With a swift movement, the mana stirred, causing the dense fog surrounding the research tower to dissipate gradually.
The swirling fog formed a massive hand-like shape, converging into a single point where Lennok stood, wielding his magic.
This was no ordinary act of freezing moisture with cold air; Lennok was gathering all the moisture above him to fuel his magic.
"Fuck, damn it…!"
Sensing something amiss from the sheer force alone, the man grimaced and swiftly expelled a large quantity of black liquid from his body.
Gwaaaaaah!
Something emerged from the black liquid, its eyes opening as it overflowed like sewage.
This time, the man seemed truly determined, and the black liquid started bubbling and transforming into a completely different form.
"Growwwwwwwl…."
A chilling groan, as if resonating from the depths of hell, echoed from within the liquid.
Four eyeballs. The upper body of a giant with two horns and massive arms slowly emerged from the colossal palm.
The sheer size of the upper body alone appeared to be at least twice as large as an average human skeleton.
"Kill him! Kill that bastard now!"
Finally, the man, fixated on the imposing figure of the giant, screamed in a fit of frenzy.
Four crimson eyes casually glanced at their master, gradually raising their arms with a resigned expression.
Black liquid dripped down. Although the body was not yet fully formed, it was evident what would happen if such a mass were to fall.
It would surely reduce the small tower of this research facility to rubble.
Lennok only realized after seeing the massive amount of black liquid that the man had not been storing it within his body, but it was of no consequence at that moment.
Woooong!!
As if waiting for this very moment, the gathered mana transformed into a bone-chilling frost.
It took the form of a white circular ring, encasing Lennok's wrist.
"If it flows, it can freeze just the same."
The spell was complete, and the vision that Lennok had imagined once again manifested in that place.
He struck.
[Ice Wheel]
Boooom!!!
As the frost ring around his wrists exploded, a tempest of white ensued.
The surreal cold seized the surrounding temperature and crashed down.
It restrained movement, defying the limits of physical laws.
It was both a common and unique magic, an addition to Lennok's repertoire, born from his extensive use and mastery of the ice magic series, following the lightning series.
This new magic, a testament to his growth thus far, was unveiled in that very moment.
Kwaaaaaaaaah!
A tower in the shape of an arm, pointing towards the sky. The giant, its arms raised from the sphere of white frost that had descended onto its palm, was rendered immobile. The once black giant's body gradually turned frosty white.
By the time Lennok's magic subsided and the fog cleared, revealing the clear sky, all that remained was the frozen upper body of the giant, as if time itself had halted.
The four eyes of the giant were already devoid of any light.
Creak, Creak, Creak…!!!
Unable to maintain its form, it began to crumble.
The black liquid, fueled by negative mana and once moving freely, had been shattered to its core, dissipating into dust.
The giant's body disintegrated into a frosty white dust, scattering like snowflakes in the cold winter air, illuminating the sky.
Amidst this peculiar yet beautiful scene, a man stood frozen, his body covered in frozen debris despite his attempts to shield himself with black liquid.
His eyes lacked focus, and he seemed numb to the sensation in his limbs. He wouldn't last much longer.
Lennok took a seat and removed the cigarette from his mouth.
"Now, can I ask you the questions I have?"
"Save me. Save me. Please save me…"
Ignoring the man's desperate pleas, Lennok retrieved a file given to him by Jordan and began perusing its contents.
"I knew there were factions among the dark wizards, but I had no idea they were so hostile that they would kill each other."
As he spoke, Lennok pressed the burning end of the cigarette against the man's forehead, right where his senses were likely still intact.
An immediate reaction followed.
Sizzle…!!
"It's hot! It's hot!"
"I would appreciate it if you could enlighten me about the situation intertwined with the city's investigation."
Despite the freezing and shattering of his limbs, the man screamed in agony from the searing heat.
A fitting end for a wizard.
Observing the man's contorted face, Lennok gave a faint smile.
"There's one piece of information I'm particularly eager to learn."
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
Zap!
Lennok, having delivered a bolt of lightning to the man's chest, rose slowly from his position.
Fortunately, the man, who lacked resilience to pain, divulged the information he possessed to Lennok without much resistance.
Based on his account, the lab was embroiled in a situation involving two factions of dark magic practitioners rooted in Vulcan.
One faction specialized in non-combat enchantment spells, while the other embraced a practical approach, incorporating various external spells, including necromancy.
These dark wizards survived independently, organizing themselves into sects and not aligning themselves with a specific institution like the Magic Tower. Both factions had settled in the 40s districts and had suffered greatly under the scrutiny of the city government's investigation.
However, the faction dealing with enchantment spells, which had more accessible means of earning a living, started to crumble when they refused to cooperate with the practical faction.
As the investigation dragged on, tensions between the two factions escalated rapidly, culminating in a bloody conflict.
Today's massacre was likely a part of this ongoing series of events.
The reason the dark wizards in the lab fell so easily to a single dark wizard was due to their abysmal combat abilities.
"Phew…"
Massaging his aching thigh, Lennok instinctively reached for another cigarette.
Taking a puff felt natural whenever he sensed even the slightest discomfort in his body, especially while working.
"This is not good news."
The systematic extermination of the enchantment spell faction was concerning, considering they were more likely to cooperate with Lennok.
With these incidents unfolding, both factions would prioritize their self-preservation, leaving Lennok without a suitable informant.
His decision to gather information about the stagnant world through the easiest route was proving to be complicated from the start.
"I didn't expect it to be easy."
Muttering to himself, Lennok swiftly turned around.
Returning to the lab, he began rummaging through the possessions of the lifeless corpses, searching for any useful clues.
Even in such an isolated research facility, they must have had some form of contact with the outside world.
Given the concentration of dark wizards involved in the research, it wouldn't be surprising if someone had a means of communication with others of their kind.
As expected, Lennok discovered a multitude of cell phones amidst the corpses scattered throughout the scene. Discarding the severely damaged ones that couldn't be turned on, he gathered a handful of functional devices. Although the number was small, it should suffice as a sample.
His plan was to bring these phones to Jenny first and see if she could extract any data from them, just as she had done when tracing Beck Clinton's phone.
Perched at the edge of the research institute's rooftop, Lennok released wisps of smoke into the chilly fog. Absurd as it may be, the man's final words still echoed in his mind.
‘There is no one to help you.'
Perhaps it was merely a taunt intended to fuel Lennok's frustration, but the fact that it bothered him reflected his own concerns. No matter how clever and cautious Lennok was, how long could he handle everything alone?
To differentiate between confidence and overconfidence in his abilities, he needed a collaborator who could observe him and provide guidance. This was particularly true when dealing with Lennok's greatest secret—his magic.
Bright blond hair and blue eyes flashed in his mind.
He already knew the answer.
It was his last chance to continue the relationship that had persisted since their chance encounter. Lennok must not reject the proposal he had hesitated to accept due to fear and doubt. He had to provide her with an answer.
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
Dark Magic.
As a branch of spells derived from negative mana, it encompassed diverse aspects without adhering to specific attributes or fields. Its unique specialization set it apart from other spells.
While each category within Dark Magic possessed its distinct characteristics, making it difficult to master multiple branches, the term "Dark Magic" referred to magic created exclusively for harnessing negative mana.
Negative mana was a residue that thrived on the negative mental images of humans. While it was a low-quality fuel with limited efficiency when used in conventional spells, it transformed into an exceptional power source with unparalleled efficiency when channeled into Dark Magic.
In a city where corpses were taken away by the truckload multiple times a day, it wasn't challenging to access a steady supply of negative mana. Dark wizards were often regarded as inexhaustible wells—until the government intensified inspections and eradicated their hideouts completely.
"The data extraction is complete."
Lost in his thoughts, Lennok was approached by Jenny, who arrived with her laptop and sat beside him. As she brushed aside her slightly damp hair, a subtle fragrance filled the air.
Flipping open her laptop screen, she immediately began displaying a few pictures and phone numbers.
"You were aware that the research institute there was involved in AI research in collaboration with Palmus Corporation, right? It appears they maintain regular contact with individuals from Palmus."
"Palmus Corporation…"
Lennok knew the company dealt with AI, but he hadn't paid much attention to it beyond that. In a world where magic existed, involvement with AI extended beyond the realm of technology, as there were boundaries that civilians were not meant to cross. Matters such as AI lifeforms used for military purposes or exorbitantly expensive AI products held little relevance to Lennok.
"In any case, with the assistance of that company, we've managed to successfully track the movements of other dark wizards. They were surprisingly cooperative when I mentioned your name."
Jenny wore a mischievous smile as she pressed the enter key, causing the screen to transition to an alleyway.
Bright billboards and dazzling neon signs illuminated the surroundings. People dressed in vibrant attire hurried by, and the vibrant lights bathed the damp streets. The scene almost seemed to emit the sound of lively music from beyond the screen—a completely different world that Lennok had never witnessed before.
"District 40. There's a street that has thrived primarily due to clubs, bars, and nightlife, forming a massive commercial district," Jenny explained.
"Clubs?"
"It's a place of indulgence that emerged at the perfect crossroads between residential Districts 30s and the outer Districts 40s. It's a vibrant area frequented not only by locals but also by city residents."
Jenny concluded her explanation.
"Wizards banished from District 44 seek refuge there."
"It seems like an ideal place to blend in with the crowd."
The evidence went beyond the pictures.
People outside the clubs, dancing with wide eyes, pedestrians overcome by intoxication and asleep on the ground, and the bustling crowds with no room to move.
It was the perfect environment to avoid unwanted attention.
"I was curious why they were hiding to such an extent, not just due to inspections affecting their trade… but if it's due to the conflict between the two factions, it makes sense."
"So they've found a place where interference is not easy."
"If any incident occurs in District 40s, where civilians are present, the city government will inevitably respond sensitively. They probably believed it would be challenging to intervene hastily."
"What's the exact address?"
"I'll send it to your phone."
Lennok checked the message she sent and stood up from his seat.
Now that he knew about the practical faction's interference with the enchantment faction, he couldn't afford to hesitate.
He didn't particularly care about the wizards' safety, but he had to move swiftly until he obtained substantial information.
Escorted by Jenny, he left the office on the upper floor of the bar.
Although it didn't benefit her, he was grateful for her obedient cooperation.
As soon as he descended to the main hall of the bar, all eyes were on Lennok. He had grown accustomed to it.
Ignoring the blatant stares and attempting to leave, a man sitting near the entrance approached him.
"Cheers to the saint of District 49."
At that preposterous statement, Lennok chuckled as well.
Observing Lennok's reaction, the man seemed to have been waiting for an opportunity to ask something.
"There isn't a freelancer around here who hasn't heard your name. Are you aware?"
"I have a general idea."
"You're already being compared to wild ones like Striker or Mad Manson. I'm curious about your thoughts."
Striker, Mad Manson…
Those were the code names of renowned freelancers whose names had reached Lennok's ears once or twice as he passed through various districts.
Excluding skilled individuals like Plato or Antares, who had established their own businesses and become independent, these freelancers were currently active figures who had gained fame extending beyond their respective districts.
Regardless of Lennok's abilities, it was evidence that his reputation had skyrocketed to this point.
The impact of driving out a gang as a corporate representative had been that significant.
"I'll consider it when I meet them face to face."
"Be sure to let me know later."
Lennok turned his back on the man raising his glass and left the bar.
Fortunately, District 40 wasn't far from his current location.
Pulling out a cigarette, Lennok began walking immediately.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
