Chapter 19: The Last One
ZGfQ9The fight between those who wield a mana sword is direct and fair.RAw3u
BAp5NeThat is why the profession of gladiator can still exist in Serdes.azjz1cN
2jRsDBeing direct, it is simple; and being simple, it is clearly visible.cBiTS0
PcpZZThat is why it is so entertaining to observe the game of strategies that unfolds within that simplicity.J54mzpu
ynvjGgBut the world of mages is the opposite of the sword.yRQEzx
yNXbIt is abstract, and within it there are clear and unavoidable differences.LKMH
xAnzLThe gap between circles is far too evident.ue5kKxJ
ku6HWith just one circle increase, the probability of victory tilts by more than 95%.D6YAYRQ
OupThat is the brutally honest and unfair world of mages.ltqAS7c
AMbovIWHowever, that 5% of irregulars always exists.sCc
kPHSOverwhelming talents who can negate ten years of accumulation in a single day.syV9
ioKvz6Perda Valdrova, whom Vernell Marquis was observing at that moment, was precisely that kind of individual.W8yGn
adFZq‘Magic Intercept?’Mfu6AT3
W6vs8lA technique that consists of taking, through one’s own will, a spell manifested or fired by another and returning it in the opposite direction.SKVq7R
ywfnIt was one of the most difficult arts and was almost never seen in battles between mages.NA6v6
RuOG‘Isn’t it a technique reserved, at the very least, for those who have reached the fifth circle?’7WJl2F
XGwcyOnly mages with deep understanding of magic and great mastery of mana—fifth-circle Master Mages—used it.O4TLkQ
zewXBut Perda was merely second circle, a level that even he himself could ignore.mlgWNr
l3D2h‘No… in theory I have heard that even a second circle could achieve it.’mb7
5EOSecond circle, Spell Blower.Kefw
fCB6uDZIt was called that because one began to blow spells, weaving magic through the thread of mana.Izd
otdsVHowever, it was coarse, weak, and imprecise magic; a level that was scorned as if one were barely blowing out spells.0UXxVKZ
cmlN‘Theory is only theory.’PukUK
zMSvKzIn the world of magic, theories that never materialize abound.8200
595‘And yet he is using Magic Intercept? Truly?’mwO7
XqyIt was possible.nfVo0U
poQnuRTBut no one had achieved it.q9H9tLK
NG7If that was truly Magic Intercept, Vernell was witnessing the birth of a new page in the history of magic.2reZ5
0ZC8K***9AWEL
E2fVkReturning to the present, after attempting Magic Intercept for the first time that day, Perda’s evaluation was simple.ZQ1u
oiXKf‘Just as I thought, it is not that complicated.’ByAzDU
OyXZhIf the Mana Worker masters the point, the Spell Blower masters the line.ksV6ju
iJNFY3xThrough that line one can create a surface, that is, weave magic.WTs1
IdT8E‘The only thing I know how to use is Magic Shot.’oKsJ
trDThe spells he had used in second circle he had forgotten after becoming an archmage, and he had not even bothered to relearn them.nCq3lU4
cC8zASt‘But that is enough.’Pr5r
I73nSimple, but exactly what was needed at that moment.O90X
G13He did not need to transform mana into any element; pure mana was sufficient.sWdtDo
IAIu0dkAt least against a demonic beast.326S
oxLNk11‘I have captured demonic beasts countless times.’9T0GahJ
98AnpEQIn his time collaborating with Tesalos, follower of the demonic race, one of his demands was precisely to capture them alive.lBEx
hQQGfdRKilling them was easy. Capturing them was not.lmBwB
J4qoBy sharing knowledge with Tesalos, he had learned the characteristics of those creatures.XRTHTOL
EBySR‘And in the end we discovered something very simple.’AH8P
dhyYIf a human is continuously exposed to corrupted mana, he is destroyed or dies.WHV2
lTJOn the contrary, those monstrous masses that devour corrupted mana find pure mana to be poison.S4cK
mFM1N3kPerda was going to inject that poison into its heart.YxgZo8
AgjBy interrupting the emission of mana and provoking intoxication, the beast’s super-regeneration and overwhelming strength would temporarily stop.Hse9nRq
6NBIt was like inserting a piece of wood between gears that spin without ceasing.24e
j0d9Y‘Someday it will break, but at least it slows the mechanism.’9wAn5
DISYPerda launched the first sphere toward the face of the demonic bear.6tkiUaF
VHvVvNHe fired in an arc, so it could not track the direction, and made it fall precisely onto its crown.6FlReT
74GxsBoom!tn3u9g
UEh9An ordinary human would have had his head turned to pulp.s1l
3371Rb6— GRAAAAH!av0
dAKeaAsBut the bear roared and lifted its head.l4A7A
k9NIts resistance was reinforced by magical intoxication.xJUZ
EYy22hThe skull had caved in slightly, but it was not significant damage.J9Id
ww4UPerda gave the order.9uc
rHmO“Prepare a large one.”am2
Q7f5Ja“Yes!”WWR8a
pxYWhile Vernell shaped a larger sphere, Perda prepared the next.is6xY9
wlpywPsAgain, a curved shot.VI97h8
WWnWyThis time not from above, but with a wide lateral swing.Feq
85xqZIBoom!kb6q
UJQVuThe bear’s head shook violently.fY17
TcpD— GRAAAAH!EEUD
BY3vhPnEnraged, it raised its forelegs searching for the enemy.mxs22sA
vFtPerda did not miss the instant.t9xP
AEHwFour spheres formed on his fingers.I8N2
BtEExTG“Now.”eMpv5
0JEL0LVernell launched his along Perda’s line of fire, and Perda intercepted it mid-flight.pn7
0jQTogether with the four floating at his fingers, he fired in a straight line toward the beast’s chest.UQm
oTgBoom!KvL29GY
wlJOne sphere exploded in the air.5YQz25
HvHkThe force of the push propelled the other four with greater speed.Hf7fdU
7RixOThe three small ones created by Perda spiraled and struck the chest first.svb6N3
lw5P2uBOOOOM!wnxAM
psaqThree consecutive explosions tore the skin and left the flesh exposed.YxcuZH
IPTw9hOThen Vernell’s large sphere penetrated the exposed flesh.Xuj1
dgS‘Deeper.’SJ0x
FYi7Wh1The acceleration and rotation drilled inward.OaP
rIOP‘More.’oGp8VMr
fmsAnd finally it exploded.53G8gf
YaE90dBOOOOOM!vMoj
bJ84SXA massive detonation completely engulfed the demonic bear.HHKeyW
L2MZr“H-hah!”O8sugzd
Qow0eTnVernell let out a ridiculous cry of surprise.Cmhbd
tqqz56‘Did my sphere have that much power?’uHGMy
5Y9vHe knew it was his that had exploded.vNo
W2rj2OBut he would never have achieved such force.WMQzqC
lSUAnd that second-circle mage had manipulated it as if it were his own.kFOaFv
CIfxyvsPerda fixed his gaze beyond the cloud of dust.8SEx
GDLy‘Show yourself.’UGNpXy
mmE8j5WVisibility returned and the target reappeared.rfR6wRn
XRipQw5As expected, the bear’s body was devastated.3ha8V
ujQThe black skin torn away, the flesh violated in dark purple tones.R5wkQf
2kjDOrgans and bones exposed.kQCC
TzMPerda’s eyes located the heart.YEgFr
tfe6HXD‘It is still beating.’ALTn
7vPThe source of all vitality.sCHw
uSWdV3Each beat pumped forcefully, and with each pulse the flesh began to regenerate.kcdKEP
xuFZw‘Complete super-regeneration.’nsJQ1
7B00Not only did it possess extreme resistance, but recovery capacity superior to other beasts.dK0rz
doq‘It must be finished quickly.’fQjJb4t
jIpxvOThe creature was momentarily defenseless, unable to move a finger.ldq
btDJCIf it managed to move again, defeat would be Perda’s.8zl
kUixCZJ‘I must be more aggressive.’I1aHL6
6HRsGAfter making the decision, Perda generated spheres on his fingers and shouted.2RUhTO
8ln“Vernell! Launch the spheres as soon as you form them!”DIgV
a7v“Yes!”mYx
Eb9iPerda unleashed a fierce assault against the heart.WWqt
5fyk— Guh… guh…fMYkH
OWLThe bear’s body, struck directly in the heart, trembled and exhaled with difficulty.OGO
83pPerda’s spheres struck the heart again and again, forcibly tearing apart the flesh that tried to close.COA2sg
JhI5a1YWould Perda’s mana run out first, or would the bear’s regeneration stop first?AoghMLl
v0t0It was like a tug-of-war around a single hole.5kDw
Nhc‘It is enormous—it is not turning out so simple.’vsCjm
75ntnHe could not guarantee victory.kAms4mV
LVxKWIf he were a fifth-circle mage, he would resolve it without difficulty.X3lGMi
jZ5lBut with the amount of mana from second and third circle, there was no certainty.0r89
qhuZyysPerda found himself in an uncomfortable situation.xiM
qrE***lbkX6
oT7WFtH‘How unpleasant.’lVRB
ZToVernell felt nauseous.6NjCP0
aID0As if he had inhaled a dense smell of oil for too long, his mind grew clouded.0OokMUH
HRUU1qUThe sensation of mana leaving his body shattered his concentration.IpuPo
UfbT‘Since I became a scholar, have I ever used this much mana?’Mtbwjb
be47xlNo.g1Fqr0
mTHC97sA scholar needs to focus his strength only on what is necessary.5kTCA
QZf81f0That was why Vernell always kept more than half of his mana intact.NhX0
vnRWhile Perda attacked without pause, Vernell drained his at the same pace.kintIzw
OibHe had barely 20% left.Ts09b
828esKThree more spheres and he would be exhausted.K53K
ElnvnKyThen another doubt arose.mDw4n
Kpl0Jeu‘The regent has also spent a lot of mana—how is he still casting spells?’TnH79C
AiPpAt a glance he had fired more spheres than Vernell.402Sdv5
hwCiVernell lifted his gaze.i5ygt
HvWN7wSHe froze.wBhZOs
cHET9S‘B-blood from his nose!’dIA2Z
gni1For a mage, bleeding from the nose while casting spells meant only one thing.NtOilg
41PZJwy‘Overload!’606tb
LbW13M5An anomalous phenomenon caused by excessive mental concentration and forcing more power than one’s capacity allows.qxeulb
T5URi‘At this rate he will suffer mana burnout…!’LNgJF
mu41EIn the worst case, he could be permanently incapacitated from performing magical calculations.1EN
AxO2E‘He came without a staff… of course.’Y4lz
qqdKA staff helps stabilize mana formation.BhL
3jKijBPerda was calculating everything solely with his mind.d3x5Af3
DSLdiiROverload was inevitable.F23C
tWEtWMWith that hemorrhage, he had to stop him immediately.1fRdF
ho1GIxZ“Vernell.”rzev
0S71rPPerda’s voice was calm.LeB
jYD“Y-yes?”6w0Z3
ee2“Focus.”nR8EW
E5jpqZVernell’s confusion vanished.TNoh5h
UutF‘Yes… calm down. If someone with Blue Circle loses composure, what remains?’60a35ST
08Mi5jIt was ridiculous.W51
lQBThe Red Circle was calm, and the Blue Circle trembled.qenS3v
tz4VQ‘Truly… I had no resolve at all.’cPGL
May6qYHad he been willing to risk his life for his project?4ZY
kScG4LQ‘No.’y4oa2ii
YR1He only thought about researching.EiFv
qoSlLet someone else capture the beasts while he studied to bring peace.pq1F
0hdiPerda was risking his life for his research.QGO
u7SEEven risking burnout.yrScw
MTxyBCu‘Then I must risk it too…!’q1osUy
dxHpnkVernell faced his own fear.q97pv0
HWAlAnd he leaped.jQx8HED
vfjJc“Grrrgh!”8EYedLA
TG5He forced out the last drop of mana, converting his own vitality into energy.cN4Xvr6
lLiC8“Lord Regent!”k66L0O
KCGjNBA brave roar, unbefitting the insecure Vernell.6lo96Nl
KwEObXN“Receive my last mana!”aYwQJf
IGmI4RzA massive sphere shot toward Perda.4Mm7o
9876U“Thank you.”gvnttWK
2WmAn9Perda claimed it and hurled it at the bear.uyPGH
Sk3CLpBOOOOM!fa9
cRgNSQLAn explosion thundered inside the creature.Ac3sS
GJpQopXIts movement and regeneration stopped completely.aYN6f
43A5‘And the heart?’qbu4
558xIf it exploded, everything would be in vain.RiCqB6V
iRQdUPerda observed with concentration.5bo3
p3PkON‘It is still beating.’2rFyhW
RFU62GwBarely alive.UHdTBUf
DRxE4YLThe super-regeneration was halted.RG5
KaHCd6t“Now! Cut the tendons and bind it!”2GuU
Xd2OKArwen and his men charged.FY9
t2rgIt was as easy as taking a spoon and eating a banquet already served.926L
2IvvTJxWithout a single casualty, they captured the beast.pVyMjph
FKdMeanwhile, Perda examined Vernell.JQch
HFOnda“Are you alright?”x4sXR
27cVernell convulsed, blood streaming from his nose.wluCkw
ldcMana burnout.opWrS9
B5GAnd yet, he smiled.VY3j2E
l9aG“Ha… ha… w-what did you think… of my sincerity?”3O8
L2PIdPerda answered coldly.RQDle
s14hwNq“It was stupidity. Risking your life that way.”LYE
h4aqJj7“L-lord regent… if you do it, how could I…?”P1zo50
j9vHe did not finish the sentence.gstFhBN
ptTHe fainted.3u1OEFb
zKtrPerda laid him down carefully.Arc
Dx4e3Zr“Are you alright, lord regent?”JBuJOI
nA39YArwen asked.eyI8IL
SJsRg“The beast?”LSl8Zu
FOH“Yes. It is… in stable condition. We will take it to the castle.”jxAmZ
87lzN2“Thank you. Before that, something urgent. Is there any mage in the territory?”EZi
sKUaq“Yes.”bcBx2
I6CaPerda pointed at the unconscious young man.Ge0De
Exy“Take this idiot and transfuse mana into him. The castle is far; I trust you.”NfedB
dEovFzSArwen nodded with his hand over his chest.6GXGe5c
21Y“Understood. But… do you not need attention?”tt6fx1k
fRM“Why?”MngrUmV
AwYCArwen pointed to his own nose.5RDoMT
4Ut9c“You are bleeding.”LqMBfZ
GKrQw“Blood?”fuBVbWz
l4vhPerda wiped it.SMpr
DokpThe blood was already cold.aWt7jz
vTmGZ0“I see.”qI8U4L
EUCHe had not even noticed.Lcrx
elOArwen offered him a handkerchief.qmEaog
ctPhQev“They say forcing magic causes hemorrhages. If you feel dizzy, you should be treated first.”ck7pz7V
r9ON“No, I am fine.”0Q1DcF
TtqiIPerda wiped himself and gave a few light taps.0F2EgT
yeiThe bleeding stopped immediately.AMTg6
ixy“I may be reckless, but I am not foolish enough to ruin my body.”DspSx
esrqCHe would take risks when necessary, but never his life.hgkVK6s
LuDcKXIIn truth, he could still generate three more spheres.HYGr
yNpP“It is just that, with the explosion, a stone flew out and struck my nose.”tnlHaFx
LDtThat was why seeing Vernell push himself into burnout seemed simply pathetic to him.8PYg
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!