Two wizards simultaneously gestured towards each other.
Kwaaaaang!!
Suddenly, a vivid blaze erupted without warning, extending like the hand of a giant, seizing the location where Lennok stood.
The flames scorched the ground, spiraling upwards to create a colossal column of fire.
Lennok, maintaining his composure, shielded himself and stepped back to observe the spectacle.
Rather than the young man’s summoned fire column dissipating, it appeared to breathe new life into itself.
[Growwwww!!]
From the heart of the fiery pillar, a fluorescent giant, towering over 3 meters in height, emerged, pushing through the waves of flames.
The giant fixed a menacing gaze on Lennok and let out a bone-chilling scream.
In response, Lennok conjured flames in his hand and slammed them onto the ground.
As ashes scattered from the earth, a massive wall of fire ascended, clashing with the fluorescent fist of the giant.
Kwaaaaang!!
The expanding shockwave mingled with a dissonant fluorescent light.
When the two flames collided, an unimaginable explosion resounded.
Flames, which should possess no physical force, defied the laws of conventional physics within the realm of a wizard’s will and spell formula.
This might be one of the defining traits of elemental magic.
It was something Lennok could only vaguely deduce, having studied not only Thorben’s unique magic but also acquiring Blaiver Tower’s magic.
“That’s not how you do it.”
“…What did you say?”
“You need to unfold it step by step. Wasn’t it said that how you start isn’t set in stone?”
[Explosive Flame Sphere]
[Quad Transformation – Resonance]
Hwaruk!!
Four fireballs manifested from Lennok’s outstretched hands, swiftly transforming into four streams of flames.
Almost instantaneously, they encircled the giant from all angles, converging into a colossal spiral.
[Fire Suppression]
Paaaaa!!
As the four flames resonated, emitting an intense pulse, the giant began to wither, accompanied by a piercing scream.
[Oooooo!!]
Flames battling flames. Lennok’s fire overcame the giant conjured by the young man, gradually erasing its presence.
The giant staggered, seeking its master, but the young man appeared to hold no attachment to his creation.
Recognizing that his initial assault had been thwarted, he swiftly abandoned the giant and launched fresh flames at Lennok.
Dudududu!!
Numerous elongated flames shot forth, slicing through the air and dominating the battlefield, prompting Lennok to respond with another volley of fireballs.
As the fiery whips spiraled, Lennok’s precisely aimed fireballs detonated, forming yet another curtain of flames.
The expansive curtain spun around, shaping into a colossal spear of fire.
Meanwhile, the dozens of fiery whips unleashed by the young man spread out, transforming into an expansive net of flames.
[Circulating Flame]
[Fire Net]
Kwaaaaang!!
In the relentless tempest of flames, the two wizards tirelessly maneuvered their hands.
Fueled by their projected mana and will, the initially released flames didn’t diminish but instead continuously shifted in form and grew.
Extinguishing flames once they’ve been released is no simple task, and the residual heat lingers even after the fire has passed.
The mana, continuously infused with more energy and will, continued to expand and intensify until it reached the wizard’s capacity.
The inherent nature of the flames was one of constant growth and explosion.
Blaiver tower’s distinctive magic aimed to maximize this inherent nature and efficiency.
The duel that commenced with fireballs and fiery whips had now evolved into massive waves of flames surging from all directions.
Flames of entirely distinct hues, spanning dozens of meters, surged and raged, with the “Plant” positioned between them.
In the ceaseless exchange of magical volleys, the young man’s once-elated countenance now contorted in anguish.
“How? How… This is impossible. How dare you challenge me in magic…!!!”
An adversary he had never deemed his equal.
How would one feel, having resorted to enhancing their mana with drugs, yet still unable to vanquish a fellow wizard from the same tower?
Rather than addressing this emotional void, Lennok focused on manipulating his mana.
Having shown unparalleled thinking ability that doesn’t fit with Bizen and demonstrating unbelievable magical achievements, the reason the young man didn’t doubt Lennok’s identity was because every time Lennok used magic, he imitated Byzen’s magical pattern.
Within the same tower, acquaintances would be familiar with each other’s magical signatures.
Thus, the young man could conceive of no explanation other than Byzen concealing his true potential all along.
Kwaaaaaaang!!
The undulating sea of flames.
The sky and earth ignited with twilight and fire.
In the overpowering heat, the parched soil began to evaporate, unable to withstand the scorching temperatures.
The ground slowly sank beneath the two wizards who continued to unleash their magic in all directions.
Realizing that the ground level was gradually decreasing, the young man’s face grew even paler and more contorted.
“Are you scared, sir?”
Lennok smiled.
He had never acknowledged anyone as a mentor or elder, yet he took pleasure in teasing someone he had just met.
“Let me guess, you have a hidden drug lab beneath this ‘Plant’, don’t you?”
“…Shut up.”
“After cutting off your limbs and draining your blood, I’ll take you to our tower and expose every single one of your misdeeds. To think, a traitor who dares to collude with the Drug Lord emerged from our proud Blaiver Tower.”
“Hehe… You really know nothing.”
The young man, his forehead drenched in sweat, managed a wry smile.
“Do you think I could’ve done all this alone? You’re not even worthy to glimpse the truth. It’s just that.”
“…”
Naturally, it was challenging not to react to the provocations of someone who appeared indifferent on the surface but inwardly held him in contempt.
Unbeknownst to him, as he watched the young man reveal the secrets of the Blaiver Tower, Lennok cracked a smirk.
“That’s a satisfying answer.”
To Lennok, there was no sentiment or attachment to an unfamiliar tower.
It appeared that Blaiver Tower had aligned itself with the Drug Lord, and if Lennok feigned betrayal to the Drug Lord by posing as the tower’s emissary, it was clear where the latter’s focus would shift.
Even if he couldn’t thwart the Drug Lord’s plans here, the assets and resources at the Drug Lord’s disposal would soon be directed elsewhere.
“But before that, let’s prove who truly is the rightful successor of the Fire.”
With a sweeping motion of his arms, the surrounding flames coalesced into a massive vortex.
From a minuscule spark that had spread to scorch the entire terrain, this was potent area magic.
Merely breathing seemed to engulf the land with this overwhelming breath of flames, evidence that Lennok had far surpassed Byzen.
It was ironic.
The bitter truth that the essence of magic was closer to Lennok, a former wanderer, than to young prodigies who had dedicated their lives to Blaiver Tower, left a harsh scar on everyone except him.
Raising his right hand, he twined his index and middle fingers.
As the simple incantation and Lennok’s formidable intent intertwined, the flames enveloping Lennok began to swirl around the young man, forming a massive ring of fire.
[Great Flame Wheel]
[Karma Flame]
The most potent fire elemental magic known to Byzen was unleashed here.
The fluorescent flames, which should not have possessed a tangible form, densely filled the space, suffocating everything within.
“No, nooooooooo!!! This can’t be happening!!!”
Only then did the young man realize that Lennok still had reserves and screamed in despair.
[Six Advancing Reds]
The young man attempted to resist by splitting his flames into six streams, but the ring of fire remained unyielding.
“Although you’ve enhanced your magic’s power with drugs, its sustainability is a mess. Probably because the drug-induced frenzy disrupts your concentration.”
The output itself might be high due to forcibly drawing in breath, but the flow was intermittently interrupted.
Such side effects might not be noticeable under normal circumstances, but when wizards of similar caliber manipulated their magic, it served as a fatal weakness.
The young man probably wasn’t oblivious to this fact, but he likely never expected Byzen to push him this far.
For the same reason, Lennok always tried to avoid substances that affected the mind, regardless of the situation.
The chains that bound him were not in his mind but on his physical body.
Once the momentum started to shift, it was difficult to regain control.
The sea of flames that consumed the ‘Plant’ plantation and even evaporated the ground had suddenly dissipated, while the ring of fire conjured by Lennok relentlessly pressed down on the young man.
Even in a moment that appeared to be on the brink of victory, Lennok remained vigilant.
A wizard wielding that level of power, enhanced by drugs, would not have such limited ambitions.
Desperation etched across the young man’s face as he frantically searched his surroundings.
Lennok calmly refocused his mana as he observed the young man fumbling for three packets of drugs.
“Ha… ha… ha…!!! Ahhhhhhhhh!!!”
After inhaling all three packets of powdered drugs into his eyes and nose, the young man frothed at the mouth, his eyes rolling back.
Though his countenance hinted at imminent unconsciousness, the fluorescent flames emanating from him grew larger and more formidable.
Shortly thereafter, a colorless wave radiated from his body, exerting substantial pressure on the surroundings.
The Domain, a realm accessible only to a select few Level 6 wizards.
After ingesting multiple doses of the mind-altering drug, the young man had finally breached this realm.
“Ahahaha, hahahahat!!! Ahahahaha!!! Finally…!!”
His face was a chaotic mix of joy, tears, and mucus, making it challenging to discern his expression.
As the Domain expanded, the fluorescent flames around him burned even more intensely.
In that critical moment, Lennok deftly reached into his pocket.
An artifact once owned by Irina Pheffield, now fully in Lennok’s possession, sparkled brilliantly from within his coat.
“Davi.”
[Ready.]
Lennok had foreseen that the young man, when cornered, would resort to consuming drugs recklessly.
Who better than him understood the heart of a fellow addict?
While a straightforward power struggle would inevitably end in Lennok’s favor, it would also consume considerable time—something Lennok desired to avoid.
Hence, he engaged in a psychological battle, employing a confining spell like the Great Flame Wheel to compel the young man to unleash the Domain.
The intense determination and vast magical energy required for the Domain’s deployment. All of it stretched outward, creating a brief window of vulnerability that Lennok exploited.
Lennok activated the Compassion of Archangel as he swung an object, which materialized before the young man, piercing his chest.
“……!!!!”
The young man’s body convulsed as if struck by lightning, slowly lowering his head.
Behind those half-closed, flipped eyes, a twisted dagger was embedded in his heart.
Bang!
Immediately after, a bullet from Lennok’s revolver precisely struck the hilt of the dagger.
Whoosh!
The blade’s tip protruded from the young man’s back, accompanied by the energy of the curse magic seeping into him.
Under ordinary circumstances, this would have been a laughable amount of power. But at this moment, as he forcibly sustained the Domain and pushed his performance to the limits with the drug’s influence, it became a minor disruption that upset all balance.
Crash!
A sound akin to shattering glass resonated from within.
It was the noise of everything the young man had painstakingly built up throughout his life collapsing.
Two wizards simultaneously gestured towards each other.
Kwaaaaang!!
Suddenly, a vivid blaze erupted without warning, extending like the hand of a giant, seizing the location where Lennok stood.
The flames scorched the ground, spiraling upwards to create a colossal column of fire.
Lennok, maintaining his composure, shielded himself and stepped back to observe the spectacle.
Rather than the young man’s summoned fire column dissipating, it appeared to breathe new life into itself.
[Growwwww!!]
From the heart of the fiery pillar, a fluorescent giant, towering over 3 meters in height, emerged, pushing through the waves of flames.
The giant fixed a menacing gaze on Lennok and let out a bone-chilling scream.
In response, Lennok conjured flames in his hand and slammed them onto the ground.
As ashes scattered from the earth, a massive wall of fire ascended, clashing with the fluorescent fist of the giant.
Kwaaaaang!!
The expanding shockwave mingled with a dissonant fluorescent light.
When the two flames collided, an unimaginable explosion resounded.
Flames, which should possess no physical force, defied the laws of conventional physics within the realm of a wizard’s will and spell formula.
This might be one of the defining traits of elemental magic.
It was something Lennok could only vaguely deduce, having studied not only Thorben’s unique magic but also acquiring Blaiver Tower’s magic.
“That’s not how you do it.”
“…What did you say?”
“You need to unfold it step by step. Wasn’t it said that how you start isn’t set in stone?”
[Explosive Flame Sphere]
[Quad Transformation – Resonance]
Hwaruk!!
Four fireballs manifested from Lennok’s outstretched hands, swiftly transforming into four streams of flames.
Almost instantaneously, they encircled the giant from all angles, converging into a colossal spiral.
[Fire Suppression]
Paaaaa!!
As the four flames resonated, emitting an intense pulse, the giant began to wither, accompanied by a piercing scream.
[Oooooo!!]
Flames battling flames. Lennok’s fire overcame the giant conjured by the young man, gradually erasing its presence.
The giant staggered, seeking its master, but the young man appeared to hold no attachment to his creation.
Recognizing that his initial assault had been thwarted, he swiftly abandoned the giant and launched fresh flames at Lennok.
Dudududu!!
Numerous elongated flames shot forth, slicing through the air and dominating the battlefield, prompting Lennok to respond with another volley of fireballs.
As the fiery whips spiraled, Lennok’s precisely aimed fireballs detonated, forming yet another curtain of flames.
The expansive curtain spun around, shaping into a colossal spear of fire.
Meanwhile, the dozens of fiery whips unleashed by the young man spread out, transforming into an expansive net of flames.
[Circulating Flame]
[Fire Net]
Kwaaaaang!!
In the relentless tempest of flames, the two wizards tirelessly maneuvered their hands.
Fueled by their projected mana and will, the initially released flames didn’t diminish but instead continuously shifted in form and grew.
Extinguishing flames once they’ve been released is no simple task, and the residual heat lingers even after the fire has passed.
The mana, continuously infused with more energy and will, continued to expand and intensify until it reached the wizard’s capacity.
The inherent nature of the flames was one of constant growth and explosion.
Blaiver tower’s distinctive magic aimed to maximize this inherent nature and efficiency.
The duel that commenced with fireballs and fiery whips had now evolved into massive waves of flames surging from all directions.
Flames of entirely distinct hues, spanning dozens of meters, surged and raged, with the “Plant” positioned between them.
In the ceaseless exchange of magical volleys, the young man’s once-elated countenance now contorted in anguish.
“How? How… This is impossible. How dare you challenge me in magic…!!!”
An adversary he had never deemed his equal.
How would one feel, having resorted to enhancing their mana with drugs, yet still unable to vanquish a fellow wizard from the same tower?
Rather than addressing this emotional void, Lennok focused on manipulating his mana.
Having shown unparalleled thinking ability that doesn’t fit with Bizen and demonstrating unbelievable magical achievements, the reason the young man didn’t doubt Lennok’s identity was because every time Lennok used magic, he imitated Byzen’s magical pattern.
Within the same tower, acquaintances would be familiar with each other’s magical signatures.
Thus, the young man could conceive of no explanation other than Byzen concealing his true potential all along.
Kwaaaaaaang!!
The undulating sea of flames.
The sky and earth ignited with twilight and fire.
In the overpowering heat, the parched soil began to evaporate, unable to withstand the scorching temperatures.
The ground slowly sank beneath the two wizards who continued to unleash their magic in all directions.
Realizing that the ground level was gradually decreasing, the young man’s face grew even paler and more contorted.
“Are you scared, sir?”
Lennok smiled.
He had never acknowledged anyone as a mentor or elder, yet he took pleasure in teasing someone he had just met.
“Let me guess, you have a hidden drug lab beneath this ‘Plant’, don’t you?”
“…Shut up.”
“After cutting off your limbs and draining your blood, I’ll take you to our tower and expose every single one of your misdeeds. To think, a traitor who dares to collude with the Drug Lord emerged from our proud Blaiver Tower.”
“Hehe… You really know nothing.”
The young man, his forehead drenched in sweat, managed a wry smile.
“Do you think I could’ve done all this alone? You’re not even worthy to glimpse the truth. It’s just that.”
“…”
Naturally, it was challenging not to react to the provocations of someone who appeared indifferent on the surface but inwardly held him in contempt.
Unbeknownst to him, as he watched the young man reveal the secrets of the Blaiver Tower, Lennok cracked a smirk.
“That’s a satisfying answer.”
To Lennok, there was no sentiment or attachment to an unfamiliar tower.
It appeared that Blaiver Tower had aligned itself with the Drug Lord, and if Lennok feigned betrayal to the Drug Lord by posing as the tower’s emissary, it was clear where the latter’s focus would shift.
Even if he couldn’t thwart the Drug Lord’s plans here, the assets and resources at the Drug Lord’s disposal would soon be directed elsewhere.
“But before that, let’s prove who truly is the rightful successor of the Fire.”
With a sweeping motion of his arms, the surrounding flames coalesced into a massive vortex.
From a minuscule spark that had spread to scorch the entire terrain, this was potent area magic.
Merely breathing seemed to engulf the land with this overwhelming breath of flames, evidence that Lennok had far surpassed Byzen.
It was ironic.
The bitter truth that the essence of magic was closer to Lennok, a former wanderer, than to young prodigies who had dedicated their lives to Blaiver Tower, left a harsh scar on everyone except him.
Raising his right hand, he twined his index and middle fingers.
As the simple incantation and Lennok’s formidable intent intertwined, the flames enveloping Lennok began to swirl around the young man, forming a massive ring of fire.
[Great Flame Wheel]
[Karma Flame]
The most potent fire elemental magic known to Byzen was unleashed here.
The fluorescent flames, which should not have possessed a tangible form, densely filled the space, suffocating everything within.
“No, nooooooooo!!! This can’t be happening!!!”
Only then did the young man realize that Lennok still had reserves and screamed in despair.
[Six Advancing Reds]
The young man attempted to resist by splitting his flames into six streams, but the ring of fire remained unyielding.
“Although you’ve enhanced your magic’s power with drugs, its sustainability is a mess. Probably because the drug-induced frenzy disrupts your concentration.”
The output itself might be high due to forcibly drawing in breath, but the flow was intermittently interrupted.
Such side effects might not be noticeable under normal circumstances, but when wizards of similar caliber manipulated their magic, it served as a fatal weakness.
The young man probably wasn’t oblivious to this fact, but he likely never expected Byzen to push him this far.
For the same reason, Lennok always tried to avoid substances that affected the mind, regardless of the situation.
The chains that bound him were not in his mind but on his physical body.
Once the momentum started to shift, it was difficult to regain control.
The sea of flames that consumed the ‘Plant’ plantation and even evaporated the ground had suddenly dissipated, while the ring of fire conjured by Lennok relentlessly pressed down on the young man.
Even in a moment that appeared to be on the brink of victory, Lennok remained vigilant.
A wizard wielding that level of power, enhanced by drugs, would not have such limited ambitions.
Desperation etched across the young man’s face as he frantically searched his surroundings.
Lennok calmly refocused his mana as he observed the young man fumbling for three packets of drugs.
“Ha… ha… ha…!!! Ahhhhhhhhh!!!”
After inhaling all three packets of powdered drugs into his eyes and nose, the young man frothed at the mouth, his eyes rolling back.
Though his countenance hinted at imminent unconsciousness, the fluorescent flames emanating from him grew larger and more formidable.
Shortly thereafter, a colorless wave radiated from his body, exerting substantial pressure on the surroundings.
The Domain, a realm accessible only to a select few Level 6 wizards.
After ingesting multiple doses of the mind-altering drug, the young man had finally breached this realm.
“Ahahaha, hahahahat!!! Ahahahaha!!! Finally…!!”
His face was a chaotic mix of joy, tears, and mucus, making it challenging to discern his expression.
As the Domain expanded, the fluorescent flames around him burned even more intensely.
In that critical moment, Lennok deftly reached into his pocket.
An artifact once owned by Irina Pheffield, now fully in Lennok’s possession, sparkled brilliantly from within his coat.
“Davi.”
[Ready.]
Lennok had foreseen that the young man, when cornered, would resort to consuming drugs recklessly.
Who better than him understood the heart of a fellow addict?
While a straightforward power struggle would inevitably end in Lennok’s favor, it would also consume considerable time—something Lennok desired to avoid.
Hence, he engaged in a psychological battle, employing a confining spell like the Great Flame Wheel to compel the young man to unleash the Domain.
The intense determination and vast magical energy required for the Domain’s deployment. All of it stretched outward, creating a brief window of vulnerability that Lennok exploited.
Lennok activated the Compassion of Archangel as he swung an object, which materialized before the young man, piercing his chest.
“……!!!!”
The young man’s body convulsed as if struck by lightning, slowly lowering his head.
Behind those half-closed, flipped eyes, a twisted dagger was embedded in his heart.
Bang!
Immediately after, a bullet from Lennok’s revolver precisely struck the hilt of the dagger.
Whoosh!
The blade’s tip protruded from the young man’s back, accompanied by the energy of the curse magic seeping into him.
Under ordinary circumstances, this would have been a laughable amount of power. But at this moment, as he forcibly sustained the Domain and pushed his performance to the limits with the drug’s influence, it became a minor disruption that upset all balance.
Crash!
A sound akin to shattering glass resonated from within.
It was the noise of everything the young man had painstakingly built up throughout his life collapsing.
