Chapter 54
In Mak’s view of magic, the Impact-type carried a strong image of materializing mass with magic power and then dropping it to crush the target.
There was also Impact Magic shot in a straight line, but the Calculation for a simple drop was easiest to conceptualize since it was the most one-dimensional.
And to this, he infused it with Severing by clearly visualizing a blade suited for cutting.
When the imagery and conditions interlocked without issue, they formed a system just like that.
[Sword of Damocles]
As magic power swirled with the manifestation of Unique Magic, Usagi was astonished.
It was much stronger than the output she had seen at the harbor. It was certain that his tier had risen.
“You…”
“Enough chitchat.”
Mak roughly stomped on the accelerator and cranked the steering wheel.
Since his Unique Magic had manifested without issue, Geum Jong-Hwa, being at the 5th-Tier, wouldn’t be able to chase them right away.
With the accelerator slammed down, the vehicle shot forward with a Thump!
It sped down the road, pouring out a heavy exhaust roar. Geum Jong-Hwa and Geum San had to watch the receding vehicle.
Not by their own will, but by another’s.
Geum Jong-Hwa took in the sight of the sword floating above his head, a blade the size of a small building.
“That output just now… a 5th-Tier Mage? This is a completely unexpected situation. He was too precious a Person to kill quietly.”
The blade that appeared in the air looked precariously threatening, looking as if it would drop at any moment.
[Does the sword have eyes? It feels like it’s looking this way.]
That sword was aiming right at the crown of his head. He had a premonition that even if he moved, it would follow and aim for his head.
Moreover, to actually move and escape, his legs felt as heavy as if they had taken root in the ground.
[Pressure? Or Gravity Magic? Magic that increases body weight? Either way, it’s an astonishing output.]
There was no time to feel the joy of his intuition proving right - that Chris Garland was someone who needed to be interrogated.
Not only his own legs, but Geum San’s were also bound since he was within range. Geum San, being at the 4th-Tier, was on the verge of being crushed even before the sword fell.
Tak!
Geum Jong-Hwa swung his scabbard to push Geum San out of the way and quickly issued an order.
“Geum San.”
“…Yes!”
“Chase the car. The man is a Mage. Do not attack first, and keep sharing his location.”
He even added an order that if he had to attack, he should aim for the woman first, not the man.
Geum San immediately dashed off to carry out Geum Jong-Hwa’s order.
RUUUMBLE - !!!
The sword hanging in the sky fell as if its string had been cut.
Shing! Geum Jong-Hwa drew his blade with a sharp metallic clang.
“It is arrogant to dare to try to suppress the Geumseong Family with a sword.”
Since the Social Party was safely drawing to a close, he tried to erase Chris Garland and Nelly Campbell as they left the Hotel, acting purely on his intuition.
Even as he swung his sword at dawn, he couldn’t shake the unconscious thought that he shouldn’t just let Chris Garland go.
Because it was hard to distinguish whether this was a signal to recruit him to their side or a warning that he would return as a troublesome enemy, he simply decided to kill him.
Dealing with the aftermath wouldn’t even be considered work for Geum Jong-Hwa, the fourth son of the Chairman of a Corporation on the verge of bankruptcy.
[As expected, my intuition is never wrong.]
Geum Jong-Hwa swung his blade, aiming at the plunging sword.
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Geum San continued his pursuit by leaping over buildings, kicking off a traffic light to land on top of a moving vehicle.
Thud! The taxi’s hood crumpled with a loud noise.
“Hey, you crazy bastard! What the hell are you!”
Geum San thrust his sword at the taxi Driver, who was shouting from the Driver’s seat.
Noise was distracted his concentration.
“Keuk…!”
The taxi swerved violently as the blade pierced through the window and impaled the Driver’s neck. Geum San simply pushed off the car and continued his movement.
He jumped, completely ignoring the chain collision caused by the driverless taxi.
This time, he landed while slicing through the roof of a speeding vehicle.
The vehicle jolted from the Impact.
“Hiiik!”
“Get lost.”
Geum San threw the Driver out and took the Driver’s seat.
He manipulated the Cyberware on his temple to turn on location sharing while simultaneously stomping on the accelerator.
VROOOOM!!!
He aggressively cut through traffic, overtaking the cars blocking his way. He accelerated and sped forward, ignoring all traffic signals.
The rear end of the classic car caught Geum San’s eye.
[That’s the car.]
Just looking at it made the veins on his forehead bulge with anger.
[Damn it…]
Geum San had no memory of ever struggling against a Mage. Back in his 2nd-Tier days, he had even killed two 3rd-Tier Mages.
Therefore, the experience of being overwhelmed by magic was a first for him. It was disgraceful.
To feel fear toward a mere Mage - someone he was guaranteed to beat as long as he closed the distance and brought the Mage within range of his sword - was humiliating.
[I’ll chew you up and spit you out.]
The moment he narrowed the distance,
BANG! The passenger door of the classic car flew off from someone’s kick.
A woman displayed flexible movements as she climbed onto the roof of the vehicle.
A woman was wearing a velvet dress. This is Chris Garland’s wife, Nelly Campbell.
[Or perhaps someone who isn’t Nelly Campbell.]
Geum San did not avoid her gaze, nor did he slow down.
[Did she tear the side of her dress to secure mobility?]
The woman brought her hands together and formed various hand seals.
Seeing the flow of magic power concentrate, Geum San took one hand off the steering wheel and grabbed his sword.
[Are those… hand seals?]
The moment Geum San thought of the existence of a Ninja, Usagi spewed fire.
[Fire Release: Kalpa Fire Dragon’s Lair]
FWOOOOSH!!!
The inferno engulfed Geum San’s vehicle. As the inferno sliced through the car, Geum San escaped through the flames.
He rolled across the roadway.
His exposed skin suffered burns, and black smoke rose from his Specialized Clothing.
When he raised his head, he saw the vehicle pulling away once again.
Irritation shot up to the crown of his head.
“…This bitch!”
Geum San swung his sword, and the door of a car waiting at a traffic light flew off with a slice!
He dragged out the Driver who was frozen in fear, commandeered the vehicle, and resumed his pursuit.
Screeeech! Screeeech!
He sped along the center line, weaving between vehicles.
Even in his enraged state, he didn’t forget to check their direction.
[The direction they’re heading is the Lower District. Are they bugs that crawled up from below? Or is it a bluff?]
Even though he wasn’t slowing down, the distance wasn’t closing easily.
Geum San rammed into the vehicle in front of him at full speed and leaped into the air.
CRASH!
Using the collision as a springboard, Geum San launched himself into the air. He adjusted his grip on his sword.
He confirmed that the Person occupying the roof of the car had changed.
[The Mage!]
The woman who had used Ninjutsu was now sitting in the Driver’s seat.
“You bald bastard. You’ve been getting on my nerves.”
Mak aimed his hand at Geum San in midair and clenched his fist.
“Ughhh…?!”
He was fixed in midair. Geum San felt a sense of helplessness, as if he had been caught in a giant’s grasp.
Maintained at a set distance from the caster, he was dragged along at the exact same speed as the speeding car.
No matter how much he struggled, he couldn’t break free. He was suffocating, as if being crushed by a hydraulic press.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
As the pressure crushing his entire body intensified, a red light blinked in Geum San’s prosthetic eye, warning him of critical danger and imminent death.
The moment blood trickled from Geum San’s mouth,
Geum Jong-Hwa dropped onto the roof of the cargo truck that Usagi was currently overtaking.
BOOOM!
The front of the cargo truck shook violently from the Impact.
Geum Jong-Hwa immediately leaped over, landing on the roof of the vehicle directly in front of Usagi, and let out an elated shout.
“Hahaha! I thought I was going to die an embarrassing death getting crushed! You son of a bitch!”
His head must have been split open in the process of blocking the Sword of Damocles, as blood stained his blond hair.
Geum Jong-Hwa’s eyes gleamed with killing intent. With bloodshot eyes, he looked like a genuine lunatic.
“Your face has become quite a sight.”
So this was Geum Jong-Hwa’s true nature.
Mak tossed Geum San onto the road and let out a chuckle. It was a waste to expend magic power on a mere lackey.
“Magic far stronger than I expected! It instantly invigorated me!”
Geum Jong-Hwa had been genuinely impressed while blocking the falling sword.
He had seen all sorts of magic in his life, but he had never seen that kind of magic before.
“You could have just gone to sleep basking in the afterglow, so why bother chasing us?”
“It’s still not enough! Show me more of the magic you’re hiding!”
Geum Jong-Hwa lunged toward Mak.
Mak poured magic power into his circuits and formed a shape.
[Kraken]
The implementation and manifestation of Psychokinesis.
A massive cluster of translucent octopus tentacles surged up around Mak.
Pabababak!
Geum Jong-Hwa’s sword flashed with light, pouring slash attacks onto the swinging cephalopod tentacles.
About half of them weren’t fully severed, but Geum Jong-Hwa’s sword strikes were far too fast for Mak to restore their shapes by imbuing more magic power.
[He really is strong.]
He was on a completely different level from the baldy he had just tossed aside.
In an instant, Geum Jong-Hwa closed the distance with Mak and swung his sword.
Piiing!
Mak narrowly dodged the single strike.
“!”
Geum Jong-Hwa’s eyes widened at the unexpectedly clean movement.
The hairpin Usagi threw from the Driver’s seat pierced through the metal roof and shot upward.
Forced back by the threatening Surprise Attack and a Shockwave hastily conjured by Mak, Geum Jong-Hwa leaped onto another vehicle.
The Surprise Attack had grazed his cheek, drawing blood.
“Hah, how arrogant.”
Geum Jong-Hwa swung his sword at the car he was standing on, cleanly slicing the roof off to expose the Driver’s seat.
He ordered the Driver, who was trembling in fear.
“Follow that car. If you stop, I’ll kill you. If you fall behind, I’ll kill you.”
“Heok…! U-Understood!”
The two vehicles sped down the road side by side.
Mak’s hair and Geum Jong-Hwa’s long hair whipped wildly in the wind.
“Now, let’s continue!”
Geum Jong-Hwa took his stance once again.
His face showed that he was enjoying this so much he could barely contain himself.
“Tsk. We’ve got a crazy bastard on our tail.”
Mak clicked his tongue, pulling out a Lollipop he had brought from the Hotel and popping it into his mouth.