Chapter 25
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: The Forgotten Ancient Magic Training Ground
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Telian Mountains. A rugged range bordering the empire's southwestern frontier.
What does that mean?
It means it's not a place to tackle with a light heart.
"Ugh, this is brutal."
Ian paused, panting heavily as he climbed the mountain. The steep terrain had him gasping for air right up to his chin. He pulled a canteen from his subspace backpack, chugged it down, and caught his breath.
'I'm gonna keel over at this rate. Whew.'
The mountains were high and sheer, sure, but the real issue was the lack of any paths. No one came here, so there weren't even narrow trails like you'd find in frequented areas. He was basically hacking through the wilderness like some kind of jungle explorer.
The silver lining? No need to worry about monster attacks. That was thanks to Ian moving around under an invisibility spell.
Invisibility guzzled mana, but Ian's reserves were massive from the start, letting him maintain even this notoriously inefficient spell.
Suddenly, a hissing sound caught his ear. Glancing down, he saw a snake slithering toward him. Ian swiftly stomped on its head. Channeling a tiny bit of mana into the pressure, the snake twitched and went still, dead as a doornail.
"What the...? How'd it even spot me... Oh, right, the invisibility dropped."
The intense motion had broken the spell.
Ian cursed under his breath and recast it. Seeing his body and backpack fade to semi-transparency, he let out a small sigh.
'Maintaining invisibility is such a pain.'
It required constantly emitting mana to conceal the caster, demanding intense focus the whole time. Any lapse, and poof—the spell fizzled.
And the mana drain was insane. No wonder invisibility was considered niche.
Practicality near zero, you could say.
But if you had absurd mana pools like Ian? That zero-practicality spell just became a tricky concentration exercise.
Exactly like now.
'Nothing beats invisibility. Best thing for solo runs in dangerous spots.'
Ian pressed on up the mountain. Goblin croaks echoed from all directions in surround sound, but they posed no threat.
'Around here, I think.'
After trekking a while, Ian stopped and scanned around. This spot had the strongest mana presence.
Trees naturally concentrated mana, but this was beyond normal forest levels—unnaturally so.
Meaning something artificial was pumping it out, like a mutant monster over radiating mana or some manmade structure.
Even a grand mage couldn't guess without seeing it, but Ian had a pretty good idea. Make that certain.
He'd come here knowing about this ancient ruin already.
'Nailed the location.'
A massive tree loomed ahead, towering far above the rest. That was his proof.
Awe struck Ian. It looked exactly like in the game footage.
'Whoa. How is this identical to the crappy graphics?'
If memory served, that tree was the seal.
Take it down, and the entrance opens.
Ian gathered mana. After five seconds of casting, the spell activated.
[Dig]
BOOM!
The ground around the tree began to cave in. Like an invisible excavator at work, the earth scooped out, and the massive trunk creaked, tilting sideways.
The fall of what must have been a centuries-old ancient tree was spectacular, but what came after was even more so.
RUMBLE!
The earth shook.
Mana seeped from the tree's roots like an explosion, blue light bursting everywhere. Finally, a staircase leading underground revealed itself.
[You have discovered a hidden location!]
'Heh. Look at all that thick mana.'
Ian's heart raced as he descended the stairs without hesitation.
'This beats those mana concentration arrays the tower mages brag about by several times over.'
He smacked his lips. Training here would boost efficiency by at least three or fourfold.
Seclusion training? He'd skyrocket.
Most mages would hole up here for closed-door training if they found it. But sadly, Ian was one of the rare exceptions.
Simple reason: Unlike other mages, he wasn't staking his life on magical prowess.
Why bury himself in some sealed underground dungeon for days of nothing but training? Where's the fun?
'I'd rather spend that time on alchemy research. Way more fun.'
Above all, the core sustaining this underground ruin was the item Ian needed to complete his next life synthesis.
The third artificial lifeform after Ddol Ddoli and Lara.
'I'll put you to good use. Heh.'
Reaching the bottom, Ian gaped at the enormous iron door before him.
Pure awe, no strings attached.
'Whoa. Insane.'
It was huge. So massive it felt majestic. An iron door this big!
'Freaking awesome.'
But he couldn't gawk forever. Ian prepared to open the colossal door.
[You have arrived at a hidden location!]
[You have discovered the ancient ruin, 'Forgotten Ancient Magic Training Ground'!]
[Congratulations! You are the first to discover an ancient ruin!]
[TIP! Ancient ruins are legacies left by the Magic Empire, a great chapter in humanity's distant history.]
[TIP! Successfully conquering an ancient ruin grants powerful rewards!]
'Entrance opens with a set amount of mana injection, right?'
In-game, exceeding the mana threshold auto-opened it, but reality meant Ian had to pour it in manually.
'How much? Hmm, around rank 4 should...'
Clunk!
"Huh?"
Ian froze. He'd just touched the door to inject mana, and it swung open instantly.
"What? Why's it open?"
He distinctly remembered a strict mana requirement...
This was too easy.
No, easy didn't cover it. He hadn't even injected any.
'Did I remember wrong?'
Or was real life different from the game?
'Nah, can't be. I'd know—I hit this ruin every playthrough...'
His thoughts cut off. Ian stiffened.
"Gone...? Huh?"
Empty. Cleared out. What the hell?
Where were the complex mazes? The cliff traps and blade pits? The bronze golems?
"Ah."
A short sigh escaped.
'Shit.'
Ian realized what happened.
'It's been looted.'
Wall chunks torn out, debris everywhere. Clear signs of intruders.
Ian let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
"No way. Who the hell came here?!"
Looming? Never crossed his mind. Story-wise, it only surfaced mid-game.
Yet looted? How? Single-player game, not multiplayer.
'Wait, something's off. If looted, the mana anomaly should be gone. So why's it still here?'
He decided to go in. Ian advanced boldly. Traps disarmed, he strolled through bloodlessly.
Past the now-ruined maze, the exposed cliff trap zone stripped of illusions, and the fallen bronze golem guards. Finally, a vast chamber came into view.
'Boss room door's open too, huh.'
Familiar turf—he'd cleared it plenty. The boss room held the massive mana core sustaining the ruin. That was his goal.
Plus chests everywhere. Staffs and robes inside.
Designer's intent: gear up and train. But players didn't care. Those items were top-tier loot.
It all replayed like a video in his head.
'No chests. No mana core...'
Ian scratched his head. Whoever did this trashed the place. How was nothing intact?
But he wouldn't quit.
Maybe scraps left behind.
'Treasure room emptied. Hidden room smashed. Suspicious monster present...'
"Hm?"
Hold up.
Suspicious monster?
What was that?
Ian rubbed his eyes.
Still there.
-Who goes there?
"That's what I wanna know. What are you?"
-How did you enter this place?
A hulking monster. Black-red body, about three meters tall. Humanoid with two arms, two legs. Horn on its forehead.
"Demon?"
Ian's eyes widened in confusion. A demon? Here? Out of nowhere?
Then he spotted corpses strewn around it. Humans in black robes. The emblem on those robes...
'Pandemonium.'
Ian pinched his brow. It clicked.
Black mages looted it. Then used the mana core to summon this demon.
'Ugh, these guys are useless.'
The demon clutched something—a human, torn in half, legs only. Ian easily guessed it had devoured the black mages.
'Dumbasses. Summon it just to get eaten?'
Forced? Or willingly sacrificed as fodder?
Demons? Probably forced. But Pandemonium fanatics? Self-sacrifice not out of the question.
'Whatever. How'd they find this place? Knew about it? Luck?'
No clue. But one thing: story derailed.
'Maybe messing with them early altered the game plot.'
Ian shook his head.
Didn't matter.
Better this way.
Total loss if empty. But look—a replacement prize waiting.
'That massive demonic energy. That sturdy body. At least upper-grade demon.'
Mana core for an upper demon's soul and body?
"That's a net gain, actually."
Ian grinned. Mood lifted.
-Whoever you are, perfect timing. Starving mad, but you'll make a fine meal.
"Thanks. You'll more than cover my losses."
The demon crouched. Ian instantly cast.
[Blink]
No incantation—emergency cast. Double his normal mana vanished in a chunk, teleporting him away. The demon lunged at his old spot.
BAM!
-You bastard! Nimble like an imp whelp!
Ian pivoted. The three-meter brute charged, shaking the ground. He blinked repeatedly. Watching mana drain fast, he steeled himself.
No room for slacking.
Ian summoned Ddol Ddoli and Lara. Good thing the ceiling was high.
Light swirled in the air, forming a giant shape and a tiny one.
-Master! First time calling Ddol Ddoli. Ddol Ddoli happy!
"Ian-nim! You called... Gah!"
"You two. Block that thing?"
"Got it!"
-Understood. Ddol Ddoli smash bad guy with joy!
Lara floated up stern-faced, scattering light. Ddol Ddoli beamed, blocking Ian's path.
'Ddoli looks even bigger?'
The three-meter foe seemed small. One punch might flatten it.
'No way Ddol Ddoli one-shots again...'
BAM!
They collided. Shockwave hit; Ian ducked, peering through squinted eyes. Then his eyes bulged.
'It didn't die?'
Incredibly, the demon survived.
Bleeding a bit, but moving fine.
-Guh!
-Bad guy no die in one hit. Strong bad guy. Ddol Ddoli happy!
'Whoa, tanked it. High-rank perks, huh.'
Not just survived—looked barely scratched!
Even more amazing? This wasn't its full power.
Demons weakened on the surface.
Full strength? Might've beaten Ddol Ddoli.
'Jackpot. At least legendary grade.'
Ian's heart pounded. Definite win. Legendary soul? Incredible!
"Hold on! I'll help!"
Lara's shout. Ian was stunned as holy power erupted from her tiny frame.
And the holy spell she unleashed? Jaw-dropping.
[Sanctuary]
'Wha...? Sanctuary? How?!'
Top-tier holy spell no one short of a high priest could cast. How was Lara doing it?
```