Book 2 Chapter 26

Episode 50

"This bastard… Guwaaaah!"

As Libeni swung the Scythe of the Abyss haphazardly, bandits and bodyguards who had rushed out of the darkness were slaughtered and rolled on the ground.

"Are these guys idiots? Don't they know whose head is dangling up here? Ohbyeong? Ohbingshin? Anyway, it's those guys."

Meanwhile, Millek plunged his hand into the darkness. Dark Communion and Black Listening (暗交潶聆). It was a technique that allowed him to send a probing spirit to wherever darkness touched.

"You won't have to try so hard to find him, Mr. Dark Mage."

Just then, Millek skillfully dodged a flaming arrow that flew in, emitting violent heat.

On the roof of a half-collapsed wooden building, an archer aimed at them with a bow. Below, a giant of black iron stood with a double-bladed axe slung over his shoulder.

The one above was Rem the archer, and the one below was Bart. After a moment of silence, Libeni cried out, pointing his finger.

"Millek! That's them! The bad guys who stole my prey earlier!"

"Funny, who's calling whom bad guys?"

No sooner had Rem retorted than Bart stepped forward, his heavy iron armor carving cracks into the ground.

"Stormwheel Sword School (嵐輪劍派), Bart Uriuns."

Stating one's sword school and name was a customary courtesy expressed by disciples belonging to the Seven Swords of the One Saint (一聖七劍), the empire's most prestigious sword school, before killing someone.

Therefore, it was traditionally regarded as an expression of will and an emanation of murderous intent: 'I shall kill you now.'

A slight wrinkle appeared between Libeni's brows as he smiled leisurely.

'Stormwheel of the Seven Saints… and Uriuns? That's a surname given to top disciples. Another difficult opponent. How annoying.'

The Stormwheel Sword School was based in the mountainous eastern region of the empire, and the signature weapons representing the school were large weapons such as hammers and axes. Only big and heavy weapons.

「Strongly, only strongly.」

The school's philosophy symbolizing the Stormwheel Sword School was as above. Millek hummed, stroking his chin.

"Bart Uriuns… So, are you the Rem and Bart's Money Copying Adventurers? The ones who subjugated the mutated rat-spider queen."

"Hey, say it right! It's Rem and Bart's Pit-a-Pat Money Copying Adventurers! My name comes first!"

When Rem shouted, Libeni's eyes glowed with an ominous dark blue. It was the color of the Abyss (深淵).

"What, you guys were the ones who got rid of my cutie?"

"…!"

"If that's the case, I'll have to kill you with all my might for the first time in a while!"

That guy, his mood has changed. Bart gestured towards Millek with his chin to Rem. It meant, 'You take care of that side.'

Intensifying urgency.

Tension that made both hands sweat cold.

Immediately after, both sides clashed, and what tore apart the space first was Rem's magical arrow. As Millek lightly dodged and closed the distance, Rem shot five arrows overhead.

'Annoying, is that the Drunk Archer's Wood Splitting…?'

One arrow that had flown into the sky scattered in countless directions and rained down like a shower. It was a combat style created by Archer-Saint Kyes, which maximized an archer's close-range response capabilities.

However, Millek possessed abilities specialized in hunting such ranged marksmen. Because he could move through space using darkness as a medium.

"You've underestimated me, the peerless archer Rem, you bastard without children!"

However, at that moment, the arrows that fell to the ground, as if encircling Rem, turned into flames, completely dispelling the darkness from the surroundings.

'…How did he figure out my combat style?'

Rem snickered and placed a new arrow on the bowstring. Magical power surged fiercely red around the arrow, and the heat of flames swirled from the arrowhead.

KAAANG─────!

Meanwhile, below, the edges of the axe and scythe clashed, scattering countless sparks with a sharp metallic clang.

Libeni, who had parried Bart's relentless slashes a few times without giving him time to chant spells, changed his defense from blocking to dodging.

The corners of his mouth gradually twisted as the powerful wind pressure, led by the ferocious axe blade, nearly blew him away several times.

'This monstrous brute, he's not just a disciple-level opponent, is he?'

He heard that Ohbungyeong were roughly mid-to-high-tier among gold-ranked adventurers. If so, this guy is at least top-tier?

'Tch, annoyingly, the matchup is also unfavorable…!'

Suddenly, dense poisonous smoke spread out due to Libeni's high-speed chanting with his left hand.

Just before his vision was obscured, Bart was already swinging his axe broadly. Pang, the smoke dispersed with an unrealistic explosion that ripped through the air.

However, for Libeni, all he needed was a brief opening anyway. He landed on a distant outer wall, and with a low groan, bent his left hand's ring and middle fingers backward.

"Ancient Ahm (黯), Ryeon (鰱), Jung (蚛) dwelling in darkness──!"

Following the chant, runes, power characters, rose into the air, scattering dark blue light in sequence.

If the power of a 3-star spell was augmented with black magic, its power would surpass that of a 4-star spell. Once the spell was cast, there was no chance of winning.

"…!"

Perhaps to reduce the axe's weight, Bart threw the axe high over his head and then rushed forward, leaving giant footprints on the ground.

No, it wasn't because of the weight.

This was the Stormwheel's secret technique, Human-Weapon Lead (人仗先導), where the body is thrown first, followed by the weapon.

Normally, holding a weapon would restrict options in a charge or subsequent attacks. But what if you throw the weapon and then grab it again just before clashing with the opponent?

It not only increases mobility and prevents the opponent from reading your offensive, but also opens up countless options, starting from bare-handed combat.

"──I, Libeni, lead the ancient contract!"

It was a matter of a hair's breadth.

Bart, who had closed the 50-meter gap in just four steps, twisted his body fully, stepping forward with his left foot.

"Receive your command here and now──!"

The axe, which had been spinning in the air, was already flying towards Bart's right hand.

"Bart!"

There was no time to snatch the axe.

He put all his strength into his fist.

He would crush the skull by slamming it down like this.

"Sir Libeni!"

Kwoong, the double-bladed axe, having missed its master's hand, plunged into the ground with a thunderous roar, and the dark blue glowing runes spat out alluring darkness, and Bart's iron armor shot forward as if tearing the space in front.

A brief silence, the length of a single heartbeat.

Bart's fist violently ripped through the air, but Libeni, who had dodged the fist by a hair's breadth, smiled brightly and placed his hand on Bart's breastplate.

"Farewell, big guy."

The ultimate black magic: the flesh clinging to the bones completely melted away, and later even the bones themselves melted, exploding.

Before Bart could react, the power of the forbidden spell ignited from the caster's palm.

The black mist extending from his grip enveloped the black iron armor, the space creaked── and the next moment, it scattered into countless particles and shattered.

"…Huh?"

A moment of confusion.

What? Was this kind of spell? No, it couldn't be. By now, it should have completely enveloped this brute's body like a snake?

The answer came from a third party's voice.

"You could wait a million years, and it wouldn't happen."

Into the death-strewn street, glistening with blood, a boy stumbled out. His two eyes glowed crimson amidst his wildly dishevelled black hair.

"Because I erased it."

Except for Millek, the three people stared at him in bewilderment.

The shock Rem, Bart, and Libeni received was different in many ways, but…

Libeni, confirming the identity of the boy who appeared leading wildly dancing magical power, raised an eyebrow.

"What? How is that thing alive?"

The boy, Rain Ludwig, cast off his blood-stained gloves. The palms beneath the gloves were strangely wrapped in bandages.

"Stand back, Rem, Bart."

As he even unwrapped those bandages, the oppressive radiance emanating from an unfamiliar rune, §, began to engulf the blood-stained world.

"Consider it an honor."

And with a movement that felt almost reverent, he clasped his hands together to form a mudra.

"Because you're the first to see my mental image."

Ra (羅). He created two circles and two rhombuses with his fingers. The moment that mudra was formed, the boy's mental image was superimposed onto the world's scenery.

"Mental Image Construction, Flow-Measure World-Venerable (流量世尊)."

* * *

「A Mental Image Barrier is not about gaining new power.」

It was clearly written so in 『To Truth』, which contained the life of Riot Warden.

「A Mental Image Barrier is a mirror reflecting one's inner depths; ultimately, it is merely a barrier that maximizes the power one already possesses.」

Through intensive research over a short period, the power of Flow-Measure World-Venerable (流量世尊) discovered here amounted to four in total.

1. Ryu (流): The attribute of flow.

It is the power to convert runes inscribed in magic to other runes as smoothly as flowing water.

2. Ryang (量): The attribute of measurement.

It is the power to instantly calculate the necessary runes and mathematical formulas for a desired magic.

3. Se (世): The attribute of the world.

This is the foundational power that deploys the barrier of Flow-Measure World-Venerable (流量世尊).

4. Jon (尊): The attribute of augmentation.

It is the simplest yet most powerful force that unconditionally augments the power of any magic constructed through the mental image barrier.

These four runes unfold clockwise around me, and when activated, light radiates from the corresponding rune.

Just as a brilliant ray of light is now emanating from the Se (世) rune as the barrier unfolds.

Se (世), a mystical magical power that can only be described as vast, rapidly spreads around me to construct the barrier.

It was a Magic Square (方陣).

A mysterious world that only I could create. Around me, in circles spread to the east, west, north, and south, each rune of Flow-Measure World-Venerable (流量世尊) shines profusely.

"A Mental Image Barrier?"

The usually calm Millek blinked his eyes in astonishment. A mental image? Wasn't that the domain of sages who had reached the rank of 6-star? That little kid?

"Don't be ridiculous, it's obviously just a bluffing illusion!"

The moment of bewilderment was brief, as a powerful vortex of destruction, generated by Libeni's negative chant, erupted from his lips and swept over Rain.

"The form of the magic circle is two overlapping triangles, and the runes to be inscribed are Yu (游) and Jang (場)."

He imparts the attributes of 'floating in the void' and 'barrier deployment' to fire-attributed magic.

Originally, it was not a power that could be blocked by a 2-star spell… but oh, when the Jon (尊; augmentation) rune in the mental image barrier scattered auspicious light, the story changed.

The valiantly surging wall of flame, blazing with a heat that could not be called a 2-star spell, parried the vortex of destruction.

"Rune inscription conversion. Ru (瘻), Tan (彈)."

The moment Rain crossed his hands, oh, a beam of light surged from the Ryu (流; flow) rune of the barrier, and Libeni and Millek's entire bodies trembled uncontrollably.

The wall of flame split.

Into countless embers.

And then… how could they not be astonished when those embers rained down?

"Transformation of inscribed runes?!"

"How can that be…?!"

Changing runes in an already activated ability was an extremely advanced technique.

Historically, only five individuals in the entire Empire and Republic had ever accomplished it.

In the Empire, two sages and Archmage Lynn; in the Republic, the warrior party's priestess Friede and her disciple Toureina.

- Failure. If you can't do this, it cannot be called a success.

Toureina, Libeni's creator and mother, had said that.

After it was determined that she couldn't perform rune inscription conversion, she, who had been called a success, instantly became a failure…

Millek, who had hastily chanted a water-attributed spell (black magic has a poor affinity with fire magic) to block the ember bullets, quickly said,

"We need to get out of here first!"

"Shut up, shut up shut up shut up! I'm going to kill that thing. I am, I am!"

"Sir Libeni!"

Now the puzzle is solved. I see. That guy was also the owner of the 4-star magic that eliminated the rat-spider queen. Not some scroll…

There's no chance of winning here.

The runes to be inscribed in the incantation are Jeung (蒸) and Jang (場); after thoroughly blocking their five senses with a dense mist, they would have to escape through the darkness.

The moment the steam fiercely exploded and spread, Rain stretched his left hand forward, and light emanated from the Ryang (量; measurement) rune.

"Rune Creation. Jun (撙), Seon (搧)."

Using the Six Scripts (六書), the principle of rune formation, he combined basic runes to create Jun (撙; suppress) and Seon (搧; fan).

Simultaneously, five examples from tens of thousands of mathematical formulas inscribed in the Ryang (量) rune appeared. These were the mathematical formulas required to use this rune.

The mathematical formula to be solved was an improper integral. A formula that calculates coordinates by taking only the limit of the integration region of a definite integral.

"No…?!"

"Where are such runes…?!"

At that moment, a wind seemed to gust from above as if fanning, and the mist was pressed flat to the ground by the wind pressure, completely clearing the view.

That powerful pressing wind pressure affected not only the mist but also people.

Millek, who was trying to forcibly subdue the berserk Libeni and take him into the darkness, found his body becoming heavy, bringing his actions to a sudden halt.

"Th-this…!"

The moment Rain pointed at them with his index finger, vines of flame wrapped around their limbs.

A sudden silence fell upon the world, which had been a chaotic mess of rampant abilities. Finally, Rain's one knee buckled, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

'Close call, that was really close.'

With this, all his magical power was now consumed… He concealed his quickening breath and stood up on his knee.

"If you try to move, the flames will burrow into your bodies and kill you instantly, so don't do anything foolish… Ugh."

Rem rushed over and supported the swaying Rain.

"I told you, kid, don't overdo it!"

The Bell Sidias that had been shining in Rain's eyes lost its light, and the mental image barrier shattered like cherry blossoms in spring, scattering into the distance.

Mental image barrier and even power…

It was a fight where he had to use all his power, beyond his full strength, to his very limit. If it hadn't ended here, he surely would have died. Libeni gnashed his teeth.

"You, what on earth are you…!"

"Question, I'll ask the question. Who on earth made you look… like that?"

Libeni, who had been staring at Rain as if to kill him for some reason, seemed to laugh insanely, then quickly brightened.

"Don't get cocky just because you can do rune inscription conversion! I'm the real one! My appearance is exactly the same, and my skill is incredible! I am mother's success, the one meant to receive Lynn's soul!"

The moment he understood the meaning of those words, his eyes and mouth widened involuntarily.

My soul?

A vessel for my soul?

Who on earth… just as he was about to ask that, a strange rune he had never seen before spewed black smoke from Libeni's palate.

"This is to the very end…!"

Rem strung an arrow to his bowstring, thinking it was a final resistance, but strangely, Libeni looked up at the distant empty sky and began frantically begging, clasping his hands.

"M-mom! I-I was wrong! I, I was wrong! I'll do better, please, Mom, please, please, please───!"

If he had had the magical power to use Bell Kirias, could he have destroyed that? But even if he had, he wouldn't have been able to function as a human, he thought.

Because Libeni's body, touched by that smoke, began to terribly decay and melt away, emitting a foul, rotting smell.

Perhaps judging that the opponent had used a special ability, the fiery prison spontaneously ignited flames, incinerating Millek's body, who had closed his eyes in resignation.

"Wow, crazy bastard. Didn't even scream once."

Rem, who had watched the scene of the burning at the stake, biting his lip, shook his head as if shuddering.

"Are you okay, Rain?"

Bart approached and asked, but Rain merely stared blankly at the burning corpses.

'A vessel to contain my soul? What on earth are those black magic bastards plotting…?'

He couldn't even make a light guess. His brain had long since surpassed its limits from the moment he had twice swallowed black magic with Bell Kirias.

Thump.

He seemed to stagger once, then fainted and fell, but Bart caught him. Rem took off his cloak and wrapped it around Rain's body.

"His body is as hot as a fireball. Just like last time."

"He must have overdone it again."

"Well, he used such incredible power, it's natural he wouldn't be okay. But what is a mental image barrier?"

"I don't know the details either… but I remember it being the ultimate essence of magic."

Rem folded his arms and opened his small, bird-like eyes in confusion, then tilted his head.

"Ah, well, I really don't know. I think I said the same thing last time, but what on earth is his true identity?"

The cold underground wind blew eerily. The wind felt uncomfortably lukewarm, imbued with the warmth of the dead.

"Whatever his identity, Rain is our comrade."

Bart said briefly and, carrying Rain on his back, started walking towards where Sammy was running, while Rem laughed in disbelief and followed behind him.

"Funny, who ever said he wasn't?"