Chapter 88: How Wizards Fight
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 88: How Wizards Fight
I didn't hear Ingelam and the Barbarian whispering to each other right before he sent the Barbarian at me, but I had a good idea of what had happened.
The massive tremor and explosion I’d heard earlier from the direction of the production control room. The fact that Ingelam and the Barbarian had come from there. The way they kept glancing back toward the control room, their impatience palpable as they rushed the fight. And, of course, Yernil’s broken arrow embedded in the Barbarian’s body.
They must have fought my party or Neko’s party, including Yernil. They likely managed to escape using a powerful spell but were now being pursued.
I had given Yernil a turn-based command: ‘If there are more allies nearby, test Ingelam.’
Since the Avian Rogue and the Druid seemed to have been tied up here the whole time, Ingelam and the Barbarian were probably moving as a duo.
That meant Yernil’s team had at least three members.
Who could they be?
I listed the candidates who weren't here right now.
1. Neko’s party’s Orc Fighter. The one I saved from the blacksmith during the steel mill’s structural shift.
2. Neko’s party’s Human Priest. The one who got the money for the fake pendant from Aimus’s wife.
3. My team’s bald, power-monk, Aimus.
At least two of them had to be with Yernil, and they were probably chasing Ingelam here right now.
So, there was no need to rush, even if my current attack didn't kill Ingelam. Time was on my side.
“Hailstorm.”
I began the incantation.
[Your turn. Time remaining: 45 seconds]
[Action Points: ■■■■□□]
A massive new cloud, heavy with chunks of ice, materialized slightly in front of the first one.
Given who I was up against, I had to pour everything I had into this the moment I gained the upper hand.
Now, let’s think about what spells Ingelam might have in his Memory Book.
First, what spell was in his Tier 3 slot?
There weren't many Tier 3 spells capable of isolating and shaking off three adventurers at once, including the ranger Yernil, who was far more agile than a wizard or a barbarian.
And among those, which one could cause a tremor and explosion powerful enough to echo throughout the entire steel mill?
Ground Collapse.
The roar and quake from before were likely from a sinkhole he created near the production control room, causing a subsequent lava eruption, explosion, and earthquake.
But I didn't need to worry.
That wasn't a spell Ingelam could use right now.
What about his spells below Tier 2?
Had Ingelam changed the slots in his Memory Book?
Probably not.
Lilweed had never seen Ingelam change his spell slots. And after Ingelam disguised himself as Lilweed, he would have been hesitant to open his Memory Book.
Besides, I had already witnessed him use the Tier 1 spell, Earth Rampart, to create a foothold for the Avian Rogue in the middle of the molten gold.
The spells hadn't been changed.
His Memory Book probably looked like this:
-Tier 1 Slots (5/5)
Earth Rampart, Cover with Bedrock, Carve Fragment, two unknown spells.
-Tier 2 Slots (2/2+1)
Noise Suppression, Mass Disguise, Ground-Raising Battering Ram.
-Tier 3 Slots (1/1)
Ground Collapse.
One of the two unknown Tier 1 spells had to be a defensive one.
Just as I had entered Electrostatic Coat into my Memory Book, Ingelam would need at least one defensive measure.
He would most likely cast that fast-acting defensive spell the moment the hail started to fall.
“Hailstorm.”
[Your turn. Time remaining: 30 seconds]
[Action Points: ■■□□□□]
But a Tier 1 defensive spell wouldn't last long.
Hailstorm was a summoned entity, meaning it would continuously rain down hail on the area for its duration. Ingelam’s defensive spell would shatter within seconds.
‘So he’ll buy a moment of time and then immediately use Earth Rampart.’
He would use the Earth Rampart spell to create an arched wall and ceiling, forming a makeshift bunker.
If he followed that up with Cover with Bedrock, the sturdy rock layer would be able to block the hail.
Therefore, to prevent that…
“Cumulonimbus.”
I mixed a Cumulonimbus cloud into the Hailstorm.
The pouring rain would soak into the soil of the Earth Rampart.
In the cathedral battle on the 1.5th Floor, Earth Rampart had merely served as a guide to channel the water on the floor. This time, however, the rain would drench the unstable ceiling of the bunker Ingelam was trying to build.
The rainwater would reduce the friction of the soil. As hail piled up on the ceiling, the weight would cause the soil to slide down the slopes, and the Earth Rampart would collapse. If he tried to coat it with bedrock, it would crumble even faster.
Ingelam would probably anticipate that and not even try. It would be like trying to build a sandcastle in a downpour.
[Your turn. Time remaining: 19 seconds]
[Action Points: ■□□□□□]
The Avian Rogue had already used his Shadow Leap. He couldn't escape with his party's wizard.
The Hailstorm was already triple-stacked, including the one I cast before flipping the hourglass.
With the Cumulonimbus added to the mix, an enormous cloud had already formed above Ingelam’s head.
Was there any way for Ingelam to survive or escape from beneath that hail and torrential rain?
I wasn't sure.
I hadn't seen all the spell cards Ingelam was holding.
For now, I'd watch.
I'd see how he reacted. I still had another wildcard up my sleeve, so I could decide after observing. It wouldn't be too late.
[Your turn. Time remaining: 6 seconds]
[Action Points: ■□□□□□]
With my last remaining Action Point, I'd set up a safety measure for myself, just in case.
“Electrostatic Coat.”
[All Action Points have been consumed.]
[Ending turn.]
*
The wizard—who I first thought was the blacksmith, then Caleb, then the blacksmith again, then finally Caleb—unleashed a torrent of high-speed casting.
There was one major difference from when he had defended against the hot steam from the pipes and saved the Orc Fighter during the steel mill’s first structural shift.
‘He poured all of his high-speed casting into offense.’
Neko’s mind went blank at the incredible magic show unfolding in the blink of an eye.
A colossal cloud completely filled the ceiling of the steelmaking room.
From it rained magical hail that could crush a brass golem like an aluminum can.
‘Blizzard.’
For a moment, the Tier 7 spell used by high-level mages flashed through the constable wizard’s mind.
Of course, what was before him was far weaker, but its scope and atmosphere were more than enough to evoke a Blizzard.
A baptism of frigid ice and a downpour of rain fell upon the steel mill on the 4th Floor’s volcanic zone, arguably the hottest place in the Labyrinth.
“Magic Shield.”
Amidst the disaster, Ingelam, befitting his reputation as a famous wizard, managed to cast a defensive spell.
CRASH! KABOOM! CRASH!
As chunks of ice hammered down on his shield, his mind went white.
‘I can’t use Earth Rampart.’
The hail was a problem, but the rain made it difficult to even pile up the earth.
Even if he managed to create a ceiling, it would collapse in an instant.
He had deliberately mixed in a rain cloud. To stop me from using Earth Rampart!
But…
“Sphere of Absorption!”
Ingelam’s Tier 1 spell activated.
In a duel between wizards, knowing your opponent’s spells beforehand was crucial.
He already knew about Caleb’s Cumulonimbus. Caleb’s party had used it when they first clashed with Lilweed’s party, and the Avian Rogue had spotted it from a distance.
At that time, Ingelam had swapped out one of his Tier 1 spell slots for the combat spell, ‘Sphere of Absorption.’
It was a type of summoning magic, just like Cumulonimbus.
Once deployed, a sphere that continuously absorbed surrounding moisture floated just below Ingelam’s magic shield.
This was a spell Ingelam had originally used long ago during his days as a 2nd Floor adventurer in the swamplands.
It had been useless on the 4th Floor, but things were different now.
He could see the rainwater being sucked into the Sphere of Absorption. Like iron filings to a magnet, every drop falling from the sky was drawn to the sphere and devoured.
Not only that, it was absorbing the ‘Cumulonimbus’ itself, drinking up every last tiny water droplet from the massive cloud.
It couldn't handle the ice particles of the Hailstorm, but just getting rid of the Cumulonimbus was enough. If he could clear away that rain cloud, he could build an Earth Rampart.
But in that brief window, one more thing.
“Kill Caleb!”
Even while casting Magic Shield and Sphere of Absorption in quick succession, the brilliant wizard thought of a counterattack.
Not to launch a counter-offensive, but to survive.
‘I have to stop his next attack!’
Those massive clouds were already crackling, filled with electric current.
If a single Lightning Shock were to strike here, wouldn't it become a living hell?
In that moment of crisis, Ingelam’s judgment was swift and precise.
‘Leaping Ambush!’
The Avian Rogue had used his Shadow Leap, but he had one other movement skill left. It couldn't be used to get Ingelam to safety, but it could be used to eliminate Caleb…
KRA-KOOM!
Suddenly, an intense bolt of lightning discharged from the clouds above Ingelam.
But it didn't strike vertically down at Ingelam. It shot out diagonally.
Toward Caleb.
The clouds had struck their own master.
No, to be precise…
‘Electrostatic… Coat…’
It was a type of lightning magic. The clouds, saturated with electrical current, would follow any lightning spell activated on the ground and strike that spot.
The moment the Leaping Ambush dagger struck the Electrostatic Coat, the defensive spell discharged reflexively. The clouds fired a lightning bolt at that location, and the high-voltage wave of electricity that spread out from it…
Thud!
…electrocuted the Avian Rogue, knocking him to the ground.
*
I had a feeling he'd use Leaping Ambush.
I checked on the fallen Avian Rogue and flipped the hourglass.
[Your turn. Time remaining: 60 seconds]
[Action Points: ■■]
My temporary hourglass, that is.
I did kill the Barbarian earlier, after all.
I had planned to use this card after seeing Ingelam’s reaction, and it was a good thing I did.
‘That guy definitely has a knack for magic combat.’
To think he had a spell like Sphere of Absorption prepared. Did he keep it as a counter to my Cumulonimbus?
Thanks to him, my Cumulonimbus was already half gone.
As expected, in a duel between wizards, fully understanding your opponent’s magic is paramount.
Anyway, first I needed to destroy that Sphere of Absorption.
“Dust Explosion.”
[Your turn. Time remaining: 53 seconds]
[Action Points: ■□]
With my one remaining Action Point.
“Lightning Shock.”
Let’s send him off as quickly as possible.
*
BOOM!
The Sphere of Absorption exploded. The massive amount of water it had contained poured out, drenching Ingelam completely.
At the same time, a bolt of lightning struck.
KRA-KABOOM!
Soaked to the bone, Ingelam was electrocuted by the lightning, his body slumping. From the sky, the clouds unleashed a continuous barrage of thunderbolts.
CRACK!
His magic shield shattered.
‘High-speed, silent casting again.’
Watching the downpour of hail, Ingelam recalled the wizard’s final attack.
The overwhelming gap in talent was a painful thing.
But he couldn't blame it all on that.
Even without it, he didn't think he would have won.
‘Didn’t everything start to unravel from the moment I disguised myself as the blacksmith and then the wizard?’
It was entirely Ingelam’s misjudgment. If he hadn't sent the Barbarian in like that, his chances of winning would have been much higher.
It was truly astonishing.
To think that the disguise magic he had used for so long would lead to such a fatal mistake.
Had he been careless?
No.
‘It’s just a difference in skill. As a wizard.’
The bitter sense of defeat that came with facing this cruel truth was agonizing.
Fortunately, it didn't last long.
SWOOOSH!
A massive, heavy chunk of ice falling from the sky put an end to his anguish.
*
“Cough… ugh.”
The Avian Rogue barely regained consciousness from the electric shock and staggered to his feet, lifting his head.
Ingelam was being buried under a massive pile of hail.
“You… you son of a…”
The monstrous wizard was standing right in front of him, wrapped in his Electrostatic Coat, well within the range of the crazed clouds.
‘I can’t touch him.’
His brain short-circuiting, the Avian Rogue froze for a few seconds, unsure of what to do. Back Attack, however, now knew exactly what to do.
SHING!
Teleporting behind the already-debilitated Avian Rogue, Back Attack’s dagger sliced across his throat.
“Hoo.”
Back Attack flicked the blood from his blade.
BOOM!
A short distance away, Neko’s psychokinetic punch slammed down.
On the Halfling Druid.
“The plating was halfway gone…”
It was true.
The Druid’s upper body had reverted to its human form.
The rest of him, still plated, was shattered to pieces by the psychokinetic punch.
“Well done.”
Caleb nodded to Neko and Back Attack, then turned around.
“Lilweed!”
It was time to call out the cowardly wizard hiding beyond the debris outside the steelmaking room.
“You can come out now. You can drop the disguise, too.”
And when a head peeked out over the rubble.
“Fuck…”
Caleb quickly backed away.
‘Couldn’t you at least wait for my hourglass to cool down?’
The thing that had been Lilweed had already lost its golden golem disguise.
And its form was barely recognizable, having been more than half-melted by the magic acid.
The blacksmith was climbing over the wreckage.