BOOM!
Once Dominic’s presence disappears, the entire field of vision becomes instantly obscured from all directions.
By the time you react to this realization, it’s already too late.
As soon as Lennok sensed the presence of mana, he swiftly threw his body to the side and deactivated the protective shield.
There’s a focused impact on my lower abdomen.
Simultaneously, Dominic, appearing directly in front of Lennok, delivers a powerful clenched-fist punch.
Kwaah!
By adjusting the angle of the shield, his punch connects with the ash-covered ground.
A massive shockwave erupts, violently shaking the ground, and the settled dust billows into the air, scattering in every direction.
Dominic glanced back at Lennok in the now ash-laden world, and a smile crept onto his face.
“Not bad. Let’s see how long you can last.”
“If all you’ve got is that kind of punch, there’s nothing more to see.”
Despite the sweat trickling down his face, Lennok’s lips curled into a grin.
He conjured a slender spear of flame in his hand and muttered,
“I’m tired of only dealing with strong monsters.”
Before he could finish speaking, another clash of magical energies erupted.
The energy emanating from Dominic’s tightly clenched fist coalesced into a dense light, visible to the naked eye.
Dozens of fireballs summoned by Lennok illuminated the surroundings like lanterns.
Doo Doo Doo Doo!
Before they could catch their breath, dozens of attacks and defenses unfolded in a flash.
The shockwaves from Dominic’s rapid-fire punches and the explosions of Lennok’s fireballs echoed aimlessly, filling the air.
The violent fluctuations of magical energy caused the ash and dust to swirl, infiltrating their respiratory systems.
“Cough!”
Despite involuntary coughing, Lennok remained focused.
He harnessed the energy from the exploding fireball and redirected it as a fresh wave of flames toward Dominic.
The shockwave from his step scattered the ash, enveloping Dominic.
Kwaah!
Harnessing the residual magical energy from the exploded fireball above Dominic’s head, Lennok forged a massive flaming sword and brought it down.
He encircled Dominic’s limbs with a large ring of fire formed by his clenched hands.
“Kraah!”
However, Dominic, emitting a bizarre sound that could be either a scream or a laugh, nullified all of Lennok’s efforts and retaliated with a fierce kick.
A simple act of thrusting the sole of his foot forward.
Yet, the tremendous force it carried not only displaced the air at subsonic speed but also disrupted the flow of magical energy.
Paah!
The moment he allowed himself to be struck head-on, a kick so potent it could easily have severed him.
Nevertheless, Lennok narrowly avoided the force by skimming over the ground, just barely.
The ash and dust beneath his feet provided him with mobility, much like what he had previously done in the desert.
The hem of his coat turned to dust and disappeared, leaving his clothing ragged in an instant.
It all began with the deployment of the fireball.
He continued to summon new fireballs continuously, ensuring not a single strand of flame energy escaped.
Initially, the battle seemed overwhelmingly in favor of Dominic, but as Lennok added more fire, the balance shifted.
“Ugh…!”
However, Lennok’s complexion began to pale.
The toll of not taking a break and constantly exerting his body and mind since the Drug Lord’s declaration of emergency.
He had relied on drugs to combat fatigue, but since assuming the disguise of Byzen, he hadn’t even touched a cigarette, fearing it might raise suspicions.
Now, consecutive battles against opponents with different styles added to his exhaustion.
To cope with the moment, Lennok deliberately lit a cigarette and even took a painkiller called Dipfiler, but the burden on his body didn’t easily dissipate.
From a body where pain had vanished, a peculiar heaviness surged through his bones.
Dominic swung his limbs effortlessly, showcasing his formidable strength. However, that raw power was anything but simple.
Each swing produced a strike that traveled at speeds comparable to sound, forcing Lennok to concentrate solely on evasion and defense.
Simultaneously, he had to deceive Dominic’s keen senses by replicating Byzen’s magical pattern and utilizing only fire-based unique magic, which continually constrained him.
If he were an ordinary mage, attempting to execute even one of Lennok’s simultaneous maneuvers would likely result in a catastrophic failure.
Maintaining this delicate equilibrium underscored Lennok’s extensive capabilities.
Doo doo doo doo doo!!
Even as he grappled with concerns and burdens, the skirmish escalated.
Dominic, previously known solely as a drug dealer, displayed a stance much more credible and well-practiced than Lennok had anticipated.
It would have been impossible if Dominic hadn’t honed his senses for this moment. Consequently, he managed that extraordinary physique with some effort but without significant difficulty.
Lennok, too, was prepared.
“Hoo…”
Drawing a deep breath, Lennok took a step forward, brushing ash from the corner of his mouth.
He didn’t waver, even as the relentless succession of blows threatened to rend flesh and muscle upon impact.
He moved in accordance with the path illuminated by his extensive combat experience and razor-sharp intuition.
Planning an evasion route against an opponent who trusted their physical prowess and charged relentlessly would inevitably lead to a cornered position.
What mattered was taking that daring step forward to evade death.
Zhaeeeeek!!
The substantial shockwave unleashed directly from the front had already surpassed the force of a mere fist swing.
He infused magical flames into his remaining shield, deflecting the residual energy and closing the distance perilously.
Shiiieeek!!
The dust and ash beneath his feet glided smoothly, aiding Lennok’s precarious evasion.
In that fleeting moment when both combatants’ breaths were slightly out of sync.
Lennok, guided by his combat intuition, had sensed it long before, but his motor nerves could never bridge the distance.
His pale palm found its mark precisely on Dominic’s vital point.
In this ultra-close-quarters combat, where there was virtually no distance separating them.
Lennok’s palm made contact. In that tightly packed space, a condensed flame surged.
It erupted directly within Dominic’s body.
Unique Fire Magic Attribute Transformation
[Inferno Blaze]
Kwaaaaaaaaang!!
“Aaaaaaaaaack!!!”
The horrifying sensation of all his internal organs turning to ashes.
Despite having a body that couldn’t feel pain, Dominic screamed for the first time, gripped by this strange experience.
In that instant, wings crafted from bone sprouted from both sides of his back, propelling Lennok away.
Teeeeeer!!
He barely managed to reinstate his shields on both flanks.
Though he had avoided a direct hit and retreated, the wind pressure had crushed his internal organs, leaving him queasy.
“Ugh……!!”
Lennok’s body responded violently to even minor stimuli, depleting his dwindling stamina.
‘I have to buy time until Grisha is ready…’
In Lennok’s plan, this situation was largely improvised, making it impossible to expect smooth communication between the two.
If the Drug Lord sensed even the slightest hint of danger, he would promptly sever the connection with the Homunculus and make his escape.
But that wasn’t what Lennok aimed for.
His goal was to inflict a fatal blow upon Dominic Cabaro in this battle, effectively retiring him from the drug trade on this continent.
Wasn’t it a decision to reverse the odds, rather than fleeing until the boundary’s end, after recognizing that possibility?
Amidst the desperate struggle, one had to leave a glimmer of hope for victory and entice the Drug Lord to focus on the battle.
Of course, achieving all this while maintaining a disguise and relying solely on fire magic was exceedingly challenging…
But didn’t one have to cast such a meticulous net to ensnare a big fish like the Drug Lord?
Kuuuuuuuu…!!
Could it be that he had never anticipated a wizard attempting direct close combat?
Dominic’s entire body, which had been vulnerable to Lennok’s [Incineration] due to a momentary lapse, now bore little resemblance to a human.
His grotesque appearance included a body oozing sticky black oil, flames burning fiercely, flesh melting away to reveal bone, and even massive bony wings sprouting behind him.
Once consciousness began settling properly into the Homunculus body, the ‘functions’ inherent to the original body began emerging in succession.
Physical transmutation, created from one’s own body.
This was the alchemical secret where the alchemist directly manipulated the potent regenerative capability of the Homunculus, capable of regenerating regardless of damage or dismemberment.
Hence, the Homunculus crafted by the alchemist of WORLD 1.0 was both a formidable summon and gained renown as the most effective clone production technique in the game.
But what if all these elements weren’t confined to a mere game?
What if the knowledge Lennok had passionately acquired about the game could finally aid him?
The alchemical secret. The vulnerability inherent in the Homunculus might also exist in reality.
Physical manifestation through the materialization of consciousness.
While it was undeniably a potent spell that spanned great distances to control another body, directly embedding the alchemist’s consciousness into the Homunculus’s brain held significant implications.
If you could maintain a grip on the consciousness of that incredibly resilient Homunculus by completely crushing its skull and obliterating its brain.
The materialized consciousness of the alchemist would likewise suffer a severe blow.
In the game, it was depicted that if you failed to sever the link with the Homunculus in time and it perished, the alchemist endured near-fatal damage.
But what about in reality?
The foundation of Lennok’s gamble rested right there.
Hwarururuk!!
Even as his body continued to blaze, Dominic’s movements showed no signs of stopping.
Once he successfully achieved physical mutation, it seemed he became far more formidable, manifesting a colossal shield by enlarging the muscles of his left arm.
Kooong!!
The grotesque sight of bulging muscles forming a shield much larger than his body was unsettling.
Remaining still appeared unwise, but Lennok swiftly discerned Dominic’s intentions and clicked his tongue.
[Hooouuuuuu……]
With a soft exhale and a deep breath, Dominic’s entire body began to expand like a balloon, rapidly increasing in size.
Ddoodoodoodook!!
A horrifying cacophony of muscles and joints snapping and breaking echoed.
Yet, he felt no pain, and the side effects resulting from the rapid growth of his body were offset by his formidable regenerative abilities.
Lennok gazed up at Dominic as he expanded his body, causing the giant shield on his left arm to seem insignificant.
The body, which had truly transcended human limits and reached the realm of giants, continued to burn fiercely from the Incineration flames that Lennok had unleashed.
With a colossal size spanning up to 10 meters, the flames flickering from the massive body scattered ashes in all directions, turning the sunset sky a somber gray.
The giant, now large enough to overlook the floating island, fixed his gaze on Lennok as his entire form erupted in flames.
[“Did they also raise monsters like you even in the unmatched Blaiver Tower?”]
His voice had regained its resonant quality, vibrating with magical power.
[“I was impressed. Although the magic you possess isn’t yet comparable to the monsters I know of… your judgment and combat skills in the recent battle are beyond my reach.”]
“……”
[“I never knew that the gnarled mages of the Blaiver Tower could occasionally produce such masterpieces. It seems you’re not planning to sit idle in the upcoming war.”]
Lennok, compelled by these inevitable words, cleared his throat and asked,
“The war, you say…?”
[“A massive chaos that will engulf the entire continent will occur soon enough.”]
Dominic’s eyes burned with fervor.
[“While the world indulges in rituals over the monsters descending from the skies, the balance of power in this world will flip. We will change everything while the abominable transcenders remain silent… I will be a part of that as the undeniable victor of this messy history.”]
Pandemonium, known only as an international criminal organization, had far-reaching intentions beyond mere profit and loss.
Lennok’s once speculative thoughts now solidified into a resolute conviction.
They intended to harness the incoming monsters from the external sea to overturn the existing order.
Dominic Cabaro was now directly confirming to Lennok that the moment he had vaguely sensed was drawing near.
Kwaaang!!
The giant’s right arm extended, transforming into an ax as colossal as himself.
There was no need to explain how the Homunculus swiftly crafted that immense weapon in its place.
[“The remaining duration of the barrier is one day.”]
As the giant slowly advanced toward Lennok, he murmured,
[“Although it’s insufficient to burn everything in Phenom, it’s more than enough time to bring down the autonomous territory… The location of the lighthouse that you are so keen on hiding.”]
“Hoo… Aren’t you overconfident in your abilities?”
Lennok drew a deep breath, forcing a strained chuckle.
“I get that you’re intoxicated by obtaining a perfect Homunculus, but if you were so confident in your own plans, you should have been more careful.”
In that moment, something in Lennok’s words seemed to ignite an even fiercer glint in Dominic’s eyes.
[“Wait, do you… know something about this body?”]
“Alchemy, the forgotten world of formulae… It looks like you’ve accidentally stumbled upon its secret while joining hands with Pandemonium, but that’s not how it’s supposed to be used.”
Wooong!!
At that very instant, an enormous shadow cast itself over them.
As the giant gazed up at the sky, Lennok grinned.
“I’ll gladly take both your consciousness and that body. Alchemy is not meant to be used in this manner.”
[“Wha-what is this…!!”]
Even Dominic, unfamiliar with the autonomous territory, couldn’t help but step back as he recognized the identity of the colossal shadow that had just engulfed the third floating island where their battle had taken place.
Its unmistakable form—a floating island suspended in the air, where earth and vegetation melded seamlessly with the sky.
One of the largest floating islands in the autonomous territory, the second floating island, hovered directly above their heads.
