Chapter 153 – Readjustment (2)
Star God magic was a new attribute, a magic born of Harkan's way of magic.
The first star, Meteor, boasting overwhelming destructive power.
The torrent of the Milky Way that defies the flow. The second star, Comet Rarenia.
The third star had yet to be realized.
Since it consumed a massive amount of positive magic power, different from ordinary magic, the two techniques above were all that Verden had as his trump cards.
'But not anymore.'
What had become possible because he had reached the 5th tier.
This was not merely a magic formed with the magic power a mage possessed.
Verden raised his head toward the sky.
Here, a high-pressure zone where downdrafts formed, the weather was clear. The perfect environment to test new magic.
Fwaaaah!
Verden activated his mana circuits at full power.
Magic power that far exceeded what he had possessed at the 4th tier raged around him, and as its density increased and magic power began to take on physical force, the surrounding air shook violently.
On his right eye emerged the magic circle of Defying the Heavens.
Verden, clad in the manifestation of immense magic power, looked like the very incarnation of mana.
With a single exhaled breath, Verden twisted his magic power violently.
A storm of dusky violet devoured the air.
Wreathed in the force of gravity, its weight prevented it from being moved like
The clouds in the sky were pulled in, then shot upward.
A massive vortex formed at the center of Zion Forest.
The sudden updraft collided with the existing downdraft in the region.
An immense volume of moisture was trapped in the unstable atmosphere.
When at last the vortex's time was up and it vanished, thick rain poured down beneath the gray thunderclouds, and the sound of thunder began to rumble.
Krrrumble───Kwang!
In an instant, with a flash of light, a violet bolt of lightning struck the ground. The tree that took the direct hit split in half and burst into flames.
It was not a bolt formed of magic, but natural lightning.
The once clear landscape had vanished, replaced by foul weather.
At its center, Verden's magic eye gleamed.
Verden's magic power burrowed into the storm clouds.
At the same time, countless bolts of lightning slumbering within the thunderclouds came under Verden's control.
The immense computational load and delicate control pushed his mana circuits to their limits.
His eyes reddened with burst vessels, cold sweat dripped down to his chin.
His body began to tremble.
The pressure was like a massive mountain crushing down on his whole body.
He could endure.
Verden condensed the lightning bolts he had seized into the air.
A massive light-source formed of countless small bolts gathered as one. Compared to lightning conjured merely by magic, this thunder energy was on an entirely different level, flashing at the end of his gaze.
Stimulating the climate with magic to change it, then using that climate to make up for insufficient magical force.
To use nature to further strengthen elemental magic was a lofty realm permitted only to elemental mages of the 5th tier and above.
'But with my current self, I cannot freely command this thunder mass.'
Verden devoted nearly all of his focus to controlling the magic power.
If his concentration were to slip, the light-source would explode and scatter countless bolts of lightning indiscriminately. Even that alone would be a powerful spell.
But he could not be satisfied with that.
Its range had to be localized and its destructive force concentrated.
The magic that floated in Verden's mind still remained out of reach.
Yet he could not fuse other spells into it to create variation. The thunder energy was far too strong; any other magic would be devoured.
'In that case.'
The center of the three primary colors, Chaos.
A magic outside of the tiers, imitating the way of magic.
Straining his breath, Verden stirred his magic power once more.
He drew out the last remnants of his strength. Capillaries burst, blood trickled from his eye, his breath surged up to his throat.
Thus, with his full might, Verden imbued the light-source with an attribute.
The weight of gravity.
A chaos magic formed of the high attributes of the lightning series and the gravity series.
Shadows fell over the light-source, as bright darkness flickered. This was Verden's full power as an elemental mage.
He released his control and drew the light-source down.
Silence fell over the land.
The light-source, drawn by gravity, tore through the air and plunged downward.
At the moment it struck the ground—
────!
A blue flash burst silently, devouring the space.
Destruction spread in a circular wave. Then, from the point where the light-source met the ground, a colossal blue pillar shot upward, piercing the clouds.
As though the very sky were collapsing.
At last, the pillar vanished without a trace.
Verden lowered his gaze.
A portion of the forest, spanning dozens of meters in radius, had been utterly obliterated.
A silent land. In that place, blackened by ultra-high heat and light, where even ash remained not, no life could possibly survive.
'Is this the result of one year....'
Overwhelming.
Verden trembled at the power that far surpassed the standards of the 5th tier.
And yet, Verden himself could not remain unharmed.
His head throbbed fiercely.
His entire mana circuit was tattered, his body aching all over.
Verden descended to the ground.
Staggering, he dropped to his knees, supporting himself with his hands.
'So it was too much after all.'
By his knowledge, the spell he had just cast bore power comparable to the highest of the 6th tier, or even the 7th tier.
A level of might no 5th-tier mage could ever realize. He had forced it into existence through artifacts and his own control.
A natural consequence, and a natural price.
Taking a brief rest, Verden organized his thoughts.
The total mana consumed by the previous spell was about the same as Meteor or Comet. In terms of magic power, it was manageable.
But Star God magic was defined by Harkan's way of magic.
In contrast, Verden's spell was the product of multiple magics combined, drawing even the elements of nature.
Systematized, versus not systematized.
The difference in computation was overwhelming without need for comparison. The burden on the mana circuits from control was extreme.
'Thus I must remember.'
This spell was not a power Verden could use at any time.
The environment had to support it, the weather had to be in his favor, and he needed the time to shape and control the magic power before it could be unleashed.
No opponent of even average wit would ever allow such a lengthy casting time.
To perform this spell alone, he would need to reach the 7th tier. Or achieve a special way of magic.
Both were realms beyond promise of time.
Verden shook his head, casting aside such thoughts.
Then he recalled his purpose.
To create new spells, to devise ways to use them in real combat, to establish systematic methods of battle as a 5th-tier elemental mage. That was the foremost goal.
That was why Verden had come to this forest.
Zion Forest.
This uninhabited place was the best site for testing magic.
And the Cave without Light.
Forbidden by the Kingdom and filled with monsters, it was the hunting ground where he could experience real combat.
'I have clearly confirmed my full power.'
Now it was time to enter readjustment.
Verden finished his thoughts.
His blue eyes gleamed intensely.
***
A darkness-filled underground.
Within ruins abandoned in a distant past, there existed a ritual site of strange shape, constructed in a vast circle.
At its center was an altar, just large enough for a single person to lie upon, and along the outer boundary, tall straight lampstands were placed at exact intervals, following paths carved into the ground.
An old man stood before the altar, eyes closed.
A black mage, cloaked in a dark robe, approached.
"Master Nosa, the preparations for the ritual are complete."
Glory of the Dead, Nosa.
He opened his eyes, and a sinister smile spread across his face.
"At last."
The more than two years spent in the Kingdom had been long and tedious.
Supporting the Third Prince in a throne struggle no different from a children's quarrel had been nothing short of petty.
But it had to be done.
To obtain 'that' which slumbered beneath Estiria's royal castle, the power of the royal family was absolutely necessary. The deal was unavoidable.
Nosa asked,
"Is Viola waiting well?"
"Yes. But she is finding it difficult to endure any longer."
"As expected. Hiding her identity does not suit Viola in any way. The fact that she did not rampage midway is impressive enough."
Viola, who had infiltrated the diocese, had sent periodic reports.
Boring, isn't this enough, I want to tear all those hypocrites to pieces—though full of complaints, she had steadily succeeded in gathering information.
It was said the four bishops were combining their strength to purify the Orb of the Undead.
'The hypocrites are struggling desperately.'
The Orb of the Undead cannot be purified by the holy power of mere bishops.
Unless it were at least an archbishop, a cardinal, or a saint-level figure, erasing its malice was impossible. And such clergy did not exist within the Kingdom.
It was precisely because of that knowledge that Nosa had not secured the Orb of the Undead beforehand.
In order to complete the ritual without any interference.
And now that the preparations were complete, it was time to recover the stolen Orb of the Undead.
But even for Viola, it would be difficult to reduce the diocese to rubble alone.
The paladin order, supported by bishops and priests, was especially troublesome for black mages.
"Then we must divert their gaze."
Nosa took out a piece of well-preserved leather from his robe.
A Scroll.
A record of magic from antiquity, long lost, an artifact that captured magic within it, allowing anyone to use it just once. Made from dragon hide, the scroll contained high-tier magic.
A black magic, positioned at the 7th tier.
It was an item bestowed upon him by his 'superiors' to achieve his goals within the Kingdom.
With this, he could divert the attention of the diocese, and fulfill the deal with the Third Prince perfectly.
And in addition—
"Killing Kunel, and exacting a price from the one who stole the Orb of the Undead, would be fitting."
Calia de Esperanza.
Thinking of her, Nosa turned his head with a chilling expression.
"Rimanen."
"Yes, Master Nosa."
Nosa handed the scroll to Rimanen.
"Commence the March of the Dead."
***
Four days to create new chaos magic.
Four days to reorganize everything that had become so varied as to be messy.
And another four days to test the systematized magic and combat style in actual battle.
The Cave without Light.
Verden had once subjugated a horde of abnormal species and demi-humans that lived within the passage leading to a bottomless chasm, but within a short time, new monsters had taken their place.
Even more dangerous abnormal species glared with grotesque eyes.
All the better.
No need to seek them out.
Kwaang! Kwagwagwang!
Thrown into real combat, Verden did not stop moving for even a moment. After slaughtering the creatures in one passage, he went on to clear the maze-like caverns on the other side.
Though he had gained vastly more mana by reaching the 5th tier, he spent to the limit, exhausting enormous amounts of magic power.
For the next three days, he devoted himself entirely to restoring his depleted stamina and consumed mana naturally.
Thus, about fifteen days had passed since Verden had entered readjustment.
Verden pulled a hand mirror from his spatial bag and examined himself.
Thanks to his rest, there was no trace of fatigue on his face, but his clothes—including the Robe of the Wanderer—were stained with the bodily fluids of abnormal species.
"A mess."
Fortunately, the smell was faint, but aesthetically it was dreadful.
And water could not wash it away. To head to Asern like this…
'It can't be helped.'
He could not strip off his equipment defenselessly.
He would change clothes once he arrived near the gates of Asern.
Though uncomfortable, Verden honestly felt lighthearted enough to ignore such trivial matters.
As a result of honing his strength again,
his mana reserves and circuits had barely changed.
But Verden felt keenly that his capabilities as a mage had grown further.
Two high attributes, a variety of elemental magic, even imbue magic.
It was no exaggeration to say he was now thoroughly specialized for combat.
'Of course, even so, to reach the transcendent tower masters is still far away....'
Verden's pace of growth was overwhelming.
Far beyond what he had once imagined for himself.
Just keep moving forward like this.
Verden looked up at the sky, and made a firm resolve.
***
Using
In the nearby Sloan Forest, he changed his garments. It was the luxurious dark blue attire that merchant Conrad had given him last year in the Pythe territory.
Due to his body, tempered through harsh training, it felt a little tight, but outwardly it was hardly noticeable.
'Well, not bad.'
Stowing his equipment in his spatial bag, Verden passed through the castle gates and headed toward Perne.
Having finished his top priority, it was time to carry out a request.
First, he would ask Perne to select an assignment, then have his gear sent for washing. That would be more efficient.
Thinking ahead, he pushed open the tavern door.
"Sir Asher!"
Perne hurried over as soon as he saw Verden.
Had something urgent come up?
Verden tilted his head slightly in curiosity as he asked,
"What is it?"
"Lady Calia has sent a personal request."
Calia?
'Has she perhaps found a clue about the Glory of the Dead?'
The possibility was high.
After receiving the Orb of the Undead from the last request, Calia had said she would pursue traces of the black mages.
When he asked for details, Perne shook his head.
"It wasn't written, but it seems quite urgent. In fact, she said she would come directly to Asern..."
She would come in person.
This was clearly no ordinary matter.
"When is she coming?"
"Well, that is..."
At that moment, the tavern door opened.
A figure entered, wearing a plain robe pulled low. As he lifted his head, crimson eyes met Verden's.
"It's been a while, Asher."
White Steel Calia.
At the sight, Perne belatedly finished his words.
"...Today."