A bit past noon, at a military base near Seoul, an iron desk occupied the center of an empty warehouse. Seated at the desk, a man in a suit fixed his gaze upon a sheet of paper and a pen.
The man appeared to be in his mid-fifties, his face devoid of distinguishing features. Yet, an intensity emanated from his eyes, visible only from those who were determined.
"Then I'll sign it," he declared with conviction.
In that solitary warehouse, cameras replaced any potential audience. He addressed the lens as though making a solemn proclamation, pen poised in hand.
The letters on the paper responded, moving as though they had been awaiting this moment. The provisions listed on the sheet had been painstakingly transcribed, creating space for the signature on the left. The man paused briefly, then wrote his name without hesitation.
Then, he waited for change.
In a command and control room located roughly 300 meters from the warehouse, officers and agents from the National Intelligence Service huddled around a monitor.
The screen displayed the man who had just signed the paper in the warehouse.
"How's it looking, Wizard Kim Kyung-hwan?" one of the officers inquired.
"No significant changes yet. Ah! Wait!" Kim Kyung-hwan replied, his eyes glued to the screen.
Kim Kyung-hwan, sharing the screen with other officers in the command and control room, suddenly trembled. Despite the distance, he could feel a surge of intense mana. The source, undoubtedly, was the man in the warehouse.
As he swallowed hard, the 4th Deputy Head of the National Intelligence Service pointed at the screen and shouted, "Look over there!"
The 4th Deputy Head was responsible for gathering and managing information related to Channels and extraterrestrial races. The dossier on Yoon Min-joon fell under his purview.
"It's a different response than before," he observed.
Since they had received the contract, a seal resembling Yoon Min-joon's had already been stamped on the right side of the signature column. So far, they had attempted several times to fill the adjacent blank signature space, but each time, the letters written with the pen evaporated as though being washed away by water.
However, today, for the first time, a different reaction occurred.
"I believe the contract has been established," Kim Kyung-hwan asserted
A General with a square jaw, seated beside Kim Kyung-hwan, raised his eyebrows. He wore three stars on his shoulder.
"How do we trust that? Just because the signature remains?" the General inquired.
"The moment he signed, I sensed the mana fluctuated," Kim Kyung-hwan explained.
The Lieutenant-General who picked on him earlier grumbled with displeasure.
"Are we expected to believe something based solely on your feelings, whether it's mana or anything else?" he complained.
Kim Kyung-hwan recollected his memories. Did that old man say he was the head of the National Defense Intelligence? Although he was responsible for the military aspect of this operation, it was evident that he was dissatisfied with Kim Kyung-hwan.
If you have complaints, take them up with your commander-in-chief. Kim Kyung-hwan protested inside.
This operation had received the President's approval, and Kim Kyung-hwan had been assigned the role of verifying whether the contract had indeed been established. Regardless of how many stars adorned their shoulders, no one could dispute Kim Kyung-hwan's pivotal role as the government's sole wizard.
Kim Kyung-hwan pondered to himself. It seemed that the old man simply didn't approve of this situation, where general-level officers were expected to rely on and be influenced by young individuals like him.
"Ah, can you hear me?" The 4th Deputy Head of the National Intelligence Service asked through the microphone. His voice resonated through a speaker into the warehouse. The man on the screen responded with a nod.
"I can hear you," the man replied.
The 4th Deputy Head double-checked if the other person's rationale was intact.
"I'll ask you a few questions. Please tell me your name, affiliation, and position," he requested.
The Lieutenant-General murmured in a hushed tone, seemingly convinced that his voice wouldn't be picked up by the microphone.
"What's the criteria? How can that man do it while the others can't? I find it hard to believe," the Lieutenant-General queried.
Kim Kyung-hwan felt irritated at that moment. Oh, the old man has been so noisy for days. A Lieutenant-General is below the ministerial level. I bet he won't talk like that in front of him.
The government agonized over who should sign the contract Yoon Min-joon had presented. The content written in Korean in the contract itself was straightforward. The crux of the matter was that only the person who signed this document could meet with Yoon Min-joon, and both Yoon Min-joon and the signatory guaranteed each other's safety.
What made it peculiar was the stipulation that the government signatory should be in a position to take responsibility for their actions more than a year after taking the current position.
The reason for specifying a year appeared to be to prevent anyone from being temporarily appointed and coerced. However, there was significant room for interpretation regarding the phrase position to take responsibility.
As a result, the government discreetly received applications from central government officials, excluding organizations closely related to national security, such as the military, the National Intelligence System, and the Ministry of National Defense, and conducted experiments. It was a precaution in case the signatory was brainwashed.
Then, on this day, the contract finally deemed someone qualified.
In the warehouse, beyond the camera lens, a middle-aged man responded with a tense expression.
"My name is Choi Eul-soo. I represent the government of the Republic of Korea. I served as the Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs."
Lieutenant-General spoke in a subdued tone, enough to make his words barely audible.
"Huh! What does the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry have to do with negotiating with that monster, and what qualifies-"
If the Minister had presented himself, he wouldn't have dared to voice that sentiment. The 4th Deputy Head shot him a glance and interrupted his words.
"Today marks the first time a ministerial officer has signed up. I suppose that's probably why."
Even after the vice-minister level had signed it, there had been no response from the contract. The government, speculating whether the hierarchy was the issue, also sought applicants at the ministerial level. Among the few applicants, the government singled out Minister Choi Eul-soo, who was sitting in the warehouse at that very moment.
The Lieutenant-General stirred up a commotion.
"Is magic really that powerful?" he exclaimed incredulously. "Does it extend to a person's very status? Is it scouring the internet and newspapers, matching names and faces? It's nothing like something from a science fiction novel."
Kim Kyung-hwan pondered silently, keeping his thoughts to himself. Of course, that's not the principle, you idiot.
He knew that magic delved into the soul of the signatory. Magic judged by probing into the unconscious, deciphering the answers that surfaced, all while the conscious mind remained oblivious to the process.
Kim Kyung-hwan shifted the conversation, as it seemed unnatural for him to possess such knowledge. Meanwhile, the 4th Deputy Head noticed that Minister Choi Eul-soo was maintaining his reason outwardly. It was time to assess the situation more closely.
"I'll return," Kim Kyung-hwan announced firmly.
Accompanied by soldiers, Kim Kyung-hwan exited the command and control room.
What tremendous mana! With each step, he sensed an electrifying Mana coursing through his skin. It's unlike the contract I agreed to. What kind of magic has Eraser-Yoon Min-joon infused into that contract?
A vigilant soldier cautiously opened the warehouse door with a loud sound.
"Hmph!" Kim Kyung-hwan grunted. He forcibly suppressed the impulse to scream.
"How are things, Wizard?" Minister Choi Eul-soo, who was inside the warehouse, rose from his seat and inquired.
"In the eyes of a wizard, do you detect any significant changes in my body?" Minister Choi asked, his expression tense, but his eyes betrayed dizziness. He was among the few high-ranking officials who understood the risks but supported them out of patriotism.
There were no signs of irrationality in his gaze now.
However, Kim Kyung-hwan, with a mana circuit in his eyes, observed a scene that had not appeared on the monitor until now, and which soldiers remained oblivious to.
Yoon Min-joon... what on earth are you plotting? Kim Kyung-hwan pondered.
The sticky, viscous red fog-like energy that his eyes discerned. It began from the Minister's right hand, holding his pen, and ascended his arm, eventually reaching his heart and head. It resembled evaporating and erupting arterial blood.
That's not typical contract magic either. He has undoubtedly interwoven it with a spell distinct from the one Hwang Soo-rim and I signed. Kim Kyung-hwan observed.
Kim Kyung-hwan had meticulously reviewed the contract. So, the situation grew even more perplexing.
Yoon Min-joon had promised to ensure the safety of the signatory. So, what in the world did that mean?
***
The heavy ringing that shattered my concentration jolted my blocked consciousness back to the surface.
"Ah, they signed it," I muttered.
The government had signed the contract with someone who met my terms, and I could sense it deep within my soul.
Actually, I was in no state to perceive external stimuli. Nonetheless, the signal had been transmitted because the medium of this magic was my soul.
"Hmm. Is this all I've got?" I pondered aloud.
After checking the progress, I made my decision.
"It's not time to confront the government officials just yet. I need to focus more on this."
I channeled my response through magic, and these words materialized in the contract they were reviewing.
The contract had been established. If you have any business with me, please jot down a brief note in this contract. It must be written by the person who just signed it for documentation. I'll reply after reviewing it. I'm quite occupied these days.
After finalizing the response, I took a moment to look around.
The place where my consciousness had been summoned was enveloped in a profound darkness, reminiscent of where I had faced the Apostle of Purbagios.
Yes, I was presently connected to Akashic Records. The moment I initially cast the Revelation of Purbagios spell, my consciousness had departed from my body and had been drawn to this shadowy realm.
Actually, when I first heard the term Akashic Records, I had envisioned a highly sophisticated scene-perhaps a planet-sized library stretching endlessly beyond sight, or a sea of scrolls written in countless dimensions and languages.
However, the reality had shattered my expectations the moment I arrived here.
It was the silver luminous orbs that pierced the profound darkness. As I concentrated, I observed these orbs coming together to form larger dots, which then connected to create lines. These lines eventually merged to form a grand, ever-shifting tapestry, much like gazing at a night sky woven with intertwined stars.
Now I understood that this entire array of light sources, like a cosmic galaxy, constituted the Akashic Records.
And if I scrutinized it more closely, I could discern a specific pattern within the flow of light. Each strand eventually took on the same shape.
A serpentine chain formed by two silver spirals intersecting one another. Countless parallel lines linked the wide and narrow grooves of the double helix as it rotated to the right, gradually filling the intervening space with light.
These geometric chains extended as far as imperceptible fissures, illuminating the darkness.
As soon as I saw it, a sense of familiarity washed over me. It didn't take long for me to realize what it resembled.
"Why do the Akashic Records look like DNA?" I wondered aloud.
Was it mere coincidence?
No one was there to provide an answer. Parvache had never offered a detailed description of how Akashic Records were perceived. Had he too witnessed this sight every time?
The thought lingered for a moment. After all, DNA served as the medium that contained the genetic information constituting a living organism-a repository of traits enabling life as an individual and a conduit of information transmitted to future generations.
So, what about Akashic Records? It was a repository of knowledge and information spanning various dimensions.
What they shared was their role as information mediums.
"DNA and Akashic Records."
I mused on it. DNA stored an organism's genes and passed them on to their progeny. Then, who or where did the Akashic Records continue to gather this information to convey it?
"I hope Parvache awakens soon," I said to myself.
Once Parvache awoke, his ego would change, but his memories would be passed on. He might hold insights that could assist me, and that was a missed opportunity.
I wasn't entirely certain whether it was wise to utilize the Akashic Records at this juncture. These small silver waves surrounding me held units of information in response to the phrase soul of Black Hermit.
"I can't yet decipher this information. I must gather more."
Parvache, a priest of Purbagios, had almost an intuitive connection to information, as long as it aligned with his level of knowledge.
However, as a wizard, my process was painstakingly slow. Fragmented information amassed around me, yet I couldn't grasp it completely. It likely needed to coalesce perfectly for me to decipher it in a comprehensible manner.
I ceased my contemplation and redirected my focus toward accumulating more information. My consciousness plunged deeper into the shadowy abyss, and I felt my mind expanding and merging with the silver luminous sources.
***
Midnight. Somewhere in Gyeonggi Province.
A cluster of black vans had gathered by the national highway near the covert house. Car doors swung open, and shadowy figures dressed in unmarked black attire moved swiftly and silently.
They closed in on the surroundings of a detached house, numbering around thirty in total. This group was divided into two distinct categories. Roughly twenty sturdy men advanced, rifles in hand, remaining vigilant. In contrast, about ten individuals of ordinary build carried pistols at their waists but moved with empty hands.
Upon completing their siege, the empty-handed individuals retrieved objects from their gear and carefully buried them in the ground. A faint light flickered as their hands met the earth.
Unseen mana swirled discreetly across the surface.
The faces of ten wizards, directly exposed to this power, briefly stiffened. However, their wrist accessories soon exerted a counterforce, restoring their composure. These wrist accessories served as safeguards against the influence of the buried artifacts.
After a while, the wizards nodded, and the men with rifles took the lead.
"Ugh!" Amidst the silence, a groan broke through.
A rifle equipped with a silencer was triggered, causing the National Intelligence System agent in charge of the outer guard to crumple to the ground.
"E-emergency... Ugh!" Yet another guard went down before he could even send out an emergency signal.
Only five agents were assigned to perimeter security. Men dressed in black swiftly cleared their surroundings and quietly approached the front door. Cameras mounted on their helmets recorded every moment in real-time, sending the footage to a satellite.
***
At the same time, in Beijing.
Officials from China's Ministry of National Security assembled in a situation room, their attention fixed on a large monitor. Infrared camera footage, transmitted at near real-time from Korea, filled the screen.
"Certainly, the operation targeting the woman has made swift progress. Just five people... practically escorting bodyguards," remarked one official.
"It appears the information that Korea had essentially abandoned her is accurate. They've assigned her only minimal guards in case she ever returns," another official chimed in.
Serious expressions were exchanged among the executives.
For weeks, Chinese agents, some of them wizards with unique abilities, had been meticulously preparing for this operation. Among them were wizards who would never have been deployed abroad if they hailed from different nations. This operation was only feasible because it was orchestrated by China.
On the screen, the agent at the forefront prepared to open the front door.
"All right, this marks the beginning of a thorough search." One of the executives nodded, and the order was relayed to agents in Korea.
The front door slowly swung open at the agent's simple command. However...
"Hearth of Quécardios!" a sharp woman's voice exclaimed.
The agent who had opened the door froze. An unexpected turn of events unfolded before he could react.
The half-open door was forcefully pushed back with tremendous force. The audio speaker in the room was suddenly filled with a deafening explosion.
One of the executives watching the screen shouted with a bewildered expression, "Wh-what's happening?!"
He quickly grasped the situation. As soon as the door had opened, they heard a shout in Korean, as if it had been anticipated. And then came the explosion.
He cast a bitter look at the blond extraterrestrial race in the situation room.
"What is that? You assured us that using that artifact would seal her magic!"
***
What had blown apart the front door was searing metal, exploding with a high-pressure burst.
"Keaaarrrrgh!"
A desperate scream echoed. The man who had opened the door screamed as red molten metal splashed over him.
"Kearrrrggghhh, kuaaaaaarrrgh!"
Smoke billowed with a crackling sound, and flames danced across his face and chest. The scarlet trail continued as he writhed in agony, rolling on the ground.
Instead of panicking, his colleagues quickly sought cover in blind spots.
The metal vaporized, and the earth melted, emitting a hissing sound. The heated night air shimmered like a mirage due to the intense heat.
Those with rifles cast suspicious glances toward the wizards, who remained concealed behind them, shaking their heads as if they were clueless about the situation.
Members of the special forces focused on the commander's radio waves buzzing in their ears. With confirmation that their opponent could wield magic, any hopes of quietly securing the target were dashed. Their new objective: defeat her swiftly and exit the scene.
"Get in!"
At the commander's signal, the men surged forward.
A bit past noon, at a military base near Seoul, an iron desk occupied the center of an empty warehouse. Seated at the desk, a man in a suit fixed his gaze upon a sheet of paper and a pen.
The man appeared to be in his mid-fifties, his face devoid of distinguishing features. Yet, an intensity emanated from his eyes, visible only from those who were determined.
"Then I'll sign it," he declared with conviction.
In that solitary warehouse, cameras replaced any potential audience. He addressed the lens as though making a solemn proclamation, pen poised in hand.
The letters on the paper responded, moving as though they had been awaiting this moment. The provisions listed on the sheet had been painstakingly transcribed, creating space for the signature on the left. The man paused briefly, then wrote his name without hesitation.
Then, he waited for change.
In a command and control room located roughly 300 meters from the warehouse, officers and agents from the National Intelligence Service huddled around a monitor.
The screen displayed the man who had just signed the paper in the warehouse.
"How's it looking, Wizard Kim Kyung-hwan?" one of the officers inquired.
"No significant changes yet. Ah! Wait!" Kim Kyung-hwan replied, his eyes glued to the screen.
Kim Kyung-hwan, sharing the screen with other officers in the command and control room, suddenly trembled. Despite the distance, he could feel a surge of intense mana. The source, undoubtedly, was the man in the warehouse.
As he swallowed hard, the 4th Deputy Head of the National Intelligence Service pointed at the screen and shouted, "Look over there!"
The 4th Deputy Head was responsible for gathering and managing information related to Channels and extraterrestrial races. The dossier on Yoon Min-joon fell under his purview.
"It's a different response than before," he observed.
Since they had received the contract, a seal resembling Yoon Min-joon's had already been stamped on the right side of the signature column. So far, they had attempted several times to fill the adjacent blank signature space, but each time, the letters written with the pen evaporated as though being washed away by water.
However, today, for the first time, a different reaction occurred.
"I believe the contract has been established," Kim Kyung-hwan asserted
A General with a square jaw, seated beside Kim Kyung-hwan, raised his eyebrows. He wore three stars on his shoulder.
"How do we trust that? Just because the signature remains?" the General inquired.
"The moment he signed, I sensed the mana fluctuated," Kim Kyung-hwan explained.
The Lieutenant-General who picked on him earlier grumbled with displeasure.
"Are we expected to believe something based solely on your feelings, whether it's mana or anything else?" he complained.
Kim Kyung-hwan recollected his memories. Did that old man say he was the head of the National Defense Intelligence? Although he was responsible for the military aspect of this operation, it was evident that he was dissatisfied with Kim Kyung-hwan.
If you have complaints, take them up with your commander-in-chief. Kim Kyung-hwan protested inside.
This operation had received the President's approval, and Kim Kyung-hwan had been assigned the role of verifying whether the contract had indeed been established. Regardless of how many stars adorned their shoulders, no one could dispute Kim Kyung-hwan's pivotal role as the government's sole wizard.
Kim Kyung-hwan pondered to himself. It seemed that the old man simply didn't approve of this situation, where general-level officers were expected to rely on and be influenced by young individuals like him.
"Ah, can you hear me?" The 4th Deputy Head of the National Intelligence Service asked through the microphone. His voice resonated through a speaker into the warehouse. The man on the screen responded with a nod.
"I can hear you," the man replied.
The 4th Deputy Head double-checked if the other person's rationale was intact.
"I'll ask you a few questions. Please tell me your name, affiliation, and position," he requested.
The Lieutenant-General murmured in a hushed tone, seemingly convinced that his voice wouldn't be picked up by the microphone.
"What's the criteria? How can that man do it while the others can't? I find it hard to believe," the Lieutenant-General queried.
Kim Kyung-hwan felt irritated at that moment. Oh, the old man has been so noisy for days. A Lieutenant-General is below the ministerial level. I bet he won't talk like that in front of him.
The government agonized over who should sign the contract Yoon Min-joon had presented. The content written in Korean in the contract itself was straightforward. The crux of the matter was that only the person who signed this document could meet with Yoon Min-joon, and both Yoon Min-joon and the signatory guaranteed each other's safety.
What made it peculiar was the stipulation that the government signatory should be in a position to take responsibility for their actions more than a year after taking the current position.
The reason for specifying a year appeared to be to prevent anyone from being temporarily appointed and coerced. However, there was significant room for interpretation regarding the phrase position to take responsibility.
As a result, the government discreetly received applications from central government officials, excluding organizations closely related to national security, such as the military, the National Intelligence System, and the Ministry of National Defense, and conducted experiments. It was a precaution in case the signatory was brainwashed.
Then, on this day, the contract finally deemed someone qualified.
In the warehouse, beyond the camera lens, a middle-aged man responded with a tense expression.
"My name is Choi Eul-soo. I represent the government of the Republic of Korea. I served as the Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs."
Lieutenant-General spoke in a subdued tone, enough to make his words barely audible.
"Huh! What does the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry have to do with negotiating with that monster, and what qualifies-"
If the Minister had presented himself, he wouldn't have dared to voice that sentiment. The 4th Deputy Head shot him a glance and interrupted his words.
"Today marks the first time a ministerial officer has signed up. I suppose that's probably why."
Even after the vice-minister level had signed it, there had been no response from the contract. The government, speculating whether the hierarchy was the issue, also sought applicants at the ministerial level. Among the few applicants, the government singled out Minister Choi Eul-soo, who was sitting in the warehouse at that very moment.
The Lieutenant-General stirred up a commotion.
"Is magic really that powerful?" he exclaimed incredulously. "Does it extend to a person's very status? Is it scouring the internet and newspapers, matching names and faces? It's nothing like something from a science fiction novel."
Kim Kyung-hwan pondered silently, keeping his thoughts to himself. Of course, that's not the principle, you idiot.
He knew that magic delved into the soul of the signatory. Magic judged by probing into the unconscious, deciphering the answers that surfaced, all while the conscious mind remained oblivious to the process.
Kim Kyung-hwan shifted the conversation, as it seemed unnatural for him to possess such knowledge. Meanwhile, the 4th Deputy Head noticed that Minister Choi Eul-soo was maintaining his reason outwardly. It was time to assess the situation more closely.
"I'll return," Kim Kyung-hwan announced firmly.
Accompanied by soldiers, Kim Kyung-hwan exited the command and control room.
What tremendous mana! With each step, he sensed an electrifying Mana coursing through his skin. It's unlike the contract I agreed to. What kind of magic has Eraser-Yoon Min-joon infused into that contract?
A vigilant soldier cautiously opened the warehouse door with a loud sound.
"Hmph!" Kim Kyung-hwan grunted. He forcibly suppressed the impulse to scream.
"How are things, Wizard?" Minister Choi Eul-soo, who was inside the warehouse, rose from his seat and inquired.
"In the eyes of a wizard, do you detect any significant changes in my body?" Minister Choi asked, his expression tense, but his eyes betrayed dizziness. He was among the few high-ranking officials who understood the risks but supported them out of patriotism.
There were no signs of irrationality in his gaze now.
However, Kim Kyung-hwan, with a mana circuit in his eyes, observed a scene that had not appeared on the monitor until now, and which soldiers remained oblivious to.
Yoon Min-joon... what on earth are you plotting? Kim Kyung-hwan pondered.
The sticky, viscous red fog-like energy that his eyes discerned. It began from the Minister's right hand, holding his pen, and ascended his arm, eventually reaching his heart and head. It resembled evaporating and erupting arterial blood.
That's not typical contract magic either. He has undoubtedly interwoven it with a spell distinct from the one Hwang Soo-rim and I signed. Kim Kyung-hwan observed.
Kim Kyung-hwan had meticulously reviewed the contract. So, the situation grew even more perplexing.
Yoon Min-joon had promised to ensure the safety of the signatory. So, what in the world did that mean?
***
The heavy ringing that shattered my concentration jolted my blocked consciousness back to the surface.
"Ah, they signed it," I muttered.
The government had signed the contract with someone who met my terms, and I could sense it deep within my soul.
Actually, I was in no state to perceive external stimuli. Nonetheless, the signal had been transmitted because the medium of this magic was my soul.
"Hmm. Is this all I've got?" I pondered aloud.
After checking the progress, I made my decision.
"It's not time to confront the government officials just yet. I need to focus more on this."
I channeled my response through magic, and these words materialized in the contract they were reviewing.
The contract had been established. If you have any business with me, please jot down a brief note in this contract. It must be written by the person who just signed it for documentation. I'll reply after reviewing it. I'm quite occupied these days.
After finalizing the response, I took a moment to look around.
The place where my consciousness had been summoned was enveloped in a profound darkness, reminiscent of where I had faced the Apostle of Purbagios.
Yes, I was presently connected to Akashic Records. The moment I initially cast the Revelation of Purbagios spell, my consciousness had departed from my body and had been drawn to this shadowy realm.
Actually, when I first heard the term Akashic Records, I had envisioned a highly sophisticated scene-perhaps a planet-sized library stretching endlessly beyond sight, or a sea of scrolls written in countless dimensions and languages.
However, the reality had shattered my expectations the moment I arrived here.
It was the silver luminous orbs that pierced the profound darkness. As I concentrated, I observed these orbs coming together to form larger dots, which then connected to create lines. These lines eventually merged to form a grand, ever-shifting tapestry, much like gazing at a night sky woven with intertwined stars.
Now I understood that this entire array of light sources, like a cosmic galaxy, constituted the Akashic Records.
And if I scrutinized it more closely, I could discern a specific pattern within the flow of light. Each strand eventually took on the same shape.
A serpentine chain formed by two silver spirals intersecting one another. Countless parallel lines linked the wide and narrow grooves of the double helix as it rotated to the right, gradually filling the intervening space with light.
These geometric chains extended as far as imperceptible fissures, illuminating the darkness.
As soon as I saw it, a sense of familiarity washed over me. It didn't take long for me to realize what it resembled.
"Why do the Akashic Records look like DNA?" I wondered aloud.
Was it mere coincidence?
No one was there to provide an answer. Parvache had never offered a detailed description of how Akashic Records were perceived. Had he too witnessed this sight every time?
The thought lingered for a moment. After all, DNA served as the medium that contained the genetic information constituting a living organism-a repository of traits enabling life as an individual and a conduit of information transmitted to future generations.
So, what about Akashic Records? It was a repository of knowledge and information spanning various dimensions.
What they shared was their role as information mediums.
"DNA and Akashic Records."
I mused on it. DNA stored an organism's genes and passed them on to their progeny. Then, who or where did the Akashic Records continue to gather this information to convey it?
"I hope Parvache awakens soon," I said to myself.
Once Parvache awoke, his ego would change, but his memories would be passed on. He might hold insights that could assist me, and that was a missed opportunity.
I wasn't entirely certain whether it was wise to utilize the Akashic Records at this juncture. These small silver waves surrounding me held units of information in response to the phrase soul of Black Hermit.
"I can't yet decipher this information. I must gather more."
Parvache, a priest of Purbagios, had almost an intuitive connection to information, as long as it aligned with his level of knowledge.
However, as a wizard, my process was painstakingly slow. Fragmented information amassed around me, yet I couldn't grasp it completely. It likely needed to coalesce perfectly for me to decipher it in a comprehensible manner.
I ceased my contemplation and redirected my focus toward accumulating more information. My consciousness plunged deeper into the shadowy abyss, and I felt my mind expanding and merging with the silver luminous sources.
***
Midnight. Somewhere in Gyeonggi Province.
A cluster of black vans had gathered by the national highway near the covert house. Car doors swung open, and shadowy figures dressed in unmarked black attire moved swiftly and silently.
They closed in on the surroundings of a detached house, numbering around thirty in total. This group was divided into two distinct categories. Roughly twenty sturdy men advanced, rifles in hand, remaining vigilant. In contrast, about ten individuals of ordinary build carried pistols at their waists but moved with empty hands.
Upon completing their siege, the empty-handed individuals retrieved objects from their gear and carefully buried them in the ground. A faint light flickered as their hands met the earth.
Unseen mana swirled discreetly across the surface.
The faces of ten wizards, directly exposed to this power, briefly stiffened. However, their wrist accessories soon exerted a counterforce, restoring their composure. These wrist accessories served as safeguards against the influence of the buried artifacts.
After a while, the wizards nodded, and the men with rifles took the lead.
"Ugh!" Amidst the silence, a groan broke through.
A rifle equipped with a silencer was triggered, causing the National Intelligence System agent in charge of the outer guard to crumple to the ground.
"E-emergency... Ugh!" Yet another guard went down before he could even send out an emergency signal.
Only five agents were assigned to perimeter security. Men dressed in black swiftly cleared their surroundings and quietly approached the front door. Cameras mounted on their helmets recorded every moment in real-time, sending the footage to a satellite.
***
At the same time, in Beijing.
Officials from China's Ministry of National Security assembled in a situation room, their attention fixed on a large monitor. Infrared camera footage, transmitted at near real-time from Korea, filled the screen.
"Certainly, the operation targeting the woman has made swift progress. Just five people... practically escorting bodyguards," remarked one official.
"It appears the information that Korea had essentially abandoned her is accurate. They've assigned her only minimal guards in case she ever returns," another official chimed in.
Serious expressions were exchanged among the executives.
For weeks, Chinese agents, some of them wizards with unique abilities, had been meticulously preparing for this operation. Among them were wizards who would never have been deployed abroad if they hailed from different nations. This operation was only feasible because it was orchestrated by China.
On the screen, the agent at the forefront prepared to open the front door.
"All right, this marks the beginning of a thorough search." One of the executives nodded, and the order was relayed to agents in Korea.
The front door slowly swung open at the agent's simple command. However...
"Hearth of Quécardios!" a sharp woman's voice exclaimed.
The agent who had opened the door froze. An unexpected turn of events unfolded before he could react.
The half-open door was forcefully pushed back with tremendous force. The audio speaker in the room was suddenly filled with a deafening explosion.
One of the executives watching the screen shouted with a bewildered expression, "Wh-what's happening?!"
He quickly grasped the situation. As soon as the door had opened, they heard a shout in Korean, as if it had been anticipated. And then came the explosion.
He cast a bitter look at the blond extraterrestrial race in the situation room.
"What is that? You assured us that using that artifact would seal her magic!"
***
What had blown apart the front door was searing metal, exploding with a high-pressure burst.
"Keaaarrrrgh!"
A desperate scream echoed. The man who had opened the door screamed as red molten metal splashed over him.
"Kearrrrggghhh, kuaaaaaarrrgh!"
Smoke billowed with a crackling sound, and flames danced across his face and chest. The scarlet trail continued as he writhed in agony, rolling on the ground.
Instead of panicking, his colleagues quickly sought cover in blind spots.
The metal vaporized, and the earth melted, emitting a hissing sound. The heated night air shimmered like a mirage due to the intense heat.
Those with rifles cast suspicious glances toward the wizards, who remained concealed behind them, shaking their heads as if they were clueless about the situation.
Members of the special forces focused on the commander's radio waves buzzing in their ears. With confirmation that their opponent could wield magic, any hopes of quietly securing the target were dashed. Their new objective: defeat her swiftly and exit the scene.
"Get in!"
At the commander's signal, the men surged forward.
