They vanished into beams of light amid wretched death cries.
"Cr-crazy..."
"Quick! Magic, now!!"
The surviving mages barely escaped the spell's range and frantically wove their incantations, but it was already too late.
From the gaps in the pouring light bombardment emerged not a dragon's aura, but something else surging toward Kyle.
"?!"
In the blink of an eye, Kyle seized the mage from behind, gripped his nape, and slammed him into the ground with all his might.
Boom!!
"Guhk..."
The other mages tried to deploy their spells upon witnessing it.
"Gotta be faster than that."
"...!!"
But Kyle had already burrowed into the heart of their formation. He unleashed his magic without hesitation.
Bolt Pulse
Blue lightning pierced through the mages' bodies instantly, bypassing complex incantations.
"Gaaah!!"
"Aaaargh!"
In the end, no matter how powerful the Magic Tower's spells were...
To Kyle, these mages were still immature. Their true potential only shone with solid frontline tanks in place.
As long as the vanguards held the enemy back, they could calmly unleash devastating magic to sweep the battlefield.
But without vanguards to pin down the foes?
Facing life-threatening danger up close.
Hearing screams right beside them, smelling thick blood assaulting their noses.
The terror of death and violence pressing against their skin.
Overcoming all that required brutal combat experience and rigorous training.
Unfortunately, the Magic Tower had been isolated for far too long.
Their limited exchanges weren't military in nature, and most had been researchers from birth.
If Leverk House had produced Magic Tower knights, it might have been different—but even that wasn't the case.
Their magic was undoubtedly advanced and worthy of their prestige.
Kyle's eyes narrowed.
'In battle, though, they're just firepower-heavy novices.'
Indeed, when he pressed relentlessly without respite, the panicked mages could do nothing.
Magic was a contest of precise incantation design above all.
But swallowed by fear, terror, and confusion, they couldn't weave proper spells.
It was a fundamental difference from Kyle, who simply activated skills instinctively.
Boom!!
"Aaaargh!!"
"N-no way!"
One mage stared at Kyle's spell in disbelief.
"How... no incantation process at all...!"
A backhand swing like a gale cut him off, smashing his neck into the wall.
Bam!
Even an ordinary heretic mage might reverse-engineer such a spell.
But not against Kyle.
"This can't be real!"
The last remaining Leverk mage screamed like a banshee.
"No way this absurd thing exists in this world...!"
In that instant, ice crystals erupted from the floor, blanketing their view in a flash.
"Kyaaaah!!!"
Rebecca, who had flown to Kemston Manor with Satein's help amid the soaring pillar of light, looked ready to vomit.
But that feeling vanished as quickly as it came. The sight before her chased away the nausea like magic.
"My god..."
The Leverk mages lay there, utterly annihilated.
As one of the five founding houses, each should have been a formidable mage.
'Even Leverk couldn't stand against him...'
Her gaze shifted to Kyle at the center.
His combat suit was torn in places, but he looked otherwise unscathed. Rebecca's pupils trembled.
'Not a single hit landed on him?'
"...Impressive."
Thomerson spoke with unbridled admiration.
"Leverk mages from one of the five founding houses... crumbling so pathetically."
They had heard from Kyle beforehand about the culprits behind this incident.
They hadn't fully believed it at first, but how could they deny it now?
Dozens of Leverk humans, visibly corrupted by demons, lay defeated right before their eyes.
"Hard to believe even seeing it."
Satein clicked his tongue unwittingly.
"Truly, what an incredible guest we've welcomed..."
Honestly, until the massive spells rained from the sky in explosions, a sliver of doubt lingered in his heart.
Yet Kyle had survived the storm of deadly mana unscathed—and even annihilated Leverk's core forces.
It was an almost mythical feat.
'What in the world is he...'
Was this the power of a true hero's lineage?
As they gaped in awe, Kyle thought to himself.
'A bit disappointing.'
As researchers, they had no glaring weaknesses—but in combat, they fell short of their reputation.
'Makes sense. Holed up in the tower for centuries without major conflicts. Fighting well would've been weirder.'
Still, this was because they were researchers, not soldiers.
Considering their magical prowess, their potential was undeniable.
'If we could just shore up this weakness...'
He let out a small groan.
'They could become a force worthy of their fame.'
Snapping out of it with a tch, Kyle pushed the thought aside.
'No point getting ahead of myself. No guarantee they'll join as regulars anyway.'
Not even clear if the Magic Tower wanted that.
Kyle turned to the arriving group—Rebecca and the others.
"You've arrived?"
"...! Y-yes!"
Rebecca snapped to attention, hurrying past the fallen bodies toward the manor. Inspecting the barrier, her expression hardened slightly.
"...Oh no, the manor's barrier."
It hadn't collapsed, but large sections were weakened, barely holding.
A repulsive shriek pierced their ears right on cue.
Recognizing it as the minions' cry, Satein spoke up.
"The minions are coming soon! Clark! Hurry inside the manor with Rebecca!"
Exchanging glances with Thomerson, he continued urgently.
"Thomerson and I will stay here and maintain the manor's barrier."
It meant they'd hold the line against the minions, just as they had protected the holy relic's barrier.
Kyle asked,
"Just the two of you?"
"Someone has to buy time during the spatial transfer. Better to reinforce the barrier here than inside."
Thomerson nodded in agreement.
"Don't worry. Not as good as you, but we can hold them off."
As minion shadows emerged, Satein shouted,
"Hurry!!"
"...We'll leave this to you."
Kyle glanced at her, and Rebecca nodded, taking the lead.
"This way, Clark!"
Stepping inside with a jolt, Rebecca froze on the spot.
"......!"
Kyle's expression hardened too.
"......"
The main hall beyond the entrance gleamed under its usual chandelier.
But that was the only thing normal.
Beneath it lay Kemston family members, sprawled like corpses.
Kyle spoke upon seeing them.
"...They're not dead yet."
Probably trapped in nightmares, drained of all mana.
Rebecca took a deep breath.
"Yes. Let's hurry."
Kyle nodded.
The only way to save them was to end the summoning ritual before it was too late.
They raced up the grand staircase to the depths of the opulent manor.
"...The room for spatial transfer is here."
It was the family head's office. Cautiously opening the door revealed her father slumped over the desk.
"......"
Averting her eyes, Rebecca deftly pressed books on the shelf like buttons.
Rumble! The bookshelf slid aside.
A small stone chamber about 20 square feet appeared. Rebecca said,
"This is it. Normally linked to a mana stone for constant flow... one moment."
Inspecting it, her face fell.
"Oh no..."
Kyle understood why.
The mana stone she pulled out was nearly depleted.
Malphas's barrier had apparently siphoned it dry.
"...Does this mean no spatial transfer?"
"No, not that. Just..."
Kyle caught on.
"We use your mana, Ms. Kemston."
But spatial transfers consumed vast mana—likely only one use.
"Actually, perfect."
Stepping into the chamber, Kyle stood at the center of the floor's incantation.
"After activating the transfer, join the two outside and flee to the holy relic's barrier."
"But...!"
"No need to worry. And besides."
He activated Super Sense and gazed toward the tower.
"...Going alone seems like the path where everyone survives."
"!!"
He smiled.
"Of course, just my gut feeling."
"......"
For some reason, Rebecca felt a pang in her chest.
His forced smile in this situation looked like the face of one resolved to sacrifice.
'Why...'
She bit her lower lip habitually.
'We're just strangers to you...'
Why go this far?
Come to think of it, legends said the founding mages saved people selflessly in chaotic times.
Her heart stirred unexpectedly. She quickly said,
"W-wait a second."
"?"
Vanishing behind the bookshelf briefly, she returned with an ancient dagger entwined with branches.
Offering it, Kyle blinked.
"This is...?"
"A relic called the 'Entwined Dagger of the Ancient Elves'."
"......!"
Ancient elven relic!
As Kyle's eyes widened, Rebecca continued.
"Passed down in our family for ages... Made from World Tree branches, it's said to hold purifying guardian power. Hoping it helps you even a little..."
"...Can you really give me something this precious?"
"Our Sapientia's fate rests in your hands, Mr. Clark."
She met his eyes squarely.
"Father would gladly hand it over too."
As he carefully took the dagger, the 'Ancient Wind'—hitherto silent—seemed restless.
'Well, if so, I'm all for it.'
Kyle pocketed it.
"If you insist, I'll gratefully accept."
"Yes. Activating spatial transfer now."
Smiling, she channeled mana into the chamber's incantation.
"Can it go anywhere in the tower?"
"Most places, but not the top floor or other houses' labs."
"Then, closest to the top floor, please."
"Of course."
The chamber lit up brilliantly.
Kneeling in focus, Rebecca suddenly called,
"Mr. Clark."
"Yes?"
Her eyes brimmed with emotion.
"Please come back alive."
"......"
Feeling her sincerity without Heavenly Eye, he scratched his head awkwardly.
"...Yeah, sure."
'Can't die even if I wanted to anyway.'
Then she shouted,
"Transfer imminent! 3! 2! 1!"
Green mana light swallowed his vision.
"...!!"
With a strange resonance, Kyle stood in a dim hall.
"Oh ho."
So this was spatial transfer.
Amazed at the first-time experience, he surveyed around.
The scenery changed in a blink.
'But is this really near the top floor?'
As he prepared Heavenly Eye,
"!!"
The repulsive voice echoed. Kyle nodded.
'Yep, near the top.'
Kyle asked,
"Leverk?"
Ashes?
Kyle recalled.
"Ah, that dark magic kid?"
His son?
He said incredulously,
"Just so you know, he tried to kill me first."
Rage shook the entire hall.
"Hey, if he'd apologized back then, wouldn't that have been it?"
Kyle crossed his arms, looking up at the hall's darkness.
"Why escalate things?"
Balter Leverk barely reined in his fury, lips trembling.
"Ah, I see."
"Wow, gotta go that far?"
Arms crossed, Kyle said,
"Even if you do, it won't be proper resurrection. Why not stop here and protect your remaining descendants?"
He wagged a finger at the darkness whence the voice came.
"Drop the demon summoning nonsense now, apologize to me, and I'll call it even."
It was the same simple offer from their first call.
I'm sorry.
Just those five words.
"Got it? Those five words, and we're done."
This was his final mercy.
But Balter Leverk, drunk on demonic power, wouldn't accept.
His face twisted savagely.
He bellowed,
Bang! The grand doors opposite the hall flew open on cue.
A gaunt man emerged, enveloped in dark red aura, eyes demonically possessed.
Balter shouted to Otto,
Otto Leverk extended a hand toward Kyle.
"Great Lord Malphas."
To this fool daring to defy the 72 demons in human flesh.
"Bestow hell's judgment."
[Labyrinth of Dreams]
Kyle tsked shortly.
"I gave you a clear last chance."
He swung his holy sword lightly.
"No begging later."
The labyrinth spread rapidly as black-and-white flames exploded, engulfing the surroundings.
Boom!!