Chapter 78
As Ellen took a stance to throw the spear she held.
Byron lowered his center of gravity to evade.
Because the tingling killing intent and the resolute gaze wanting to kill emanating from the Dragonkin woman were directed solely at Byron.
“Huuup!”
However, the Dragon Fang thrown by Ellen did not head toward Byron.
Her gaze captured Byron straight on, but the direction of the spear unexpectedly flew toward the 4th-tier who had been acting as Byron’s close subordinate, continuously supporting him.
“Keok…!”
It embedded cleanly into his abdomen. This alone was fatal, but Ellen’s magic didn’t end with mere penetration.
The magic power compressed in the spear was released, and a thunderous roar erupted.
RUMBLE!!!
The Electric Shock caused an explosion with a flash, scattering branching lightning.
Heat dug in through the blinding radiance that was like a flash of light.
“What a ridiculous trick!”
Byron instinctively dodged the crimson mass rushing in using the light as a distraction, but
The Full Moon created by Flora was a mass of dangerous heat just to touch. It was also the doorway through which the Wolf Pack made of flames passed.
It could perform the same role as the caster, Flora.
─ Awoooo!
A portion of the wolves Flora had summoned appeared by her side beneath the Full Moon, forming a symbolic picture.
They dashed toward their prey.
However, Byron had already been watching the Mage use the wolves.
He had figured out not only their speed but also the direction in which they decelerated.
“…Hmm?”
But it was different from the magic he had seen just before.
The Full Moon kept moving, changing its position and communing with Flora.
Junk Town operated as if it had become a single chessboard, and the Wolf Pack slowly narrowed Byron’s radius of action. At the same time, they steadily gnawed away at his subordinates.
[?!]
Byron’s eyes were filled with bewilderment.
It wasn’t just clumsily attempting something new. As if the Person casting had changed, an unexpected veteran skill was evident in the magic’s trajectory.
Even though the previous clash hadn’t been that long ago.
“You bald bastard. I’ve been waiting.”
And the Dragonkin appeared right in front of him.
Her face was full of confidence, exuding the confidence that she could beat him to death right then and there.
Byron was dumbfounded.
[Was my movement induced by these clumsy things?]
And in such a bizarre way where a Mage voluntarily gave up her distance?
Like cornering prey?
“These bug-like bitches…!”
A blood vessel bulging with anger bulged over Byron’s torn forehead.
Magic power swirled inside Ellen’s mouth.
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“…”
Max felt a chill while concentrating on his Calculation.
His lifeline was like a candle in the wind.
However, the mindset sprouting like a new bud was unexpected.
Did he gain the courage to climb against providence just because he had died once? The tenacity to manifest his Unique Magic grew in size, raising his concentration.
Among Max’s magic, the one with the most powerful firepower was Black Hole.
But it was also the foremost in terms of immaturity.
The image manifested in reality was so poor compared to the mental image that it could be called superficial, making it a Unique Magic that required a mountain of points to supplement.
[That’s why there’s a possibility of creating a masterpiece containing an unprecedented level of perfection.]
Max’s thoughts accelerated.
Tinnitus rang in his ears, and he could no longer hear outside sounds.
[I couldn’t even kill Geum Jonghwa cleanly. I have to improve it.]
The sensation of the world slowing down.
Max ignored Salazar’s resistance rapidly growing fiercer under the sword. He spurred his thoughts.
He ignored the Grim Reaper thrusting a scythe at his neck and concentrated on broadening the horizons of his magic.
[With the current method, Black Hole cannot raise its output beyond a certain limit even if I pour magic power into it. Even so, if I try to manifest it, it endlessly consumes my magic power.]
If it were lacking, it would simply be filled, but if it overflows, it must be adjusted to the exact right amount.
[Can I mobilize Severing to cut off the supply of magic power beyond what is necessary?]
His brain and circuits screamed.
But he could ignore it. As his senses grew distant, he didn’t feel the headache.
Only his eyelids and limbs trembled excessively.
“Hahaha!”
Salazar escaped Damocles and reached Max’s position. His body had changed.
The stab wound extending from his shoulder to his abdomen wasn’t the issue.
His muscles had become even more hypertrophied, and blood vessels tainted with a dull color bulged as if showing off. Even the bleeding stopped.
“It’s been a while since I tasted magic with such spirit! I express my gratitude.”
The Cyberware located on the back of the satisfyingly smiling Salazar lit up with a green light.
Central Nervous System Cyberware that intervened in the brain and spinal cord inevitably came with the side effect of nerve damage when used long-term.
However, it was a fascinating Cyberware with diverse functions such as injecting built-in drugs, blocking pain, and Forcibly secreting adrenaline.
“Mage friend. I, Salazar, has returned alive, aren’t you going to welcome me?”
Salazar furrowed his brows as he looked at Max, who was muttering to himself in place without even glancing in his direction.
They were blank eyes with faint vitality.
The sight of him moving his mouth while bleeding from his eyes and nose was also bizarre.
[Is he seeing illusions right before he dies?]
Even though he had endured the Unique Magic and returned, it was unsatisfying, as he didn’t even show a surprised face.
Salazar manipulated his prosthetic arm.
Clack!
The chainsaw had broken while blocking the previous magic. It didn’t spin.
However, the specially crafted chainsaw had a sharpness that could chew up most swords by itself.
“I guess I can’t kill you by sawing.”
The sensation of grinding up the heart of a 5th-Tier Mage would be exceptional. It was truly a shame.
The moment Salazar felt dissatisfied and extended his foot.
RUMBLE──!!!
Flames and Electric Shock surged from one side of Junk Town, shaking the ground.
Salazar’s prosthetic eye indicated that the signal connected to Byron had been cut off.
[…Byron was defeated?]
It was a bad sign.
Salazar narrowed the distance and swung the saw blade to finish things here first.
“Hmm!”
The moment the blade swung by the golden prosthetic arm tore through the trapezius, cleaved the collarbone like tofu, and headed for the heart.
Magic power gathered above Max’s palm.
“Not bad…”
Max’s mouth corners curled up.
Because it was the most to his liking among the Unique Magic he had manifested so far.
[Black Hole]
The formation of a miniature Mana Condensate.
A mass the size of a baseball left Max’s hand.
“O-ooh…?!”
In an instant, it distorted and twisted Salazar.
All that remained was a handful of blood, chunks of meat, and a crumpled golden prosthetic arm.
[Still, there are p… parts that need improvement…]
Max lost consciousness and collapsed just like that.
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Flora and Ellen, who had dealt with Byron and his subordinates, moved without even having the time to savor victory.
They tracked the wave of magic power that burst out momentarily and landed by Max’s side.
“Max! Can you hear me? Max!”
“Max! Max! Wake up!”
It was a massive wound. Their minds went blank, not knowing how to treat it.
Flora and Ellen simultaneously slapped their own cheeks! to clear their minds.
They sprang up from their spots and divided their roles.
“F-first, you look for a Doctor among the survivors! I’ll go get the car!”
“Just in case, search for the nearest town on your way!”
However, the two people’s actions could not continue. The sound of applause rang out in Junk Town, where death was in full bloom.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
As Flora and Ellen reflexively took a stance and turned their heads. A figure particularly familiar to Ellen stood there.
The 7th-Tier Mage of the Magic Noble Family, Domingo Clements.
“Young Lady. You have worked hard. To achieve such remarkable growth in your first real battle against an equal tier, I am truly in awe.”
“Don’t tell me, Domingo, you… were here the whole time?!”
“Of course. I, Domingo, has been by the Young Lady’s side the entire time.”
Had Domingo ever been this welcome?
Ellen immediately ordered.
“Save him right now.”
“Please…!”
Even Flora, the granddaughter of Eisen Crimsonhowl, bowed her waist to plead.
Flora and Ellen’s expressions were captured in Domingo’s monocle. They were resolute yet desperate.
“Sir Max Steiger is not included in the list of protection targets ordered by the Family Head.”
“It is the order of the Next Family Head. If you can’t save Max, I’ll die right here.”
“Hoho…!”
Domingo laughed as if troubled, but he had already decided on his direction.
Because he wanted to evaluate the dedication Max Steiger had shown toward Ellen Clements highly.
In the first place, Max’s wound was also caused by him intervening unreasonably in an attack that Domingo was about to block.
Above all, it had been a long time since Domingo had seen such a scene in the cold city of Haze.
“I will obey.”
At Domingo’s words, the two people’s expressions brightened.
“Before the transport plane from Genesis Bio arrives, I will first administer the drugs I have on hand.”
Domingo began first aid while simultaneously sending a call signal to the medical transport plane he had on standby.
While sticking close to Max and moving his hands quickly, he didn’t forget to observe.
[Hoo, is he already on the verge of the 6th-tier.]
Ellen Clements and Flora Crimsonhowl had also accumulated tremendous experience from this encounter.
However, Max Steiger, who was sent in the role of Supervisor, showed the biggest leap.
A Calculation Gamble that could ruin the brain. It was Domingo’s first time seeing someone succeed without becoming an idiot.
Now, with just a small Impact, he would ascend to the 6th-tier at once.
[As expected, it is the Young Lady’s intuition.]
He was a Person whose future was highly anticipated.