Piercing the Unbreakable Barrier
“...What did you just say?”
Lebius furrowed his brow at the sudden question. Kang Hanbit repeated himself with a confident expression.
“You're curious about its power, right? Breaking the tower's barrier should be enough, don't you think?”
-?
-Why break it;
-Told him to pique curiosity, and he starts vandalizing...
-Report him as a preemptive offender and bounce.
“......”
Lebius met his gaze in silence. After a moment, a faint smile tugged at his lips.
“So, you claim you can destroy my barrier.”
“If you're worried, I won't touch it.”
“No need to worry. My barrier won't break.”
A subtle battle of nerves played out in their exchange. Lebius took immense pride in his creation. Yet his curiosity and thirst for knowledge burned just as fiercely.
Swoosh—
At that moment, Nia, who had been watching, sidled up. The girl poked her head in, whispering softly.
“Change to another method quick. You absolutely can't touch the barrier our director made.”
“Absolutely?”
“Can't you tell? He looks like he only knows research! No gaps at all!”
Nia waved her hands emphatically in warning. It stemmed from her trust in the director's skills.
Kang Hanbit chuckled at the sight.
“You helping me out?”
“Of course! Dad and the director both really like you, adventurer bro. That means you're a super good person with amazing skills. You protected Ifrit together too...”
Nia listed off her reasons one by one. Her pure concern brought a smile to his face.
-So cute.
-lol
-Listen to Nia.
-I admit it.
-I'm rooting for him.
“Anyway! You gotta use something besides the barrier. How about gathering magic materials? You're an adventurer, so you know all sorts of rare stuff, right?”
“Yeah. It's dangerous, so stay by the director.”
“Huh? But really, you can't touch the barrier...”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Kang Hanbit gently pushed Nia back to safety. Watching this, Lebius slowly stepped forward.
“Begin. And don't get discouraged if you fail.”
“Got it.”
He stood by Nia with a stern expression. Though his inner curiosity was surely bubbling over. The girl was still jumping behind him, arms crossed in an X.
Feels nostalgic.
Fulfilling that stoic man's curiosity wasn't easy by any means. But for the current Kang Hanbit, it was possible. He wielded a power the man could never anticipate.
Swoosh—
Kang Hanbit pulled a supply staff from his inventory. Raising it skyward, he focused his mind.
Whoosh—!
Salion's flames raced along the wooden staff's surface. Using Attribute Manifestation on a basic supply weapon like this was unwise. It couldn't withstand the spirit king's power and would shatter. But this time, one shot would suffice.
“...!”
Lebius's eyes widened at the blooming flames and heat. It wasn't magic. Nor a magic tool. It felt more primal—something that shouldn't exist here.
“Hoo.”
He couldn't preheat indefinitely. Even unstable, he had to focus on unleashing the power.
Whoosh—!
The intensifying flames soon engulfed the staff entirely. Its surface was already charring and crumbling. At the precarious moment, Kang Hanbit thrust it toward the sky.
“Fire Lance!”
Fwoosh—!
With the incantation, the flames shot out, morphing into a massive spear. And as its sharp tip reached the transparent barrier—
Clang—!
A sharp ring echoed, followed by a fierce red shockwave.
Whoosh—!
“Ugh!”
“Eek!”
The scorching aftermath swept the rooftop, forcing everyone to duck instinctively. Only two stood tall, eyes fixed upward.
“...!”
Lebius stared wide-eyed. At the end of his gaze, his own barrier blazed red.
-Whoa.
-Insane.
lol
-Attribute Manifestation on magic is broken OP;
-But did it actually break?
-Flames are still burning.
The roaring inferno obscured the barrier's state. But Lebius already knew the result.
“This is from the city wall...”
He muttered without looking away. He'd apparently witnessed the first wave subjugation.
Nia stared blankly at the sky.
Sizzle—
The flickering flames began to fade. Revealed at the center: a warped crack, fully pierced through.
Crackle—
The supply staff in Kang Hanbit's hand crumbled to ash. Grateful it held until the release.
“......”
Lebius's silence lingered. Kang Hanbit could sense his heart racing. This sight might touch the dream he'd chased.
Fixated on the barrier, Lebius murmured,
“When did you start using spirit power?”
The question carried deep emotion. Kang Hanbit eyed the shattered barrier.
“Not long. That was just borrowed from the spirit king's trace.”
“...Spirit king? You mean Salion?”
“Just the trace. Got it by chance.”
“Hah.”
The power's origin far exceeded expectations. Yet recalling those beautiful flames, he could only nod.
Lebius's gaze grew distant as he asked further,
“How does wielding spirit power feel compared to magic?”
“Hard to say. Unlike structured magic, it's... just nature's force, I guess.”
“Yes. They are nature itself. Bearing overwhelming power and beautiful terror. Like those flames that pierced my barrier.”
The remaining flames fully dissipated. Staring wistfully at the dying embers, Lebius reached into his robes and pulled out a thick book, handing it to Kang Hanbit.
“It was astonishing. Moving. Perhaps you'll complete this magic one day.”
Ding—
[Quest completed.]
[Obtained Lebius's Research Grimoire.]
[15 stat points awarded.]
[200,000 EXP gained.]
[Level up by 2.]
[2 stat points awarded.]
Swoosh—
He touched it, flipping the cover. A gold-bordered hologram appeared.
[Use it? (Yes/No)]
Tap—
He hit 'Yes' immediately. The hologram vanished, followed by a message.
[Hidden skill Element Amplification (4-rank Epic) added.]
...Element Amplification?
Kang Hanbit focused on the name. He quickly opened his skill list and expanded it.
[Element Amplification]
Rank: 4
Grade: Epic
Type: Active
Description: An incomplete magic devised by Lebius, who yearns for spirit power. It consumes vast mana at once to dramatically boost all elemental skills. Meeting a great researcher might advance this magic's development.
-Hidden skill vending machine is insane;
-Magic buff whoa
-Elemental, so spirits too?
-Probably not spirits?
-Humans daring to;
-Cut power and he's done.
-And gotta research it too?
-Incomplete means it can evolve...
The viewers flooded with opinions on the new skill. Beside him, Avant-garde's eyes sparkled as he whispered excitedly.
“NPCs yearning for spirits aren't rare. Lebius gave no hint, but... this shows he's the most sincere. Researching magic like this is revolutionary. And the grimoire's still intact.”
His analytical gaze fixed on the book in Kang Hanbit's hand. Normally, grimoires vanished after learning. This one remained, asserting its presence.
“You're giving me an unfinished research magic?”
Kang Hanbit asked sincerely. Lebius enjoyed trial and error, but he wouldn't share incomplete work. That explained why he'd never heard of it before.
“This isn't for my legacy. I just hope it completes someday.”
“...You're entrusting it to me?”
“Someone wielding spirit king power has potential. The contents will make it clear.”
He gestured to flip the pages. Kang Hanbit looked down and opened the first.
<This magic research began from my 8-year-old memory. The sight of the fire spirit incinerating a monster horde...>
It started as a chronicle of past events. Kang Hanbit knew this well from Lebius himself. A honest account of being saved by a spirit in crisis.
<Imitating spirit magic is impossible. Thus, I sought to interpret the natural elements manifested in magic. This led to analyzing atmospheric mana...>
The following pages were research logs. Endless trials, errors, and unyielding passion pressed into every line, undeterred by failures.
Definitely different.
Kang Hanbit could grasp what Lebius aimed for. Many mages had attempted spirit mimicry. But establishing such concrete theory was shocking.
Flip—
He skimmed quickly. Detailed study was needed later; now, the overview mattered. Lebius watched tensely.
Thud—
Having reached the end, Kang Hanbit closed it.
“I get the gist. Your spirit interpretations are spot on.”
“...You understand it?”
Lebius's eyes widened. Kang Hanbit nodded.
“Using spirit power myself made it click. Did you theorize it all alone?”
“I referenced secret documents left by the Sage. They formed the foundation.”
His reply flowed calmly. But Kang Hanbit asked puzzled,
“The Sage left secret documents?”