Chapter 110
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Mana Overload Panic
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Darkness engulfed the surroundings. In that sudden situation, Lee Se-hun reflexively unleashed word magic.
"Light Orb"
⟨ Luminary Sphere ⟩
Paaat!
"......!"
The sphere of light that materialized in mid-air banished the surrounding darkness in an instant. Louise, catching sight of it, swiftly assessed the situation and chained another word magic spell.
"Light Chandelier"
⟨ Radiant Chandelier ⟩
Hwaaaak!
A chandelier of light formed around the glowing orb Lee Se-hun had conjured.
The light, amplified several times over, secured visibility in a flash. The cadets watching murmured in surprise.
"Wh-what the hell?"
"Is that part of the show?"
The sudden blackout followed by perfectly timed magic felt too seamless. The cadets naturally assumed it was staged, but Lan Fei, who knew better, halted her casting and stared in shock.
'No way they reacted faster than me.'
Word magic activated quickly by nature, but their split-second judgment was exceptional.
It was like watching a battle-hardened hero. Lan Fei gazed at Lee Se-hun with wonder before shifting her eyes to the other professors.
"Did you hear anything beforehand?"
"Nothing from me."
"Same here."
Charles and Rebecca's responses prompted Lan Fei to scan the area.
'Mana supply to the Ivory Tower cutting out with zero warning...'
Any other building might suffer such a failure, but not inside the Ivory Tower. Its internal facilities consumed exponentially more mana, designed to maintain supply even on the brink of collapse.
'An external attack? No, that couldn't happen in Babel... and if it did, it wouldn't stop at this.'
Accident or sabotage? As Lan Fei tensed, wary of rash conclusions—
We will now address the entire Ivory Tower.
An unidentified anomaly has occurred in the mana supply facility, halting supply. Emergency engines on each floor will activate shortly. Please remain in place.
The broadcast finally clued in the cadets, who exchanged baffled looks.
"An accident? Then what's with that chandelier?"
"Those two... no joke."
Inexperienced cadets merely puzzled over it, but sharper ones realized how absurd Lee Se-hun and Louise's reactions had been.
As murmurs filled the exam hall—
"Everyone, listen up."
Charles amplified his voice with magic.
"Wandering in a facility with unstable mana supply is extremely dangerous. Wait here until it's normalized."
With the situation briefed, Charles eyed the chandelier of light, then glanced at Rebecca and Lan Fei.
"Darkness might unsettle the cadets. Let's illuminate the area first."
"Got it."
"Agreed."
Whooo!
The three professors roamed the hall, conjuring light via spells or enchantments. Visibility restored, the cadets calmed and settled in.
With the commotion subsiding, Louise quietly scanned the scene before murmuring.
"It matches, right?"
"Probably."
A freak accident in a mana-equipped building, hitting right when they arrived? Some might call it coincidence, but those aware of enemies here dismissed it outright.
'Thought they'd pull something in the blackout.'
No incoming spells from Charles, no special devices like before.
How and from where would the attack come? As Lee Se-hun swept his gaze across the hall, assuming he was targeted as a Dawn member—
Wuuung—
The lights flickered back on.
"Oh, lights are back."
"Emergency engines must've kicked in."
The hall returned to normal without issue. Cadets shrugged it off; even tense Rebecca sighed in relief.
"Looks like it was nothing serious."
"Yeah. Still, this happening in the Ivory Tower... it'll be chaos later."
Charles muttered, rubbing his temple. Lan Fei glanced around before speaking.
"Who knows what else might happen. Better dispel the magic and finish the review quickly."
"Sounds good."
"Let's do that."
Decision made, the professors snuffed their lights in unison.
Whooo!
The glows vanished like extinguished candles. As Lan Fei turned—
Wuuung.
The lights reignited instantly.
"......What?"
Wondering if she'd erred, Lan Fei checked—the other professors' lights were back too.
The inexplicable phenomenon bred eerie tension. Then—
Chijik.
The mana supply issue has been resolved. Resupply will commence sequentially.
The cadets took it as full restoration.
"......Run!"
Lee Se-hun grabbed Louise's hand amid the surging mana wave from below, bolting toward Lea.
Thuuung—
Vast mana rose from the supply facility.
Normally, the 12th floor's emergency engines would cede control, but a 'glitch' ramped up output instead.
Wuuuuung!
Over twice the usual supply.
The unbearable surge overloaded the entire floor. The Tower's safeguards hunted unactivated facilities to vent it.
Ssssh.
Mana linked to the participants' submissions filling the Third Exam Hall.
Hwaruruk!
Kugugung!
All formulas and artifacts went berserk.
"R-run away!!"
"Mana rampage!!"
Cadets screamed, fleeing to exits as submissions overloaded.
Chain explosions loomed; fleeing beat futile control. But consequences soured.
Kuung!
Overloaded Tower defenses dropped bulkheads, erected barriers, sealing exits airtight.
"What?! Why's that dropping now!!"
"They should let us out first!!"
Late arrivals gaped; the hall devolved into pandemonium instantly.
Endless mana influx. Roaring submissions ready to blow. Vanished exits.
Puueng! Kugung—Kwang!
Rear blasts eroded sanity, stoking deathly terror.
Panic pinned eyes on the bulkheads.
"Br-break it! Just smash that!"
Wall blocks? Smash it. Some prepped attack spells. Lan Fei bellowed.
"Stop! Casting here will—!"
Ambient mana oversaturated over 200%.
Elites might manage; panicked cadets couldn't.
Wuuung!
Spells flew before her warning, birthing new bombs everywhere.
"Wh-what? Why's the spell... Ack...!"
"S-someone help...!"
Casters rampaged instantly; others scattered in horror.
Shoving, trampling deepened chaos. Lan Fei grimaced.
"Damn... Can't in this mess..."
Mana scarcity? She'd supplement. But oversaturation defied fine control.
Mana crystallization risked. Lan Fei eyed Rebecca.
"Professor Rebecca! Enchantments... Professor?"
"Wh-what in the..."
Rebecca stared blankly behind. Lan Fei followed her gaze.
The exam center, evacuated in haste. Three figures stood casually.
"What the hell..."
Head throbbing at the sight—
"Tsk tsk."
Lee Se-hun clicked his tongue at the mess.
"Fleeing's one thing, but blasting spells...? Fearless brats."
Terror from rear bombs understandable, but becoming bombs themselves? No.
Lea, perched atop a desk unflinching, glanced around.
"Uh... we staying here?"
Wuuung!
Submissions thrashed, primed to explode.
The horrific scene chilled even Lea, but Lee Se-hun replied calmly.
"It's fine. We're why it hasn't blown yet."
"......Because of us?"
"Obviously."
He pointed at the cloth-sealed item under Louise's word magic.
"What if we'd ditched it?"
"......Yeah."
Lea swallowed, eyeing her submission, the 'Sphere'.
Others rampaged solo; hers forced resonance, amplifying power dozens-fold.
"Left alone, over half would've died."
Half? Barely survivors mostly. Lee Se-hun inwardly marveled at the carnage.
'Thought it'd target us... but blow the whole place?'
Test or real? Insane either way.
'Dawn's never been sane.'
Probing Dawn succeeded. Now, end without casualties.
"I've a fix, but one issue."
"What?"
Lee Se-hun eyed them seriously.
"You two must nail that technique here—first try. The one you failed yesterday."
"......"
"......"
Pressure cooker for routine tasks, life-or-death? Failure loomed.
Zero successes before? Dizziness-inducing.
But—
"That's par for the course, no?"
"Juniors always like that."
They shrugged nonchalantly.
Not first time he'd briefed mid-crisis, demanding execution.
One conviction from observing him:
'Tells us 'cause it's doable.'
Tough, but feasible. Like a sleazy boss skirting labor laws.
Resigned faith let them await instructions calmly.
"Good. Let's do it."
Lee Se-hun grinned at their trust.
Chaotic exit area.
Charles darted about, healing wounded, soothing panicked.
"Calm down! Rampaging submissions don't always explode! Desperate spells are riskier!"
Spotting fallen first aided recovery. Encouraging them, he eyed the distant trio.
'Pinpointed the fuse instantly... Judgment's top-tier.'
Plan: Blackout interference with Lea Clodel's Sphere, recreating the incident two years prior.
Chaining explosions, screams, terror—gauge their reaction.
'But securing sight, sealing the Sphere pre-rampage...'
As if privy to the plot. Witnessing his decisions firsthand, Charles admired over doubted.
'Mana talent lacking, but solid support.'
Unlike Valmut fools decrying danger, wasting talent irked him.
As Charles pondered—
Wuuung—
Eerie wave swept by.
Like nape-grabbed, all eyes turned to the hall's center girl.
"Huuu..."
Louise, eyes shut behind black steel mask etched with X.
Unknown pressure spurred cadets to rally mana reflexively.
"From now on."
She glared, eyes glowing blue.
"Anyone touching my mana dies."
Feral growl rippled out. Situation begged defiance, but none rose.
Her warning's intent—to resolve—assimilated with ambient mana, crystal clear.
'Good.'
Fist clenched, Louise reviewed her task.
'Control all extraneous mana in this hall.'
Training room drills: 'Word Diffusion' variant.
Vaster space, but oversaturation helped feasibility.
'And above all...'
Distant, amid cadets: old mentor, foe.
Kind facade hid depravity, deceit. Chest burned.
Kkadeuk—
Rip his throat urge surged, but she reined it.
Word mages wielded emotions as tools. Now, hatred saves mentor.
"Huu..."
Wuuuung—
Breath trailed mana, vast quantities converging.
Per will. Word prep done, she recalled taught imagery.
'Rumor spreads, crowds gather...'
Apt, but mismatched.
She shifted.
'I summon them.'
No waiting—total control, compelled.
Alpha's call to pack. Vivid image surged forth.
"Wolf's Howl"
⟨ Pack Call ⟩
Paaang—!
It swept the hall instantly.
Surging mana halted, then swarmed to Louise like obedient wolves.
"The ambient mana..."
Lan Fei gaped as saturation normalized.
"Now!"
"Going!"
Chwaak!
Cloth peeled; golden ring gleamed—Lea's revamped Sphere revealed.