Devouring the Magic Tower

Rumble!

A colossal vortex of mana swirled into being, dark clouds gathering from every direction. Everyone watching turned pale as ghosts, but none more so than Emperor Kalbun, whose face twisted in utter dismay and refused to relax.

Until now, Kalbun and the central nobles had been solely focused on how to borrow Aron from Kaion. They'd been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dead certain that magic alone couldn't defeat him. Sure, Aron might break taboos and rip Kaion apart in a fit of rage, but crushing him with spells? That thought had never crossed their minds.

Yet the scene unfolding before them exceeded all imagination.

"He's insane! Thunder Storm? Isn't that just a myth from ancient texts?!"

"Y-yes, Your Majesty. It's a spell that shreds everything within a 500-meter radius. But Aron has limited the range..."

The imperial mages, witnessing Thunder Storm with their own eyes, felt ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a mix of horror and awe. After all, the emergence of an 8th Circle archmage on the continent was a monumental event for any mage.

Krarrrumble!

The training grounds filled with blinding lightning. No one inside—especially Kaion—could possibly survive unscathed.

Kaion layered shield after shield, but soon realized it was futile. Everyone around him did too. A 7th Circle mage had no chance against 8th Circle magic.

As Kaion braced for death, Aron leaped right into the heart of the storm.

"Absolute Barrier!"

It was the same barrier Marquis Aron had cast earlier. The imperial mages gaped at the flawless shield that repelled every strike.

"Absolute Barrier from the legends."

"The one that can even block meteors?"

"Indeed, Your Majesty. It has the drawback of preventing any other actions while active, but its defense is perfect. Records say it withstood a Grand Master's sword strikes—there's no superior defensive spell."

"An 8th Circle spell, naturally?"

"Y-yes. It hasn't appeared since the mage empire's fall."

"How does Aron...?"

"Magic comes from the gods. With divine blessings, it's possible Marquis Aron mastered it."

"Nonsense. How could a scoundrel like him receive the gods' favor?"

"Well..."

It was a question on everyone's mind. But a common thought flickered through: Aron had never once preyed on the poor. His territory was booming, and he ruled his people with benevolence. The most plausible theory was divine influence had reformed him—though his wild nature still flared up now and then.

The emperor sighed, staring at Aron.

"Hah! Are the gods truly abandoning me, Kalbun?!"

Whether to demonstrate its power or not, Thunder Storm raged on. Lightning saturated the air, shredding everything in a terrifying spectacle. All present trembled in fear, realizing an Aron with such might could topple the empire effortlessly if he rebelled.

The emperor wasn't the only one dumbfounded. Kaion stood before me, staring blankly into the storm, utterly lost.

Having bound himself with a mana oath, he'd just witnessed 8th Circle magic firsthand. He was surely savoring this historic moment while grappling with becoming little more than my slave.

I canceled the spell. The dark clouds vanished in an instant, leaving crackling residual energy where we stood. A downpour cooled the scorched earth, steam billowing everywhere. I summoned Minerva to blow it away, drawing gasps from the crowd.

Hadn't I shown off the Spirit King before?

"Insane. A Grand Master who wields 8th Circle magic and summons a Spirit King—do I really have to believe this?"

"A war god born for battle..."

"What happens if Marquis Aron turns against us?"

"..."

The arena fell into stunned silence. I deliberately cast a sound amplification spell. My conversation with Kaion would echo across the entire capital.

"Magic Tower Lord Kaion, will you uphold your mana oath?"

"Kekekeke."

"Too shocked to think straight?"

"Kekekek! This is monumental. An 8th Circle archmage born on the continent—who could've guessed? My defeat was fated."

He laughed as if delighted. Mages were said to be eccentric, but this bordered on madness. Chuckling when he might become a slave?

"My lord—no, should I call you Master or Sovereign now? Anyway, our tower's mages have strived to pierce the 8th Circle. All research ultimately aims for immortality through that realm, doesn't it?"

"Dunno. Reaching 8th Circle doesn't guarantee immortality."

"But lifespan doubles or triples at least, right?"

"True enough."

"Kekeke, that's what matters. If we live long enough to glimpse magic's end, that's victory."

"Chasing the ultimate path, eh."

"Mages dream of eternal life. Legends say 9th Circle grants immortality—a challenge to the divine! If you've pioneered 8th Circle and pledge loyalty, you'll pave our way there. Worth it, no? Kahahahaha!"

Kaion cackled wildly. Not from shock—mages craved eternal life. They delved into magic for it, researching till death. Most failed, but dying in pursuit left no regrets.

Now I knew exactly what mages wanted. I felt every mage's reverence. The gods too.

Hmm, the gods weren't going wild, so the karma's a bit stingy. Still, over a million total—satisfying enough. I could rampage heading west. To thrill jaded gods, I'd need fresh ideas anyway.

For today, this sufficed.

"Is the Magic Tower ready to join the war?"

"Is that your will, Master?"

"Obviously. The empire must endure for the tower to exist. Left unchecked, the whole continent crumbles—not just the empire. Teron already fell. As they descend, swelling their ranks, it'll go from two million to ten million or more. Unstoppable then."

"Heh. Not for doom's sake, but your command—we obey."

"Good. We march tomorrow."

"You'll teach us 7th Circle spells?"

"A promise is a promise."

The mages' eyes sparkled. Not just the lord—real gains for them too.

"I'll teach practical ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠magic from 1st to 6th Circle as well."

"Woooah!"

The mages cheered. Mastering battle-tested spells accelerated ascension.

That evening, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠met with the high mages in the tower. The lord was 7th Circle, elders 6th. Their disciples were absent, but this closed circle ran the tower.

With mages worldwide, they'd play key roles when I turned on the continent.

"Your role is clear."

"Keke, long-range support, right?"

"Exactly. Fire magic especially. Heard about Death Lord churning out undead?"

"Of course. Already two million strong, ravaging neighbors en route to the empire."

"Right. Burn the undead. Prevents plagues."

"Heh, worry not, Master. It'll go as you wish."

The elders were slightly saner than the lord but cut from the same cloth. Treating war casually wasn't normal—but better than fearing it.

True to my word, I shared select 6th Circle spells and composites from lower circles.

Pop.

"This is...?"

"A snippet of practical magic."

"Ooh!"

"Elders and those who swear mana oaths of loyalty can view it."

"Hmm."

"I'm no fool."

I couldn't help smirking. To access it, they'd pledge absolute loyalty via mana oath—violation costs half their mana. A death sentence for mages.

I had the lord's oath, but not all mages'. One man doesn't move a tower. Can't hand battle magic to eccentrics on a mere promise.

The elders licked their lips, drew magic circles, and dripped blood.

"I pledge loyalty to the Master!"

"I'll follow to the end."

"Hehehe, good. Elders may view the grimoire."

"Keke, thank you."

Done. With lord and elders sworn, the tower was mine.

Others wanting practical magic? Mana oaths first—enslaving themselves.

Kaion asked my aims.

"Heh, Master. With our tower in hand, you're plotting to topple the empire, yes?"

"Nah, that's just the start."

"The start?!"

Elders broke into cold sweats. Calling empire's fall a "start" was bewildering.

Kaion had guessed my intent.

"Satisfy with the empire on this power? Broaden your horizons."

"Ugh, what is your will, Master?"

"The continent. Unify West and East entirely. That's my goal."