Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Unwritten Rules of Mages

Crack!

A burst of lightning exploded in front of Yuren. In front of him, a blue curtain shimmered. 4th-Tier Magic: Magic Shield. Thanks to his reflexive response, he suffered no injuries, but he was busy calming his startled heart.

“What happened just now… was that an Elemental Beam?”

3rd-Tier Magic: Elemental Beam. It possessed greater power than Mana Shot, and its effects changed depending on the imbued attribute; a basic magic.

“The imbued attribute is lightning, so it would be a Lightning Beam.”

Lightning was magic specialized in speed, striking an enemy’s blind spot. The speed granted by the Elemental Beam was also swift, averaging three times faster than other attributes.

“It felt like the arrow of a divine archer flying.”

If he had not responded quickly, losing a limb somewhere was a certainty.

“Is that a 3rd Circle mage?”

Ferda was a mage who had reached the 3rd Circle, but Yuren had not underestimated him either. He was the Owner of the Red Circle, and owners of the Red Circle always possessed immense power in their affinity attribute. The fact that he defeated Thesalos Walcher while at the 1st Circle was already widely known. Thus, among mages of the same level, he treated him as the highest possible grade.

“I thought he might be comparable to a 4th Circle as well.”

Yet even that had been an underestimation. He was wielding magic with power far beyond imagination.

“What trick did he use?”

Yuren’s eyes scanned Ferda. Perhaps he suspected he was secretly receiving aid from something. That could not be. Before entering this sealed vault, he would not have been permitted to carry weapons.

“Without a wand or staff to assist in calculations, could he achieve that casting speed purely with his own mind?”

The only answer to increasing casting speed was repetition and mastery. Such repetition and mastery were not merely like practicing lines during academy days. Only when tracing mana paths became as natural as breathing—to the point of casting magic while asleep—did it become possible. Such a feat was impossible for Yuren. Ferda’s genius was astonishing.

“You seem curious about what magic that was,” Ferda provoked Yuren in a leisurely voice. “For your information, it’s Elemental Beam.”

“Insolent brat.”

Yuren’s face flushed deep red. Even with high status, as a mage he was merely a 3rd Circle novice. A magic circle formed in Yuren’s hand.

“Let’s see if you can keep acting so arrogant!”

In a duel where life was on the line, titles and formalities no longer mattered. The magic circle completed in Yuren’s hand did not vanish; instead, it floated in the air.

“A Sustained Concentration Magic Circle.”

Unlike the universal Consumable Magic Circle, where the circle’s mana converts into the spell’s form upon use, a Sustained Concentration Magic Circle did not consume the circle’s mana; it continuously maintained the traced state while injecting mana solely to fire spells. It was a technique that any 5th Circle mage could employ naturally.

“The magic circle is the same Elemental Beam as mine.”

Ferda deduced this from the inscribed pattern and script, and just as he anticipated, pure white ice spikes materialized from the circle. It was Ice Spike.

“Let’s see you dodge this as well!”

Furthermore, it was not a single projectile, but a barrage. Ferda threw his body behind a display case to evade the assault. The white ice collided with the stone showcase and shattered. It was so frigid that the continuous bombardment threatened to destroy the display case entirely.

“As expected, Sustained Concentration is troublesome.”

It would not be an exaggeration to say he was at a disadvantage. The moment he showed a gap in his thoughts, a damp, crawling voice reached Ferda.

— Do you require my power?

It was the temptation of demons. Entities that preyed on cornered humans, demanding absurd prices to forge contracts.

“They saw my talent.”

Demons were discerning and did not tempt recklessly. Naturally, Ferda remained completely unfazed by that voice. In that instant, he focused purely on the battle.

“Mana is not infinite.”

Neither his opponent nor Ferda possessed limitless mana. Before the stone display case could shatter, the barrage of Ice Spikes ceased. Ferda rose steadily from his position and fixed his gaze on the magic circle. The way to eliminate a Sustained Concentration Magic Circle was:

“Disrupt the opponent’s concentration.”

The instant Yuren prepared to unleash another bombardment, Ferda deployed his prepared magic circle toward him.

“Lightning Beam.”

A bolt of lightning streaked in a straight path. The speed was remarkable, but the trajectory was direct. Reading the direction of the magic circle, a blue barrier formed in front of Yuren.

Crack!

Upon striking the Magic Shield, Ferda’s Lightning Beam dissipated. High speed, yet the baseline destructive power remained that of low-tier magic.

“If only I could combine two attributes, I would have pierced it.”

Combining darkness, which possessed the highest destructive power, with electricity, which held the greatest speed. For him, still only at the 3rd Circle, that was an impossible task.

“Then…”

Ferda shifted his gaze back to the magic circle. The opponent had stopped injecting mana, yet three Ice Spikes were already hurtling toward Ferda.

“Magic Interception.”

A technique that intercepts an opponent’s deployed magic. He attempted to seize the three ice spikes using threads of mana. Ferda had been an 8th Circle Archmage, but currently, he was a 3rd Circle mage. Taking control of all three rapidly flying projectiles was impossible. If he relinquished one, he could claim two.

“Give up the point farthest from vital areas.”

A rational, swift judgment. The abandoned ice spike tore deeply into Ferda’s thigh. Flesh ripped, blood flowed, and pain surged through his veins. Yet it did not matter. The two ice spikes created by Yuren now bared their fangs at their original caster.

“I’m returning these.”

A magic circle formed in Ferda’s hand. The same Lightning Beam. However, this Lightning Beam was discharged from behind the Ice Spikes.

“Lightning Beam.”

Whoosh!

The Ice Spikes accelerated with the speed of lightning. They pierced the blue barrier Yuren had erected.

Shatter!

The Ice Spikes disintegrated, and the blue barrier broke apart. Yuren’s eyes widened.

“My shield broke?”

Combining the solidity of the Ice Spike with the speed of the Lightning Beam produced an impact it could not withstand. The confusion was brief; Yuren sensed imminent death. There was still one Ice Spike remaining.

“Lightning Beam.”

This time, an ice spike flew directly toward Yuren’s forehead.

“Argh!”

Yuren broke his concentration and hurled his body aside. The Sustained Concentration Magic Circle dispersed and vanished. With adrenaline rushing through his head, Yuren scrambled back up.

“Phew… You caught me off guard. Are you truly a 3rd Circle mage?”

Ferda retorted, “Were you such an incompetent mage that you needed to hear it directly from me?”

“Because everything you do suggests otherwise! Even that Court Archmage, that stubborn old man, wouldn’t be able to handle this if told to respond like a 3rd Circle mage.”

“That stubborn old man remains the wisest in this Imperial Palace.”

“You speak as if you know him. When you haven’t even met him.”

“It’s not that I haven’t seen him.”

Until the Emperor lowered his head, the one who confronted him had been that old man. While Ferda entertained those thoughts, Yuren drew something from his robes. A magical tool featuring a round gem set into a wooden shaft. It was a wand. When mana was channeled, the inscribed magic circle within would activate and release a spell. Drawing such an item carried significant meaning.

“Are you conceding defeat in skill?”

“Laugh all you want! I only need to eliminate you!”

He channeled mana, and the magic circle revealed itself. Ferda quickly analyzed the pattern of the circle.

“It seems a 4th-Tier spell is inscribed.”

As expected, the circle contained 4th-Tier magic. The circle’s mana converged, releasing pure white frost and sharpening into a point. The shape resembled the Ice Spikes he had fired earlier. Yet it was not merely an Ice Spike. A keen gleam flashed in Ferda’s eyes.

“It contains an excessive concentration of cold within.”

A Frost Bomb disguised as an Ice Spike. The moment it collided or broke against anything, the frigid air inside would detonate. Attempting to carelessly dodge, defend, or intercept would result in a severe counterattack.

“So I must bring it down.”

Ferda threw the mana sphere held between his fingers to make contact with the Frost Bomb.

Hiss!

Steam-like frost exploded outward, freezing the immediate surroundings. Ferda’s mana sphere also froze solid and rolled across the ground. It was magic destructive enough to freeze pure mana entirely.

“He unraveled my Frost Bomb.”

It was hardly surprising. A mage skilled enough to perform Magic Interception would not fail to recognize the trick. Meanwhile, Yuren chanted another spell.

“Imperial Aegis!”

A magic circle traced with highly concentrated mana took form, materializing into a shield. 5th-Tier Defensive Magic: Aegis. Named after the legendary hero Aegis from the past, it boasted formidable protection. The shield could detect incoming magic autonomously and move without Yuren’s direct control.

“A troublesome nuisance.”

For someone facing it for the first time, there was no spell more annoying.

“…or so one would usually think.”

Ferda knew better. The more troublesome opponents were, the more vividly he remembered their counters. That was why Ferda waited. For the exact moment that fool placed blind faith in his magic. Now. That moment arrived just as Yuren began channeling another Frost Bomb through his wand. Simultaneously, two spheres materialized in Ferda’s hand. One was a standard Mana Shot, and the other was a Mana Bomb created by densely compacting even more mana.

“Don’t tell me…”

The instant he saw the Mana Bomb, an ominous intuition struck Yuren’s mind. He tried to dismiss the thought. It was impossible. How could a mere Third Circle mage know the countermeasure to a Fifth-Tier spell? Despite his denial, Ferda’s spheres flew toward Yuren. The first sphere to rush forward was the Mana Bomb. The Aegis shield detected the Mana Bomb and shifted to block it.

Thud!

The area became saturated with dense mana. Simultaneously, the movement of the shield began to stutter unnaturally. Yuren’s eyes went wide.

“He knows the counter to Aegis too?”

A mage’s battle is a game of hidden cards. One often plays assuming the opponent will not know what cards are held. In fact, that assumption was practically mandatory. If one selected moves attempting to prepare for every single irregular scenario, casting any magic became impossible. Yuren was now confronting that very irregularity.

“Then the second sphere…!”

It was aimed at the Frost Bomb. Once cast manually, magic could be dismissed by the caster’s will. However, spells generated through wands or staves could not be halted mid-activation. Ferda intended to make contact the moment the Frost Bomb materialized, detonating it on the spot.

“You think I’ll let you!”

Yuren swiftly cast Magic Shield. His front was covered once more by the blue curtain. A defensive spell that a single beam could not penetrate. The mana sphere would not reach the Frost Bomb. The completed Frost Bomb merely needed to be directed elsewhere. However, contrary to his expectations, the magic Ferda fired was:

“A Ray?”

The same lightning projectile. Yuren could not comprehend.

“It can’t penetrate, so why make that choice?”

Even with notable speed, it lacked the raw force to pierce his barrier. As Yuren struggled to find the answer, something became visible. Concealed against the dark backdrop, something darker was positioned behind Ferda. Like an obscured arm, performing a throwing motion from the ground.

“Ah.”

What entered his sight was the frozen mana sphere. Frozen solid by the residual effects of the Frost Bomb, hard as stone. Dense enough to serve as a substitute for a metal projectile. He had retrieved that sphere from his visual blind spot.

“Beam.”

The moment it rose along its arc, a beam was fired behind it. The Beam, propelling the hardened block of ice, hurtled forward.

Crack!

The Magic Shield shattered. Yuren’s body jolted violently. Even so, Yuren was a veteran mage. He did not close his eyes before the enemy. In his view, the mana sphere Ferda had held in reserve was flying straight toward him.

“I must find a way…!”

By then, the mana sphere had already made contact with the Frost Bomb.

Ssshh!

White vapor erupted, transforming the area into a field of frost. The vapor did not easily dissipate.

“Instant death.”

Judging by the sheer power, it would not be strange for Yuren to die on the spot. His defenses were neutralized, and even with innate magic resistance, surviving a direct detonation of a frost bomb was improbable. Nevertheless, Ferda did not lower his guard. This was a sealed vault, and the will to survive was human nature.

“Demons grant that will as well.”

His concern proved true.

Crunch!

Covered in thick frost, Yuren’s form moved. His frozen garments and wand crumbled into icy shards, but his body remained intact. At some point, a tome had appeared in his grasp.

“Hehehe…!”

A laugh brimming with ecstatic delight rang out.

“Ah. To obtain the power of a demon… it feels like this.”

Typical words uttered by those intoxicated by demonic power. What rested in his hand was the Ice Illusion Art of Marbas.

“Marbas, Demon of Absolute Cold and Ruin.”

One of the Seven Archdemons, the High Lord of the Frozen Hell. A demon perfectly aligned with an ice mage like Yuren.

“Just before the explosion, he formed a pact with Marbas and survived.”

Selling his soul to Marbas granted him the blessing to endure absolute cold. Ferda remained seated, observing the scene. Having lost too much blood, strength no longer flowed into his thigh. His heightened concentration had reached its absolute limit.

“Where… where did that confident Regent go? Come now, shall we fight again?”

Yuren mocked Ferda. Everything was shifting against Ferda’s favor. At that moment, the malice saturating the chamber began to stir once more. All the demonic grimoires across the sealed vault rattled and shifted.

— Offer your soul. I shall grant you the power to slay that insignificant wretch. — I will give you the strength to incinerate the bastard who insults you! Surrender your soul to me! — I shall bestow power upon you. Even rolling in a field of filth, life is preferable to death, is it not?

The demonic whispers swirled around Ferda. A sensation as if they were pulling him from all sides to claim his body. Proof that Ferda’s physical vessel stood at the edge of an abyss. Ferda, breathing heavily, opened his mouth.

“At the moment of death…”

A faint smile touched Ferda’s lips. It was distinct from the rare smiles he had shown before. It was an expression born of genuine amusement.

“They say the face of the one you love is the first thing you see.”

Yuren frowned at Ferda, who was suddenly speaking nonsensically.

“And do you know who is visible to me right now? You. Do you know what that means?”

“What nonsense is this? You aren’t trying to claim you love me, are you?”

Ferda’s blue eyes locked onto Yuren. They radiated light as mana surged. That unwavering light was pure pride. Those eyes made Yuren feel insignificant.

“It means it is not yet my time to die.”

At that instant, Yuren’s intuition flared once more.

“This man… can I truly not win?”

Even after forging a pact with the demon Marbas, this man asserted that defeat was impossible.

“That cannot be.”

Then what did that make him, who had sold his soul to a demon? Even casting everything aside at the brink of death, was he truly incapable of overcoming a Third Circle mage? As Yuren struggled to compose himself, Ferda asked:

“Do you know the Unwritten Rule of Mages?”

The Unwritten Rule of Mages: Never reveal your ultimate trump card until the moment of death. A decisive wild card capable of overturning everything.

“So you intend to use your ultimate magic? Even though you barely have any mana left?”

Just as Yuren stated, Ferda’s remaining mana was barely sufficient for a single Elemental Beam. The bleeding from his thigh had not stopped, and strength had deserted his leg. The one cornered was clearly Ferda, not Yuren. Ferda smiled faintly and said:

“Do not jump to conclusions. When did I ever say it was magic?”

Not magic? At that moment, Yuren sensed a presence behind him.

“It is not too late yet.”

A man’s voice suddenly echoed. Yuren turned his head. There stood a brown-haired man dressed in the uniform of a guard.

“A guard… impossible.”

There was no way a mere guard could breach a high-security zone like this. Clearly an intruder. And one possessing formidable skill to infiltrate this sealed vault. The man moved first, closing the distance rapidly.

“I must react.”

Yuren began tracing a magic circle. At that instant, the man’s ordinary eyes shifted to a brilliant crimson hue and flared.

“What? Why is the mana…?”

Wherever that crimson gaze fell, the mana gathering in the magic circle forcibly scattered.

“Don’t tell me…!”

A race thought to be extinct in history surfaced in his thoughts.

“Are you from the Red Eye Clan?!”

In other words: a Mage Slayer. The dagger in the man’s hand drove straight through his throat.

“Guh… ack!”

It cleanly pierced both trachea and artery. All Yuren could manage was the sound of escaping air. Ferda, watching from behind, spoke familiarly to the man:

“Be careful. That bastard sold himself to a demon.”

“I know.”

The man gripped the dagger with both hands and adjusted his stance.

“Despite appearances, I have deep ties with demons as well.”

He withdrew the embedded dagger and swept it in a wide arc. Yuren’s perspective flipped as his vision flew toward the ceiling. In his fading consciousness, Ferda remained visible. He was aiming a Beam directly toward his own head.

“Farewell. Beast that discarded its pride.”