Infinite Mage — Chapter 219: Sky (2)

Chapter 219: Sky (2)

Baalbe,‌ called in a certain civilization the god of anesthesia,‍‌ was a Mara‍⁠ who put all‌ kinds of living‌ beings to sleep‍ and implanted those‌ bodies into his‍ own organs.

Sleep degrades living beings‌⁠ to the phase of inert objects.⁠‍‍

The⁠‍ beings captured by⁠‍ Baalbe were no‍⁠ different from objects,⁠‍ and thus they‍ had to live‍⁠‌ their entire lives‌ transformed into organs‍ of the monster.

— Progress of the‌ Liquor of the life: 90 percent.⁠‌

Baalbe,⁠⁠ who exceeded 100‍⁠ tons, clumsily shook‌ his heavy body‍⁠‌ as he pursued‍‍ Shirone. From his shoulder sprouted something‍‍ like the foreleg‌‍ of a quadruped‍‌ beast and struck‍ the ground.

The‍‌‌ Great Temple of‍ the World rumbled‌‍‌ with a roar.⁠⁠‍

“Kiki! What do you⁠‍ think? It’s the‍‌ power of 260⁠‍ lions. Soon you‍‌ will also become⁠ part of my⁠⁠ body.”

— Progress of the⁠ Liquor of the‌⁠ life: 91 percent.‌‌⁠

After‍‌ surpassing 90 percent,⁠‌ the voice began to announce in⁠ units of 1 percent. Knowing that‌‌ only 9 percent⁠‌ remained, Shirone’s heart‌ skipped a beat.‍

“…Shirone!‍‍‌ Shirone!”

Shirone⁠‍ came back to‌‍ his senses upon hearing Canis’s voice.‍⁠⁠

“What‌‍⁠ are you thinking?‌‌ If you have‌ something prepared, do‍‍ it quickly. Don’t⁠ tell me you‌ came without thinking,‌‌ right?”

If‌‍ he had come‍ only because his⁠‌⁠ magic had improved‍ a little, Canis was ready to throw Dark Worm⁠ at him himself.⁠

Dying⁠‌ was better than⁠⁠ becoming part of‌‍‌ a dream demon‌⁠ and suffering eternally.⁠

Hearing⁠⁠ Canis, Shirone remembered‍ the magic circle⁠ that Ikael had‍ transmitted to him.‌

But⁠ even if he⁠ could create a halo, he could‌ not use it‍⁠ immediately like an‍‌ angel.

“There‍ is one thing‌‌‌ I can do…”‍

“Then do it! Why are you hesitating?”‌

From‍ the lower part‌‌ of Baalbe’s body‍‌‍ sprouted 20 crab⁠‍‌ legs.

When‌⁠ those swift legs‌⁠‍ pushed the weight⁠‌ of 100 tons‌ forward, Shirone and⁠‍‌ Canis jumped aside‍ at the same‍ time.

Baalbe‌‌‍ leapt 10 meters⁠‍ and crushed the‍‍ place where they had been.

The‌ Great Temple of‌ the World shook,⁠‌ and metallic dust fell from the‍ ceiling.

“I‍ need time. Can‍‍‍ you buy some time?”

Canis sighed. So in‍‌ the end, it‍⁠ was that?

But‍ how long could he hold off‌‍ a two-horned Mara, even at full‍⁠ condition?

“10‍⁠ seconds. I won’t last longer than‌‌ that.”

“Just⁠‍‌ give me one⁠ minute.”

At‍‍‌ the moment Shirone‌ moved away, Baalbe swung one of‌ his octopus legs.‌⁠⁠

When‍‌ Canis jumped like‌‍ a flying squirrel,‌ the moist tentacle⁠‍ smashed the ground.

“Kihehehe!⁠ You’re good at⁠‌ running away. I suppose that’s the‌‍ only virtue of‍‍ the weak.”

“Ha!‌‌ And you, being‌ so slow, think you’re something great.”⁠

Canis‌ focused and calculated⁠ the time. The‌ difference in power⁠ was enormous, but‍ if he focused‌‌ only on evading,‌‌ it was not‍⁠‌ completely impossible. That‍‍‍ a mosquito cannot‌‍ defeat a human⁠‌‌ does not mean‌‍ it cannot run away for a minute.

Rian‍⁠ stood up, gripping‌ his greatsword.

“I…⁠‌‌ must go.”

He‍‌ could not stay resting forever. Shirone‍⁠ was preparing something,‌ so he had⁠ to buy time together with Canis.

At‍⁠ that moment, Peophe‌‍ looked outside and⁠⁠‌ shouted.

“T-that!”⁠

When‌ Rian turned, the‍‌ king of the‌‍ giants, Ymir, was⁠⁠ running toward them⁠ with eyes full‌ of rage. He⁠ was undoubtedly aiming⁠‌ at Shirone, who‍‍ had caused him that humiliation.

Dragging⁠‌ his broken body,‌ Rian charged with‍ all his strength‍‍ and slammed into‍‍ him, causing Ymir’s‍ body to shift⁠‌ to the side.‍⁠‍ Rolling on the‍ ground, Rian grabbed‌⁠⁠ his greatsword and‍ blocked the path⁠ toward Shirone.

‘What⁠ is this? Why?’‍⁠

He‌⁠‌ had charged ready‌ to die, but⁠ he did not expect to push‌ Ymir. He felt‌‌ that his strength‌ had decreased.

Ymir⁠⁠ stood up, shaking‌‍ his knees.

“This⁠‍ is the third time. But now‌‍ it doesn’t seem‍ so fun.”

“I‍‍ am Shirone’s sword.⁠‌ As long as‍ I don’t die,‍‍⁠ you will not get close.”

Thanks‍ to Peophe’s telepathy,‌‍ they could now‌ understand each other,‌‍‌ but Ymir frowned‌⁠ with a disappointed⁠ expression.

“You’re wrong. Strength does‍‌ not exist to‌‍ protect something. The‌‌ essence of strength‍‍ is destruction. If‌‍ you don’t understand‍‌ that, you will⁠ never be able‌‌ to stop me.”‍

Ymir‍‍ moved like the‌ wind. His brute strength had decreased,‍⁠ but his agility‌ seemed to have‌ increased.

A rain of blows‍⁠ fell on Rian’s⁠ body. Already completely‌⁠ destroyed, he could‍⁠ not even counterattack.‍

But‍ that was enough.‍ As long as‍‌ he remained alive,⁠ Ymir would not⁠‌ be able to⁠‍‌ reach Shirone.

‘Endure. Just a little⁠ longer and you⁠⁠‌ can die in⁠⁠ peace.’

Ymir’s‌‌ eyes began to‌‍ redden. No matter‍ how much he⁠⁠ struck, Rian did‍‌‍ not fall.

He⁠ had destroyed everything‍ visible, yet he‍⁠⁠ continued enduring as⁠‌⁠ if something still⁠ remained.

“Rian!‌‌ Rian! Stop it, damn it!”

Tess⁠ shouted with her‍⁠ face soaked in‍‌ tears.

“Please,⁠ stop hitting him!‌‍ He’s going to‌ die!”

Ymir⁠ did not stop.⁠ It was a madness different from⁠‍ a normal fight.‌

The⁠‍ sensation of life⁠ against life colliding‌‍ was transmitted through‌‍‌ the skin.

It‍ was fun. A truly interesting human.‌

“Magnificent!‍ Destroying you is‍ my mission!”

Rian’s‍‌ body shook with a sound as‌⁠ if it were⁠ tearing apart.

Tess‌ closed her eyes.‍ But even so,‍‍‍ she could see‌ it. Rian’s death⁠⁠ was transmitted to‍‌ her five senses.‌‍

She⁠ shouted at Kariel,‌ crying.

“It’s⁠‌ fine! I’ll give⁠ birth to them!‌‍ If they are nephilim, I’ll give‍ birth to as many as you‌ want, so please⁠ stop!”

Kariel‌‌ did not react.

“Giving⁠ birth to nephilim‍⁠ is something natural. And besides, Ymir‍⁠ is not under‌‌ my control.”

— Progress of the‍ Liquor of the‍ life: 96 percent.⁠‌

Ymir⁠‍ stopped his attack‌‌ and panted. It⁠ was shocking. What was this human‌ made of?

He⁠ was dead. No,‍ he should be‍‌ dead.

He‌‍⁠ could not even⁠‌ raise his guard, and there was‌ no trace of‍⁠ life left in him.

But‌ he was still‍⁠ holding the greatsword.⁠

How‌ was that possible?‌ He had destroyed⁠ all the muscles⁠‍ in his right‌‍ arm. It was‌ impossible to hold⁠ steel with tendon‍ strength alone.

‘No,⁠ it’s just a corpse. It stiffened‍‌ like that.’

He‌‍‌ had won, without⁠⁠‌ a doubt, but‍ it did not‍ feel like he‌⁠ had won.

“I’ll‌ finish it!”

Ymir gritted his teeth.‍⁠‌ He took a wide step and‍ raised his fist⁠ for the final‌ blow.

At⁠‌ that moment, he⁠ saw Rian’s greatsword‍ rise.

Very‌ slowly.

When‍⁠⁠ he expanded his‍ field of vision,⁠ only he was‌⁠ moving in the‌‌ entire Great Temple‍‌ of the World.‍‌

‘Tch.‍‍ This again?’

Ymir,⁠‍ with countless battles‌ behind him, called⁠⁠ this a seesaw‍ of time. When‍ the speed of⁠‍ the world suddenly‌ skyrockets, from the‌‍‍ perspective of the‍‍ one receiving it,‌ time flows slowly.‌

When‍ one accelerates, the other slows down.⁠

In⁠⁠⁠ other words, while⁠‍ Ymir’s time slowed‌ down, Rian’s arm‍‌ moved faster.

‘Damn‍‌‍ it!’

Ymir‍ understood why the‌ boy in front‍⁠ of him could‍⁠ move even with⁠ his body destroyed.‍

His mind had not⁠‌ been destroyed.

And⁠‍ that intact mind was directly moving his body.

A technique that completely⁠‌ transcends the biological‍‌ mechanism where the‍‍ body moves after⁠ receiving orders from‍⁠‌ the mind.

It⁠ was the technique of incarnation, something⁠ only the highest-level‌‍ giants could use.‍

Since‌‍ schema was originally⁠ a technique of‌ the giants, the⁠⁠ incarnation technique also‍‍ had similarities with concepts from the⁠⁠‍ human world.

Swordsmen‌⁠ who strengthen their‌ brains through schema‌⁠ control their bodies⁠⁠ through mental blocks.‌‌

But⁠ when that surpasses⁠ a certain limit,‌ the mind and⁠‌ body merge, and‌⁠ the body moves‍‍‌ exactly as one‌‍⁠ thinks.

In⁠ the human world,‌⁠‍ this phenomenon is⁠‍ called divine transcendence.⁠

‘Heh.‌ You should have‍‍ done this from‍ the beginning.’

Ymir⁠‍‍ twisted his body‍⁠ while watching Rian’s‍⁠ greatsword heading toward‌ the ceiling.

At‍⁠ the instant he⁠‌ thought he had tilted his body‍⁠ enough to dodge,‍⁠‌ the speed of‍‌ time suddenly returned.‌

Rian’s‌⁠ greatsword disappeared from‌⁠ his sight.

At⁠ the same time,‍⁠ his severed right⁠‌ arm spun through‌‌ the air.

Ymir’s‌ face turned bitter.⁠⁠⁠ The faster Rian⁠ moved, the slower‌ time flowed. Even‍⁠‍ so, he could not completely dodge,⁠ which meant he‍ could never have‍ avoided it from‍‍ the start.

Bang!‌ Bang! Bang! Bang!‍ Bang!

At‍ the moment the‍ greatsword touched the⁠‍‍ ground, Rian’s right‌ arm exploded.

The‍ torn muscles hung‍‌ loose, and the⁠‍ bone was completely‍‌‍ exposed.

The‍ body could not⁠‍ withstand the speed‌‌ of divine transcendence.‍

— Progress of the‌ Liquor of the life: 97 percent.‍

The‌‌‍ Liquor of the⁠ Life was already‌‌ rushing toward its⁠‍⁠ final stage. And the lives of‍⁠ the humans were‍ also fading. Canis,‍ who had been‍ struck by one‍ of Baalbe’s tentacles,‌‌ was flung dozens‌‍ of meters and‌‍‌ crashed into the‌ wall.

And‍‌ he could not⁠⁠ get up.

“Baalbe,⁠‍ finish this.”

“Yes,‌‍ Kariel-nim!”

After‌ defeating Canis, Baalbe‌ lunged at Shirone.⁠‍⁠ The minute he⁠ had promised at‍⁠ the beginning had‌⁠ already passed. Yet‍‌⁠ still, no change⁠ occurred in Shirone.⁠

“Shirone! It’s dangerous!”

Shirone‌‍ heard nothing. In the process of opening Immortal Function⁠ to the limit‍‍ and reversing it, there was no‌‌‌ room for nerves to intervene.

“Kuhahaha!‍ I’ll hang you‍ on my most repulsive part!”

From‌‌ Baalbe’s back sprouted‍⁠‌ something like a scorpion’s tail. At‍⁠ the tip of‌ the stinger hung a black drop.‌

A sleep poison so‍ potent that a single sting could‍⁠‍ anesthetize even a dragon.

At⁠⁠⁠ that instant, Shirone’s‍ eyes snapped open.⁠ Boom! A circle‍‌ 2 meters in‍‌ diameter formed, and‌ Baalbe’s attack was‍⁠ repelled by a shockwave.

Seeing⁠ that, a look‍ of confusion crossed‌‍ Kariel’s face.

‘It can’t be. No,‍‌‌ that’s impossible.’

A human cannot use an angel’s abilities. It was not‍‍‍ something the human‌‍⁠ mind could comprehend.‍

Then‌ why this unease? What was this⁠ miserable feeling pressing‌⁠‌ on his heart?⁠

“Baalbe!⁠ There’s no time!”⁠

“Kieeeee!”‍

Hearing‌⁠ Kariel’s order, Baalbe‌ screamed and launched⁠ a close-range attack.‌⁠ His grotesque face⁠‍‌ was filled with⁠ fear.

Shirone’s‍⁠ halo spun at‍ the speed of‍ light, and a red point embedded‍‌‌ itself in the‍ center.

Immediately⁠ after, the first‌‍ magic circle began‍⁠⁠ to invoke countless concepts.

The‍ magic circle of⁠‍ an angel.

Halo‍⁠‌ of infinite jurisdiction.‌

As⁠ he watched the‌‌ countless magic circles blooming like a lotus from the‍⁠ halo, Kariel could⁠‍‍ not hide his shock.

It‌⁠‌ was truly a halo.

For‍‌ a human to‌‌ comprehend it on⁠⁠ his own made‌ no sense. Without‌ a doubt, someone⁠‌ had taught it‍ to him.

Who?‍ What insane angel‍⁠ in this heaven‌ would teach a halo to a human?

While‍‌ Kariel remained trapped‍‌ in shock, Peophe‌ flew toward the‍‌‌ women.

“Hurry!‍‌ Hurry!”

“Alright!⁠ Wait a moment!”‍‌

Applying‍‌ a twisting force,‍ the restraints warped.⁠‍

Thanks‌‌ to Canis having⁠ already cut more⁠ than half, Peophe‌‌ was able to‍‌ destroy them without‍ difficulty.

Meanwhile,⁠⁠ Kariel could not‍ take his eyes‌⁠‌ off the halo.‌‍‍

What⁠‌‌ was happening before‌‌‌ his eyes was‍⁠ an even more‍ serious problem than‌ the nephilim.

The‍‌ betrayal of an⁠ angel was a matter that shook⁠⁠ the very foundations‍⁠ of heaven.

He⁠ had to know.‍ Who had taught‌‌ him.

And‍ he had to⁠ erase their existence.‍⁠

Baalbe used all his‍‍⁠ organs to crush‌‍ Shirone. But as⁠ if blocked by⁠ an invisible barrier,‌‍‍ the attack stopped⁠‌ before reaching him.‌‍

“Kiik!‍‍ Kiik!”

He‌‍⁠ did everything he‌⁠ could, but it⁠‍ was useless. Just⁠ as a child‌‍ cannot kill their‌ mother, the authority⁠ of a higher⁠‍ being recorded in‍‌ the laws prevented⁠ him from even approaching.

When‌ multicolored flashes crashed‌‍ into the halo, countless magic circles‍ were born and meshed together like⁠‌ gears.

At‌‌ the moment the⁠ information density exceeded‌‌ 80 percent, the⁠ concept changed abruptly‍ and the rotation speed increased.

The⁠⁠ rotation speed of‍⁠ the halo, surpassing‍‍ imagination, gave the‌ impression that it⁠⁠ alone could disrupt⁠‍ the world.

Upon understanding the concept‌ contained in the‌‌ magic circle, Baalbe’s‌ face turned pale.‍‍

His‌ legs lost strength‌ and he fell‍ flat on his back.

He‌⁠ had come face‌‌ to face with‌ the most terrifying⁠ thing for a Mara.

“Hiiik!‌‌ Ata…! Ata…!”

Baalbe‌‍ mobilized all the⁠ organs he could⁠⁠ move and began‌ crawling toward Kariel.‌‌‍ But he was‌‍ so out of his mind that‍ none of his‌‍ organs managed to‌ propel him properly.‌‍

Abandoning the intent to‌⁠‍ kill, Baalbe turned‍‍ his head and‍ screamed.

“Kariel-nim!‍‍ Avoid it! It’s‍‍ the superpower amplification‍ circle Ataraxia!”

Kariel‌ knew it. But⁠‌ he did not‌ move. All kinds‌‍‌ of thoughts filled‍‍‌ his mind, to the point that it seemed time‍ itself was not‌⁠ even flowing.

Ataraxia?⁠‌

The‍ most powerful judicial‍ technique of heaven,⁠ which had subdued⁠ countless angels. The signature move of⁠‍ Ikael, capable of‍ making even any⁠‌ Mara scream.

And‍ that ability had‌ been passed on to a human?‍‍

It‍ could not be.⁠

It‍ would be more‌ believable that his‍ eyes were failing⁠‍ and that the⁠‌ Ikael there only‌‌‌ appeared to be a boy.

‘Ikael…‍ have you truly⁠‌‍ gone mad?’

No,‌‌ she had not‍ gone mad.

She‌ truly wanted to‍‍ stop the war.⁠ She even chose‍ to stand on the side of⁠‌ humans, abandoning the‌ honor of being‍⁠⁠ the strongest angel.⁠

— Information transmission rate:‍‍ 98 percent.

Kariel’s body trembled.

Only‍ 2 percent remained.‍

But⁠‌ Ataraxia was in⁠ front of him.⁠‍

He‍‌ saw Shirone’s gaze⁠ aimed at him.‍‌ Could a human‌ really use that?‍

It⁠ might be a trick. The Liquor⁠⁠ of the Life⁠ had to continue.⁠ But if what‌ was happening now‌⁠ was real.