Chapter 75: The Return of the ArchMage (1)
nJWjJCanis brought over a pale green robe. Despite Arin’s gaze, Arcane changed into his clothes without hesitation.kCaBD
EvFkNIULeaning on the table for support, Arcane managed to take a few steps and finally caught his breath after sitting down.Ck0U6
rvaiPhew, I finally feel alive again.41R5t
47n8f0Are you alright, Master? Canis asked, concerned. The contrast between his pale skin and the dark circles under his eyes showed his identity as a dark mage without saying a word.1tAu
rcZX6wSuch fascinating eyes. Thats why I chose him as my apprentice.Knz
JCxaOn the other hand, Arcane wasnt particularly fond of Arin. Despite her apparent talent, evident from her black hair and eyes, she seemed too timid and lacked discernment.7gGOo4
EiQ5pHer pretty face showed no trace of malice, and her large, expressive eyes revealed her emotions too easily.Blm4AA7
xPQin4ASeeing her shaking pupils ever since she saw the old man’s naked body, Arcane clicked his tongue in annoyance.pgcai9
vPJSTsk, tsk, what use is such a frail girl? If not for being Canis’s close friend, I wouldn’t have bothered with her.h2k
e5s5YrIt was seven years ago.TIKr
wlYDespite using the life support device, Arcane, impaired in mobility, mustered his last strength to enter the capital city of Bashuka.qPlH
veLRAs expected of the largest city in the Thormia Kingdom, the streets were affluent and splendid. However, the underside of this luminosity was a continuation of the miserable lives of those abandoned by the city.JPNlU
LSOqEQThe slum of Radum.xc624uI
LYd3YdTrue to the extreme polarization of the capital, the residents of Radum led even more wretched lives compared to beggars in other cities.QC5Ow
gzH7uTheir only means of obtaining food in this forsaken place was rummaging through trash bins. Even this was fiercely competitive, leading to murders over a fishbone.dnGX0yY
kyMArcane found Canis and Arin in this hellhole.nAB54u5
PJMIn Radum, where everyday life was a battlefield, ten-year-old Canis had managed to survive along with Arin by becoming ruthless.0hUEZ
KJlCanis’s eyes burned with resentment towards the world.GZf1m
sLhArcane liked that look. He took them to his dungeon and taught them dark magic.sn1v
2faVuMy judgment was right. That one is a true gem.PSQe4T
Ta4DRBArcane, refusing the support of Canis, stood up. He did not want to show weakness on the day he was escaping the clutches of aging.fEO
Ugj6uwWatch closely, the grandeur of dark magic.TDvH0JM
tPHGvHolding the black crystal, Arcane closed his eyes. Despite his trembling hands due to weakness, his face radiated undeniable excitement.JqHyxK
9CWfgKaah!BsAfxD
Rn0qGWith a forceful yell, the crystal softened and wrapped around Arcane like a stream of water. Then, dispersing like dark clouds, it enveloped his entire body.zzBq9y
OzFKaaaaah!ist
UiitXArcane let out a monstrous scream. Absorbing the power he had accumulated over 40 years in one go, an ordinary person would have lost their mind by now.rRFyk2F
UGyjrThe concept of dark magic involves absorption and assimilation.WjeE
bgvArcane regained his past strength by assimilating the dark power he had absorbed into the crystal with his own darkness.WN39oqY
qQIUooooh!KQ5S
eByaNdThe shadow beneath Arcane flared up like flames, then detached from his body, scattering like fragments.N83ubS
EDeOxETAfter some time had passed, Canis and Arin slowly opened their eyes. Not a trace of Arcane’s previous frailty could be seen.UEKpCOn
ItDiy5His appearance hadn’t become younger or his back straighter, but his complexion was now rosy, and his eyes brimmed with vitality.sx9
dJSkFeeling the overwhelming aura of their rejuvenated master, Canis trembled with emotion.nf9iOi
Vs5ql4Is this Master Arcane’s true form? I had heard rumors, but this is truly remarkable.sGBR
37l9Pleased with himself, Arcane grinned. He had regained the strength he had before Alpheas dealt him a crippling blow.iPoO
acYLet’s go. From today, Arcane’s history will be rewritten.ADG
6MjzeaWaiting 40 years for this day, Arcane left the dungeon without taking a moment to relish his newfound power.PajXk
gfcDThe guards couldn’t move their bodies. When Arcane waved his hand, the guards, despite their will, turned against each other, thrusting their spears at their comrades.8CY
BggnDIL“Ah! Are you crazy? Its dangerous!”D1SO0
jz1YY“I don’t know! I’m not doing this!”DWDz5
wcD2Arin’s face turned pale. Born with different eyes from others, she unfilteredly absorbed the terror of the guards.HAa
iNKmB“Canis, Master never said he would come to such a place.”dJe4XXv
kDNCanis was equally perplexed. However, his trust in Arcane remained unshaken.JSC1O
ld01“There must be some reason. Let’s just follow for now.”j4kHlP
F6wv3CArcane effortlessly breached the battlefield and headed towards the building. The shadow that had connected him to the guards snapped, and the fighting men foamed at the mouth and collapsed.dMI98
F46FQSnDark magic’s signature trait is mind control.2MpyZiA
fWFSDarkness merges with other darkness. This characteristic is exploited to infiltrate others’ shadows to control their bodies and thoughts.HGEG
6eMkkFOAt first glance, the nature of dark magic seems overpowering.sg22x4a
2NG3But the reason it’s considered a minor branch lies in one major flaw – its vulnerability to light.Wsx
QMad2During the day when the sun is up, darkness can only exist as a mere shadow. Moreover, more mental power is needed to cast dark magic under bright light.J9jB3H
KxcbOf course, the prowess of a dark mage maximizes at night, but even that advantage has been diminishing with the popularization of the theory of photonization developed by the genius Kergos.HlYyK
8ZyYIn magic schools across the continent, students specializing in dark magic are almost nonexistent, reflecting the disdain for the dark arts in the magical community.wTQC7
jlcAQHowever, Canis knew that Arcane had perfectly overcome the shortcomings of dark magic. The supreme essence he had realized was wholly imparted to Canis.0mO4
6dO‘I must trust Master. He has given me everything.’KXc
nKVBreaking into the prison, Arcane handled additional guards in the hallway before entering the cell block A-3, where the prisoners were detained. Sensing the incident, the prisoners banged on their bars with their food containers.CLvBeE
ybatV“Hey! Whoever you are, let us out!”Kh0t6Fw
1jYM“Look here! Open this damned door! I’ll make it worth your while! Or I can kill someone for you, if you prefer!”Daytfwg
MeuGSArcane slowly extended his hands. The bleak environment of the prison was an ideal stage for him to showcase the extent of his dark magic.wWnJWN7
lbUaR9y“The Might of Darkness.”VOVhq
bYgPtR5Shadows cast along the corridor morphed into hand shapes and popped out in 3D. Hundreds of these hands gripped the bars and tugged, twisting the metal. As the prisoners backed against the wall in fear, the bars along the corridor were successively ripped off.ou6L
R0uRBang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!Khs1R
t86DKThe Might of Darkness was a spell that manipulated shadows absorbed from surrounding energy as if they were limbs. A single shadow could barely lift a pebble, but hundreds working in unison displayed enough strength to easily uproot prison bars.YwX
X3YeAs the doors opened and time passed, the prisoners gingerly emerged, heavy iron balls attached to their ankles.BkT
agFVjS“Whats this? Are you a mage? Quite extraordinary.”8F59l
Ub4yvY“Anyway, thanks. Let’s introduce ourselves. I’m the Night Cat Crown, known in these parts.”VwWPla
bjKoKLOArcane, sensing the pitiful aura of the prisoners, frowned in disgust. Inferno used to be different 40 years ago, filled with the most heinous criminals. How had it degenerated to this?2yE
VoA6t9y‘Times really have changed. Does it mean living standards have improved?’BemH
cAXAccording to Arcane, as civilization advances, the quality of criminals declines. More con artists with clever schemes emerge, and the truly evil infiltrate society.Snds
L2M“Pathetic fools. Do criminals do self-introductions now? Just because the bars are gone, do you think you can leave this place?”KyUDPE
mrBcuT4“Whats with this old man? Gone senile? You know who I am?”IzHYX
rpHbOYThe prisoners boasted in numbers. Just because they shared a prison didn’t mean they were allies.4QXGfSt
YQCmbR“Listen up, fools. If you don’t have the confidence to take me down, stay in your cell. Disobey me, and you’ll suffer the pain of broken bones.”dML
qXWumIThe prisoners burst into laughter.Ssha1m
c4eL“Hahaha! Whats this old guy on about? Came all this way and now you think we’ll just go back?”cVNDJi
cUt70Lq“Let’s trample him! Time to leave this wretched prison!”MRgr3D
H1Sf4WIn their excitement of regaining freedom, the prisoners charged without heed. But soon, they realized they were still shackled at the ankles.5sB
2M3uKu“Ah? What! Damn it!”66v1S
ZvWBXSThe prisoners began to panic. Arcane, watching their pathetic state, snorted.FR4
W4oA true criminal either has the skills or the brains. But these were just parasites, feasting off the prison’s food.CbfG
XGw4“The Might of Darkness.”BB6ojc
M54T“Ah, what is this?”l84Ukhc
okPThe hands that had torn off the bars now wrapped around the prisoners and pulled them into the darkness. Like being buried in a giant gel, their eyes, noses, and mouths disappeared under the black veil.6etloG
0fBv7ZsAfter a while, the sound of breaking bones was heard.1APGx
9ss“Ugh, ugh!”8tG
QRBu6“Arrrgh!”7oo
Jo1The prisoners, unable to scream with their mouths sealed, could only groan.yhdWxQD
KIBz6Hearing the eerie sounds, Arin shivered and said to Canis, “Do we really need to go to such lengths for revenge?”KeA
LQ3sa“Arin, questioning the Master is like doubting ourselves.”qvJs
sNN7G“But still…”hwqcF
O3AZLSx“Forgot what happened in Radum? Worse things happened there. And these prisoners are no different from those who tormented us in Radum.”Yty9
80xa0“But we promised to forget everything that happened in Radum. To be happy from now on.”wzfi
CkBW“Its not over yet. We can’t find happiness until Master’s grudge is settled.”jrdP6iz
NvRbFAs the darkness dissipated, the prisoners lay twisted in agony.f5bC
59SArcane, looking down on them with contempt, muttered, “Weaklings. Was this a waste of time? Or will the other blocks be any better?”RK2f
VDZiIYlThere were 320 criminals in Inferno. Perhaps this block was particularly full of lowlifes.5lwHgl8
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