Infinite Mage — Chapter 217: Shock in Heaven (4)

Chapter 217: Shock in Heaven (4)

As‌‌ the rotation of⁠ the gems accelerated, the influence reached‌‍ even Canis.

An overwhelming drowsiness overtook‍ him. He tried‍ to resist by⁠‍ biting his lips,‍ but if he‍ continued cutting the‍⁠‌ restraints like that,‍ he would end⁠⁠‌ up severing the‌ girls’ wrists.

‘No!‍ I can’t leave Arin behind!’

Blood‍‍ flowed from his‌ bitten lips.

Amy‌ and Tess, who‌ were watching the‌ scene, could not‍ give him any advice.

The⁠ only one who‍‍‍ could stop him‍‍ was Arin.

“Canis,‍‍‍ there’s still time.⁠‍ Retreat for now.⁠ If you keep‍ going like this,‌ you’ll be the‍‌⁠ first to fall.”‍‍

“Damn⁠ it! Damn it!”‍⁠

He⁠ knew he had‌‌ to retreat.

Just‍ a little more‍ and he could‍‍ cut them. If‍ he had overwhelming⁠ power like his‌‌ master, he would‍‍ have already cut all the restraints.

— Information transmission rate:‌‍ 50 percent.

“I‌ will save you.‌ Wait a little⁠⁠⁠ longer.”

Canis could not even‌‌ look the girls⁠‌ in the eyes‍‍ and stepped out⁠ of the object’s⁠‍‍ area of influence.‌⁠‍

As⁠‌ if it were‍‌ a lie, his⁠ mind returned to⁠ normal. But the‍ pain of that‍ moment did not‍ fade. It was‍⁠ a compulsory force‍ incomparable to sleep magic.

‘That’s⁠ a compulsory force.‌ That’s the characteristic‌ of objects.’

Objects⁠‍ are mutations of⁠‌ the world of⁠ things. Due to⁠ some cosmic error,‌ the very concept‌ of the object had been distorted.⁠‍

Therefore,⁠⁠ since they do‌‍ not violate causality,⁠ it is impossible‌ to block their⁠ abilities by any‌ means.

Moreover,⁠⁠‍ there was not‍ much time left.‌⁠ In a situation⁠ with a time‌ limit, summoning a dream demon had‌ been an excellent‌ choice.

“Rian,‍ fall back. I’ll⁠ handle it.”

Canis‌ switched places with‍‍ Rian. For a swordsman with weakness‌ against mental abilities,⁠ the dream object‍‍ was practically poison.‌

Peophe‍‍⁠ pointed toward the‍‍ entrance of the‌ great battlefield and shouted,

“Guys!‍⁠⁠ Look over there!”⁠‌

The⁠‌ giant Ymir was‌ running toward them⁠⁠ with his enormous‍ body.

Rian’s⁠‍‍ eyes sharpened. He‌ looked smaller than‍ the first time‌⁠ he saw him,‌⁠ but it was⁠‌ undoubtedly that giant.⁠‌‍

Even⁠‌ the usually calm‌ Canis could not‌ hide his anger‍ this time.

“Damn⁠‍‌ it! Even the‍ giant came!”

“Calm‍ down. I’ll handle‌ the giant. You⁠‌ take care of‍ Baalbe.”

It⁠ was the correct decision considering affinities.‌ But Rian wanted‌ to face him‍‍ personally, even setting⁠ that aside.

In‍ the first encounter,‍ he could not⁠⁠ even inflict a serious wound, but‍ this time it‍ was his turn⁠ to show his‌⁠ specialty.

When⁠‍ Rian reached the‌‍‌ entrance, Peophe flew⁠ toward him holding‍ the metagate.

“Hey,⁠⁠‍ what do I do with this?”⁠

“Protect‍ it for me.⁠⁠ We will return,⁠⁠ without fail.”

“What?‍ How am I supposed to take⁠ care of something‍ that important?!”

Peophe‌⁠ could not finish her sentence. It‌ was a heavy‍ and excessive request, but when she‍⁠ saw Rian’s face,‍ she could not‌ say anything more.

It‌‍ was not the⁠ face of someone‌‌ who said he‌ would come back.⁠‍

“But⁠⁠⁠ if you end‌ up in danger…”⁠

Rian⁠ looked at Peophe‌ and smiled softly.‌

“Then‍ throw it away‍⁠ and run. It’s not worth more‌ than your life.”‌⁠

Peophe⁠‌ pressed her lips‌ together and made‍ an annoyed expression.⁠‌⁠

How‍⁠ could he say‌‌‌ something like that?⁠ Why were all⁠⁠ humans so absurd?‍

“Don’t‍⁠ say nonsense! Why can’t you say it honestly? You‌⁠‌ want me to‌ protect it even if I die!⁠‌‌ If you don’t‍ have this, you won’t be able to return!”

Rian did not respond.⁠‍

“Idiot!‍ The enemy is‍‍ Ymir! The king⁠⁠‍ of the giants,‍ Ymir! If you‌⁠‌ fight, you will‍ definitely die!”

Rian‍ finally understood. So⁠‍ his name was‍ Ymir? Not just‍ a giant, but‌⁠ the king of‌ the giants.

Then‍‍ there was no‍‌ better final opponent.‍

Peophe’s⁠‍ chest tightened. Was‍⁠‍ this the life‍ of humans? Being‌‌‍ as short-lived as‍ mayflies compared to‍⁠ a fairy, did‌ they try to burn with all‍‌ their strength?

Rian‍ blocked the entrance.‍‌ With the light‍ behind him, like⁠ an eclipse, his‌‌ figure seemed strangely larger.

“Name…‍‍ your name…”

Peophe,⁠ her voice trembling,⁠‌ managed to force the words out.‌‌

“What‍‌ is your name?”‌⁠‌

That‌‍⁠ was how she‍ asked Rian. In‍‍ heaven, revealing one’s⁠ name was dangerous,⁠ but Peophe thought⁠ she needed to‍‍ know. Now he‌‍ had become someone‌‍ she could trust.⁠

“I‌‍ am Ogent Rian.”⁠⁠

Rian, raising his greatsword,‍ looked at Peophe‍‌ and said,

“I⁠‌⁠ am Shirone’s sword.”‍⁠

Boom!⁠⁠

Driving⁠ the greatsword deep‍ into the ground,‌ Rian leaned his‌‍ back against the‍⁠‍ blade and lowered‌ his center of⁠‍ gravity.

Ymir‍‌ charged toward him⁠‌‍ with a grotesque⁠ smile.

“Kekeke!‍‌ Is this the‍ second time we‌ fight? That’s how a warrior should‌ be.”

“Come,⁠ king of the⁠ giants.”

Ymir⁠ did not slow‍ down and charged.‌

Feeling‌ a pressure as‍‍ if a gigantic⁠⁠ rock were rolling‌ toward him, Rian⁠‍ took a defensive‍⁠ stance and shouted with all his‍ strength.

“Uaaaaaaa!”‌‍

Ymir’s⁠⁠‌ hunched shoulder slammed‍‍ into Rian’s upper⁠ body.

The‍‍⁠ greatsword bent as⁠ if it would break and then⁠⁠ returned to its⁠ form through elasticity.⁠

Crack!‌⁠

From‍ inside Rian’s abdomen came the sound of something breaking.⁠‍ The blood that‌‍ burst from his‌‌ mouth dyed the‍‍ sky red.

***⁠

The‍‍ shockwave pierced through⁠⁠‍ Ymir’s chest.

The‍ battlefield where the⁠‌ greatest magical swordsman‌‌ of heaven and⁠ the warrior clashed‌ was devastated.

Every‌‍ place they passed‍⁠‍ left sunken marks,⁠⁠ and wind rushed‌⁠ in through the broken windows.

Ymir,‍ leaning against the⁠‌‌ wall, laughed. As the signal of⁠‍ the shockwave invaded‍ him, his body‍ was decomposing at‍ the cellular level.

“Hehehe,⁠ not bad. How‌‍ does it feel?⁠‍ The sensation of‍⁠ having pierced me?”‌⁠‍

Ashur‌⁠‍ frowned. Even though Ymir had lost⁠ his body, he‌‍ was not someone⁠⁠ who would allow⁠‌ himself to be‍ struck so easily.‌

“…Was‍‍ that a part⁠ of you?”

Ymir⁠ was a giant‌ who had reached⁠‌ the tenth level⁠‌ of the art without precedent.

Only Ra knew how‍ many bodies he‍‌ had absorbed, but⁠⁠ the general theory⁠ was that they‍⁠ exceeded ten thousand.‍‌

“Being‍‍‌ a giant doesn’t‍ mean I can’t think. Come slowly.‍ I’ll go ahead⁠ and wait for‌‍ you.”

As‌⁠ Ymir collapsed gently,‌‌‍ Ashur’s sword pierced‌ through his head‌‌ and came out.⁠

Shortly‍ after, Ymir’s body‌ began to bubble and dissolved into‍‍ a black liquid.‌

Ashur⁠ looked at the⁠‌ liquid soaking the⁠ ground beneath his‍⁠ feet. As he⁠‍ opened his palm,⁠⁠‍ his sword turned‌ into a signal‍‌ and disappeared.

“Damn‍ it, I let‍ my guard down.”‌‍

Ymir‌ does not like⁠‍ strategies. He considers⁠ them a second‌‍ option for the‌⁠ weak.

But⁠‌‍ today, for once,⁠ he abandoned his‍ pride and chose⁠ to go to⁠⁠ the great battlefield.⁠

Animal‍‍ instinct? No, it‌⁠ was a superhuman‌‌ instinct.

Ymir‌ likes the simple,‍‌ but he always defeats the complex.⁠⁠‌ Because he was⁠‌ born with a characteristic.

The⁠ instinct to smell⁠ war.

If‌ one reviews the‌‍ history of heaven,‍ Ymir was always⁠‌‌ at the core⁠ of wars.

This‍⁠⁠ time was no‌‌ different.

He⁠⁠ sensed that what⁠‌ was happening in⁠⁠ the great battlefield⁠ would be key‍‌ to recovering his⁠‍ body.

“It‌‍‌ may already be⁠ too late.”

Although⁠ their natures were⁠⁠ opposite, Ymir’s sense⁠ was reliable.

For‌ someone like him to abandon the‌ battle and disappear‌⁠ meant there was‍ no need to‌‌‌ buy time. Without‍⁠ a doubt, the⁠ situation in the⁠‌‍ great battlefield was⁠‍‌ more serious than‌ expected.

Ashur⁠ kicked off the‌ ground and left‌ the battlefield.

***

“Canis!‍ Fall back! You can’t keep going!”‌⁠

Arin‍ shouted. Ten minutes‌ had already passed‌⁠⁠ since they entered‌‌ the object’s area.⁠

Even‍⁠‍ so, Canis not only did not‍‌ retreat, but further‌ increased the casting‌‍ speed of his‍ spells.

Baalbe,‍‌ as if it‍ were not worth⁠⁠ responding, simply avoided‍‍‍ confrontation.

A two-horned Mara surpassed‍ Canis’s abilities by default, and as‌‌ long as the⁠⁠ object was present,‌‍‌ he had no‍‌⁠ need to intervene⁠⁠ directly.

The‍ dream object caused‌ living beings to‌‌ fall asleep, but⁠‍ what was truly‍ terrifying was resisting‌ it.

If‌⁠ one resisted by‌⁠ force, the fatigue‌ from lack of‌ sleep would accumulate‌⁠‌ until it led to death.

At‍‌‍ that moment, Canis’s‌‌ mind was in‌⁠ a state equivalent‍‍ to not having⁠‍ slept for eight days.

“For⁠ a human, not⁠‌⁠ bad. But how⁠‍ long will you‍⁠ endure? If you⁠ don’t sleep deeply,‌ you will die.”‍

Canis⁠ regained consciousness.

He⁠⁠‌ had not heard⁠ what Baalbe said‍⁠⁠ a moment ago.⁠⁠‍ What he saw‍ with his eyes‍⁠‌ did not reach‌‌ his brain.

— Canis! Regain consciousness!‍

Harvest‌‍ shouted through the⁠ mental channel. But⁠ it was useless.⁠⁠‍ His mind was‌ beginning to paralyze,⁠‌ and he could⁠ not even respond.‍

“It‍⁠ seems you care⁠ quite a bit‍ about your master.‌‍ Well, you share life, so it’s natural.”

At‌‍ Kariel’s words, Harvest⁠ turned around. The‍⁠ archangel had descended‍‌ to the ground⁠ and was observing‌‍⁠ the situation. He⁠ had undoubtedly noticed‍ that Harvest’s strength⁠ had weakened.

“To‍‍ maintain the darkness‍⁠‌ requires quite a bit of energy.⁠ Are you compensating‍⁠ for it with⁠⁠ the life of‍ a human? It’s⁠ an interesting idea,⁠ but you are‌ only dispersing your⁠‌‍ power.”

Canis‍ slowly got up.‍⁠

He‍ had just realized that he had⁠ been lying on‍‍ the ground. He⁠ had not even been aware that⁠‍‍ he had saliva⁠ in his mouth.⁠

“Arin, it seems not all of us will return alive.”‍

“No!⁠‍ Canis! Not that!⁠ Never!”

A terrifying thought crossed Arin’s mind.

If‌ Canis, who had‍‍ a personality similar‍ to his master’s,⁠ tried something in⁠‍ this situation, it‍‍‍ could only be‍ the card Arcane‍⁠ used just before dying.

Harvest reached the same⁠⁠ conclusion.

— Canis, you’re not⁠‌ thinking of Abyss⁠‌ Memory, are you?‍‌‌ But you are‍⁠‌ not Arcane. You‍ may not endure‍ it.

Canis‌ shook his head.⁠ With such weak‌ resolve, he could‌⁠‌ not defeat a two-horned Mara.

— No. I will‌‌ try what I mentioned before. I need your power,⁠ Harvest. Can you⁠‌ help me?

— No. That is⁠⁠⁠ a magic that is only possible‍ in theory. We‍ haven’t even tested it. At the‌ very least, you should try it‌‌⁠ after interpreting the book of light‍ and darkness.

— Harvest, if one‍⁠‍ of us must⁠⁠ live, that is‌‍ Arin. You know that too.

Harvest‌⁠⁠ did not respond.⁠ But he did‍‍ not deny it‌ either, which was⁠ equivalent to accepting‍‌ Canis’s words. And‌⁠ that also meant‍ his own disappearance.⁠‌

— Understood. I will⁠‍ give you my⁠ power.

Harvest’s‌ body was absorbed into Canis’s shadow.⁠⁠

Canis,⁠⁠ regaining a bit‍⁠‍ of consciousness, prepared‌‌ for death.

He‌‌ had never thought‌ about a specific‌ situation in which‍ he had to die. He was‍ simply prepared to⁠‌ enter the eternal‍⁠⁠ world of nothingness.‍‍‍

“Abyss‍ Limit.”

The‌‍ magic designed only in theory was activated.

In⁠ an instant, the‌⁠‌ mental fatigue disappeared.‌‌ But he did‍ not erase his‍‍‌ memories like Arcane.⁠‍

What⁠‌ he erased was the limit.

Canis⁠⁠ knew what kind‌ of human he⁠ was. He probably‌‍ could not reach⁠⁠ the supreme level‍⁠‍ like Shirone.

That is why he‍ surpassed his limits‍ in his own way.

Children‍ who do not‍ know fire put‍ their hands into‌⁠ the flames without‍ hesitation, and great monks burn themselves⁠‌ to enter nirvana.‌‌

The‍ difference between ignorance and enlightenment is‍ enormous, but the‍‍ mental magnitude of‍‌ throwing oneself into‌ the fire is‍⁠‌ the same.

If⁠ he could not‍‌ be an enlightened‍ monk, Canis chose⁠⁠ to be an‍‌ ignorant child.

The‍ result was a temporary state similar‍‍ to an immortal‍‌ function.

Of‍⁠ course, he had⁠‍‍ not truly reached‍ nirvana. But at‍ least in combat,‌ he could obtain‍‌⁠ a very similar⁠⁠ mental strength.

“I’m⁠ going!”

Until‍ the duration of⁠‌ Abyss Limit ended,‌ he would feel‍‌ no fatigue.

But⁠ seeing Canis move‌‍ with such energy‌‍ was hell for‍ Arin.

“Canis!‌‍ No! Please don’t‍‍ do it!”

Arin⁠⁠‍ shouted through tears.‌‌ Without Canis and Harvest, she had‌‍‌ no courage to‌ continue living in⁠‍ the world.

But‌‌‍ Canis could not‍‍ hear any voice.‍ Feeling even a slight ecstasy for‌‌ having achieved that‌ magic for the‍ first time, he⁠‌ cast the most⁠‍ powerful spell he‍⁠ could use.

‘Familiars‍⁠ of darkness.’

A magic that converts the mage’s mind into physical force.‌ Arcane had a dark golem, but⁠ Canis’s familiars were‍⁠ completely different.

The‌ shadow spread across⁠⁠ the ground like‌ a liquid surface,‌‍ and from it emerged a huge‍ worm called worm.‌⁠‍

“Master…”‍⁠

If⁠ he could obtain‌⁠ a mental strength‌ comparable to an‌‍ immortal function, familiars‌‍ of darkness were⁠ the most compatible‍ magic.

‘Would⁠‍‍ he praise me?’⁠

The⁠ ten-meter worm traced‍ a parabola and‍ fell vertically.

Baalbe⁠ did not tense⁠‌ up. Without even‌‌ uncrossing his arms,⁠ he simply stepped aside.

“Not bad. This deserves‌ praise—”

Before‌ he could finish‍ speaking, another dark‍‍ worm emerged from⁠ the ground.

A kind of inverted⁠‍ waterfall rose, swallowing‍ Baalbe up to the ceiling.

The‌‌ object shattered into⁠ pieces, and the‌ sound of Baalbe’s‍ bones breaking could‍‍⁠ be heard.