Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Mana-Erasing Gray Magic
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Mana Field.
The hallmark of a high-circle mage, who blankets a space with their own mana to exert overwhelming dominance over it.
Moreover, this dominance grew stronger the higher the circle and the deeper the understanding of mana and space. Thus, a mage capable of deploying a Mana Field held an absolute advantage over lower-circle mages in combat.
'An realm I never even imagined.'
When he had faced Alexar, a Sword Master.
Jeon hadn't trained in swordsmanship or aura, so he could only roughly gauge the man's level without truly feeling it on his skin.
But as a mage confronting a Grand Archmage, he finally grasped just how lofty that realm truly was.
'If Khalid hadn't been here, the fight might not have even been possible.'
The space encompassing the entire group and Khalid was filled with silvery mana, while Khalid struggled to carve out his own silver-white domain within it.
The difference in their weight classes was clear, but without Khalid, even a battle between him and the group might not have been feasible.
To Jeon, the Mana Field was a realm of pure astonishment.
But regardless...
'I can't just stand here gaping.'
From the moment Kairon unfolded his Mana Field, Jeon had sensed something ominous and begun preparing his magic.
'To counter mana dominance, I need a spell that creates the most variables.'
Against someone at that level, raw power alone wouldn't cut it.
Hadn't Kairon effortlessly blocked even Khalid's 6th-circle spells?
So Jeon's decision was the gray magic.
A chaotic mass of variables born from various attribute magics shaped by runes of will, forcibly merged via the rune of storage pre-prepared at Lunareik's tip—a spell even Jeon didn't fully understand.
And the energy within it was far stronger than when he'd used it on Jack before.
Confirming the gray magic's completion, Jeon immediately launched it toward Kairon.
Wooong!
From Lunareik's tip, the magic surged forward, radiating an even denser gray hue.
"Hmm?"
The gray magic.
Even for a Grand Archmage like Kairon, it was something he'd never seen before.
He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing it.
'What kind of magic is that?'
For someone who had walked the path of magic his entire life, this form was entirely new, sparking curiosity in his gaze.
In Kairon's eyes, Jeon's level was merely exceptional for a 3rd-circle mage.
But this spell defied any estimation of its power.
'Even secret arts have circle limits... Hm?'
As he observed Jeon's spell, the moment it exited Khalid's Mana Field and entered his own, Kairon sensed something off.
The Mana Field of a Grand Archmage like Kairon dominated all mana in the space.
Meaning every change in that space was under his sensory domain—nothing escaped it.
"It's... erasing the mana?"
But the change wrought by this gray magic was different from the norm.
It evaded his senses entirely.
And for good reason.
The gray magic advanced by outright erasing Kairon's dominating mana from the space.
If Kairon had extended his senses across the entire Mana Field via mana, then Jeon's spell was erasing those very senses as it came.
"What in the world is...!?"
Erasing mana.
His own Mana Field, no less?
Realizing this, anxiety replaced curiosity in Kairon's eyes.
'Is something like that even possible?'
Even for him, a Grand Archmage, this sight sent chills down his spine.
Up until hearing Valkazar's scream and arriving here—and even upon seeing Khalid more grown than expected—he'd been utterly at ease.
He'd even deployed his Mana Field and waited patiently for them to converse.
'A magic of unknown nature.'
He had no clue about its principles or effects beyond erasing mana.
That very uncertainty made it dangerous.
The moment he witnessed the eerie, impossible spectacle of the gray magic, Kairon realized it was no time for complacency.
Flash!
His response was swift.
With a sweep of his hand through the air, circles and shapes materialized, rapidly forming a spell.
'Variables must be decisively crushed!'
Without hesitation, he unleashed a 7th-circle spell.
He knew that against an unknown spell's principles and power, overwhelming force was the most effective counter.
Kuoooo.
From his gesture emerged a massive sphere of silver flames.
The densely compressed silver inferno within exuded the presence of a gleaming sun.
Swoosh—Kugugung!
Following his next gesture, the silver sun hurtled forward.
While Jeon's gray magic erased mana in its path, the silver sun advanced with the momentum to incinerate everything before it.
It hadn't taken long for Kairon to notice the gray magic's oddity and conjure the silver sun.
The instant it touched his Mana Field, he'd assessed the situation and summoned it with a single motion.
"...7th circle truly is an absurd realm."
The sight left those ignorant of the gray magic's nature feeling utterly defeated.
Ralph, mid-spell preparation, even muttered it unconsciously upon facing the silver sun.
The sheer presence of a silver sun conjured so casually with a flick was monumental.
By comparison, Jeon's gray magic seemed a mere firefly before the sun.
"No, don't give up—prepare your spells right away. The clash will create an opening."
Amid the group's reactions, Jeon remained calm, urging them on.
'The potential is there.'
Truth be told, even Jeon had been uncertain if his gray magic would work on Kairon.
But seeing it erase the Mana Field as it advanced filled him with conviction.
This will work.
And watching Kairon hastily unleash a 7th-circle spell at the mere sight of it only solidified that certainty.
Soon after, the massive silver sun collided with the gray firefly.
Flash!
But no explosive crash befitting a 'collision' occurred.
The silver sun and gray firefly simply flared brighter once more.
"...It's gone?"
And with that, they mutually annihilated each other.
"Impossible...!"
The most shocked was none other than Kairon.
This was within his own Mana Field, using a full 7th-circle spell no less.
He'd recognized the opponent's spell as a bundle of variables and opted to crush it with brute force.
Yet instead of overpowering it, they perished together?
'Is this even possible?'
What principles and power allowed a mere 3rd-circle kid's spell to match his 7th-circle one?
He could see it with his own eyes, yet it was unbelievable.
'No way, this can't be.'
Kairon could only deny the phenomenon.
A few years ago, he might have burned with curiosity at such a novel magic.
But not now.
To surpass the wall he'd struggled against for decades, he'd betrayed lifelong comrades.
Acknowledging this magic might render that betrayal meaningless, stirring unease.
"I won't accept it!"
To shake off the anxiety, he bellowed.
But while he wrestled with his turmoil, the group's spells—prepared per Jeon's words—rained down on him.
"...You pests!"
Glaring, Kairon surged his mana once more.
Circles and shapes reformed in the air, erecting a massive wall of silver flames before him.
Kwaaaang! Kwaaaaang!
A 7th-circle defensive spell, it withstood not only Rector and Tasha's 4th-circle magics but also Ralph and Khalid's 5th- and 6th-circle assaults.
"He seems to be showing an opening."
"Huh? What do you mean...?"
Despite the spectacle, Khalid saw opportunity and addressed the group.
One member voiced doubt, but Khalid quickly clarified.
"He didn't need to block our spells like that. For efficiency, he could've countered with a 7th-circle attack spell to push us back."
But he hadn't.
Instead, he'd ostentatiously deployed a 7th-circle barrier.
"That's proof Kairon is unnerved."
His gaze shifted to Jeon.
The gray magic he'd created must have shaken Kairon.
'A spell that unnerves even a Grand Archmage.'
Of course, Kairon's anxiety stemmed partly from his circumstances.
Khalid had marveled at the same spell without feeling unease.
In any case.
Kairon's unease was a golden opportunity.
"How many more of those spells can you cast?"
"Hm... If I have enough time to prepare, until my stamina runs out, I think."
"...Until your stamina runs out?"
Khalid felt something odd at Jeon's reply.
"Not until your mana depletes, but your stamina...?"
"Yes."
Even as he spoke, Jeon swiftly prepared his next spell.
While the others barraged with magic, he'd ready another gray one.
Watching him, Khalid was momentarily speechless.
'Even I don't have mana to spare right now...'
Mages had finite mana reserves.
Before meeting Valkazar, during their brief rest, Khalid had maxed his mana via meditation.
Yet now, he'd consumed nearly half.
Though he'd deployed a Mana Field, Jeon had cast major spells too.
Yet he spoke as if mana were limitless.
'Grand Archmages can recover mana through normal breathing, but...'
It sounded like this 3rd-circle boy wielded a breathing technique on par with a Grand Archmage's.
"...Good."
Despite the questions burning inside, Khalid set them aside, nodded, and prepared his own spell.
"I'll support you with everything I've got to ensure your magic reaches him."
Now wasn't the time for debate—it was time to back the boy emerging as their sole key against Kairon.
"Thank you."
Jeon didn't grasp Khalid's full resolve but sensed it firmly, nodding in response.
'I can't take him alone.'
Though the gray magic proved far more effective than expected.
Jeon knew it alone couldn't fell Kairon.
Even preparing this one relied on the others buying time with their spells.
Thus, keeping his completed gray magic ready, he glanced at Khalid.
"Then, I have a plan—could you help?"
"A plan?"
"Yes. It might land a solid hit."
"...Alright, I'm in."
Khalid nodded at Jeon's words.
Yet he marveled at his own action.
Agreeing without hearing details?
'What an oddly trustworthy boy.'
For a moment, he envisioned the boy's future.
A radiant path surpassing even the Grand Archmage before them.