Chapter 72- Jeong Pan-soo and Jeong Phan-ho (2)
When the first engraved magic was developed, the magical society was enamored with new possibilities. If a fifth circle wizard could engrave seventh circle magic, wouldn’t that heighten their skill-set to the seventh level? The development of civilization begins with curiosity.
Since engraving means that the magic circle replaces all the processes necessary for magic, it seemed theoretically possible. So, the experiment proceeded. Wizards aspired to the seventh circle volunteered, and soon, the national project attracted an international audience’s attention.
All applicants died in the process.
The result was shocking. The circle could not handle the power of the seventh level and was destroyed. The sorcerers suffered and died due to the backflow phenomenon. Some wizards received lethal burns during the engraving, and society concluded that ‘transcendence imprinting’ was impossible and highly dangerous. Thus, it was forbidden from that day on.
Klinssman set foot in that very same realm. The ‘transcendence imprint’ grafted onto Kang Min-hyuk’s body was a secure form, unlike the past’s repeated failures. But there were prerequisites for the imprinting process. Mental prowess and a solid circle that can handle the upper levels were essential. Kang Min-hyuk had all of the necessary conditions.
The remnants of Klinssman’s memory gave Kang Min-hyuk conviction.
“Ahhhhhh!” The disciple of Suhomun screamed as the Death Knight’s attack severed his arm. When his sword fell to the floor, still clutched in the grip of his disembodied fist, he had no way to block the enemy. His hopeless gaze was fixed on the Death Knight running at him, as a powerful flame broke out, and the monster was engulfed.
“Rune flare.”
Pop!
Rrrumble.
The spell bought a little time. However, the disciple of Suhomun did nothing, the certainty of his death had stolen his intentions, and he stood still. Kang Min-hyuk decided that he needed a powerful shot to reverse the situation.
“Transcendence imprint.”
Hwaak.
Mana shone brightly. The light emanating from the back of his hand was absorbed into Kang Min-hyuk’s circle, which rotated fiercely. Kang Min-hyuk had never experienced so many rotations. When seventh level power was imposed on the four circles of Min-hyuk, his face burned red and veins pushed out of his skin like thinly veiled roots. It appeared the blood would burst from his head right away. “Oh, ugh.”
His teeth and fists were clenched. Blood trickled out through the side of his mouth. It was a pressure that n ordinary person could withstand. His head turned tight. The knowledge of the 7th circle quickly consumed his mental power. However, Kang Min-hyuk, who overcame the Tower of Trials, endured the pressure of transcendence with blood-shot eyes.
Mana spread. Kang Min-hyuk’s circle opened, and a vast amount of mana morphed into the element of fire.
“Fire Storm.”
Thud.
Rumble.
A dark cloud appeared. The wind raged, and flames broke out at the edge of the storm. A storm of fire arose and smashed into the Death Knights. Even an A-class Death Knight couldn’t withstand the power of the seventh circle. Those sucked into the eye of the storm turned to ash, and the Death Knights around them were afraid. Their skin, made up of dark magical power, burned. It had all of the dark power of a natural disaster. As the Fire Storm swept through, the number of Death Knights decreased significantly.
“What the hell?!”
“A firestorm?”
The disciples of Suhomun turned to Kang Min-hyuk, astonished. None of them had ever witnessed such tremendous magic, and they doubted whether they were experiencing reality. Kang Min-hyuk had just transcended the known limit of magic.
A brief lull occurred, in which Kang Min-hyuk fell to the floor and cried out, his voice hoarse.
“Wake up! It’s not over yet.”
[Ahhhhhhhhh!]
[Kill, kill everything!]
The last remaining Death Knights emerged from the rubble leftover by the flames.
* * *
Min-hyuk’s head was spinning sickeningly. The disgusting energy was no longer tolerable.
Patter.
The contents of his stomach hit the floor with a splat. When he raised his head, he noticed that the enemies were entangled with the disciples of Suhomun.
“Die!”
Puck!
[Crushing.]
It was a blood clot. Many of the disciples had reached a point of exhaustion from their battles with the Death Knights. Upon entering the Dark City, they had fought several battles, experienced space separation, and subsequently faced the hordes of monsters they were dealing with currently. There was a short break between the action, but fatigue settled into their bones and minds in the end. Still, there were no deaths.
Their skills were excellent, but their will to succeed was more remarkable still.
“Ah, ah, ah!”
Suck!
Jeong Pansoo ran wild like a wounded beast, straight through the center of the Death Knight group. He took the lead in Jeong Pan-ho’s absence. Using guardian swordsmanship, he lured the Death Knights’ attention, and despite not being in normal condition, he did not withdraw until the end. When he was younger, Jeong Pan-soo was weak. He abandoned his allies and retreated from danger, but now, he became the warrior his father dreamed he would after many years.
“You have to help!” Pan-soo yelled.
Min-hyuk’s mouth was dry, and the circle felt hollow and flat. There was no mana. He had used a lot of powerful magic, and there was nothing left…there was nothing he could do. If he had a sword, he would fight, but the A-class death knights would be impervious to any blade he could wield. If his sword-skills were worthy of this battle, he would never have left Suhomun.
“You have to solve this as a wizard.”
Kang Min-hyuk endured the nauseating energy and told Kim Seong-ho.
“From now on, I will restore mana by using the deep method. Please keep me right by your side.”
“We’ll protect you.”
The condition of Kim Seong-ho and his party was also concerning. Their facial expressions showed a struggle, but they attached their shields tight to their bodies and stood around Kang Min-hyuk, who immediately entered the trial.
Suddenly, within that state, a possibility emerged: Sim law. Mental power. What would happen if one brain accepted mana, and the other brain immediately expressed that mana through magic? Could it be done? The worst-case scenario was already occurring, so he had nothing to lose by trying.
Kang Min-hyuk’s thoughts were divided, and he began the deep, psychic method. Mana began to build around him. The powerful suction of the Moon Simbeop absorbed all of the mana floating in nature. Kang Min-hyuk used his other mind to immediately manifest magic. It was a unique method. Instead of stacking mana in a circle, it was rotated once and instantly cast.
Through this means, Kang Min-hyuk didn’t have to assimilate the power of nature gradually but could draw directly from it. As a result, his body was shocked as mana ran wild, but Kang Min-hyuk cast his magic calmly.
“Explosion.”
Kwaang!
Kwa Kwa Kwa Kwang!
His gamble was successful, but the results weren’t as effective as they could have been. The casting took a while, and the magic’s power was weaker than expected. The impact of the magic messed up his insides. However, Kang Min-hyuk could not stop. His magic was the last hope of the Guardian Gate; instead of giving up, he had to try harder.
Bony. His minds raised the threshold. One mind was deep, and the other was magic. It wasn’t an efficient way to use mana, but Kang Min-hyuk’s magic was a big help.
Puck!
Death Knights fell. Shocked by the magic, they were vulnerable to the warrior’s attacks.
Aura burned from Jeong Pan-soo’s sword as it sliced through Death Knight’s throat, sending his head flying in a bloody spray. Kang Min-hyuk sat down on the ground, slowly catching his breath.
“It’s over.”
They had survived.
A voice filled with despair echoed from above, reminding them that Jeong Pan-ho and the transcendental Death Knight still fought on the stony stage.
“Pan-sooaaaagggghhh!”
The troops looked up. Dark swordsmanship had entered Jeong Pan-soo, who plunged his blade through a Death Knight’s jugular.
Kwaang!
Rumble.
A massive explosion shook the walls. As the mana of the thick, rising darkness subsided, Jeong Pan-soo’s blood-drenched body slumped to the floor.
* * *
Jeong Pan-ho fought alone to defeat the most powerful opponent on the field. His final blow preceded his death.
[…Choose, human.]
The transcendental Death Knight’s attack was going to be of the highest level, and as he was preparing it, the super-evolved Death Knight began regenerating his body. This skill restores the body by consuming mana. At that moment, Jeong Pan-ho decided without hesitation.
Puck!
The warrior swung his blade, and the Death Knight’s head flew away. The blow came with a price. He chose attack over defense and left himself vulnerable to the wrath of his opponent. If he rejected that golden opportunity to defeat him, then all of the disciples of Suhomun would be annihilated.
As soon as Jeong Pan-ho had dealt with the Transcendental Death Knight, he immediately flew to Jeong Pan-soo. It was already too late. Happy endings weren’t allowed in reality.
Kwaang!
Rumble!
Jeong Pan-soo fell. Pan-ho rushed to him as he lay unconscious on the floor.
“Oh, no. You can’t die like this, Pan-soo!”
Jeong Pan-soo looked like a crumpled rag doll; his condition was so dreadful that nobody knew where or how to touch him. Jeong Pan-ho’s hand trembled, and his eyes were wet as he quickly pulled an emergency potion from his pocket. He raised it to his son’s lips, enticing him to open his mouth and sip.
“Please, Pan-soo. Please don’t die, my son.”
His efforts were fruitless…tears streamed bitterly down Jeong Pan-ho’s cheeks, as his skin grew pale and his heart rattled in his chest.
He held his son in his arms and sang the songs that had lulled him as a child; the tears from his face fell onto Pan-soo’s cheeks as his life slowly departed his form. Jeong Pan-ho kept on singing, rocking back and forth, his mind drifting from the present.
“Elder.”
It was Kang Min-hyuk. Tired and exhausted, he grabbed Jeong Pan-ho’s hand with a firm expression.
“That’s enough.”
At the moment Jeong Pan-ho was about to vomit his anger in defiance of what he expected to be a request to give up, Kang Min-hyuk said,
“I’ll treat him. Is that okay?”
“…You cure?”
“Yes.”
Jeong Pan-ho’s watery eyes widened. Jeong Pan-ho and Kang Min-hyuk had never been friends – their relationship had always been built on loathing. However, Pan-ho, who was called the tiger of Suhomun Gate, looked like he would burst into tears as he grabbed Kang Min-hyuk’s hand.
“Please, please. Do all that you can.”
Kang Min-hyuk smiled faintly and looked down at Jeong Pan-soo.
“I’ll save him.”
Kang Min-hyuk hated Jeong Pan-soo, but apart from personal feelings, he was a colleague. He couldn’t bear to watch the brave warrior, who had fought with his best efforts until the end, die so cruelly.
Kang Min-hyuk quickly turned over the page of a book he had stored in his memory. It stopped on the specific page he was searching for.
[Medical magic]
It was not the time for a vague miracle. What he needed was an exact solution.
