< Chapter 133: Chaos (4) >
Gradually, as the isolation was lifting, under the sky regaining its original blue, I lay flat on the ground.
“Seo-yul, are you okay?”
Yu Hwa wiped the cold sweat from my forehead. Her face was full of concern as she looked at me.
“Yes. I’m fine. I just used too much power…”
Shortly after confirming that the Alchemist had stopped breathing, I immediately started treating Ms. Maiden and Yu Hwa.
I was exhausted.
“I’m sorry. It’s because of us.”
“Why are you sorry? If anything, I’m the one who should be apologizing. I’m sorry for being late.”
We looked at each other and smiled.
I sat up.
“Do you feel any discomfort in your body or anything like that?”
“No, not at all.”
I examined Yu Hwa’s body again. Although her clothes were stained with blood, the glimpses of skin I could see were clean.
It seemed to be okay.
“Ms. Maiden, do you feel any discomfort?”
I called out to Maiden who was standing absentmindedly next to me.
There was no answer.
“Ms. Maiden?”
“Huh? What did you say?”
She seemed not to have heard.
“I asked if you feel any discomfort in your arms or eyes.”
“They’re fine. In fact, my eyesight feels even better.”
Ms. Maiden smiled brightly.
“By the way, kiddo, where did you learn recovery magic like physical regeneration?”
She squatted down, playfully poking my cheeks and grinned mischievously.
Seeing her like this, I was sure that she had been treated well.
“Anyway, thank you. I managed to avoid becoming a burden thanks to you.”
“Thank you. I owe my life to you.”
“You’re too kind. I only did what was necessary.”
The two gazed at me with subtle smiles. Their eyes were filled with unmistakable goodwill.
“So, Hwa-ya, we should start moving again. This damned Symphony of Fate is still ongoing, and the situation isn’t over yet.”
“…Yes.”
“Kiddo, you should rest here until your mana recovers. Goldie, you must protect him.”
Goldie nodded slightly.
“There’s no need for that.”
I tried to stop the two from leaving. There’s no need to do anything more right now.
“No need for what?”
“What do you mean?”
“What I mean is, there’s no need for you both to do anything. The situation will end soon.”
I looked up at the sky.
The sky, which had turned red due to the spatial isolation of the Dragon words, was beautifully reverting to its original blue.
“Do you see that green mana light over there?”
As the red merged with the blue, a subtle green light was flickering.
“…What’s that? When did that appear?”
“I can sense an immense amount of mana.”
Considering the significant mana, they must have thought it belonged to the enemy; their expressions grew grave. But that’s not the case.
“That mana belongs to Jia.”
“…What?”
That green light signifies the awakening of Jia, a blessing light.
“So just sit and rest. Even if we don’t try to do anything more…”
The mana that blossoms along with the awakening of [Transcendent Lineage: Elf].
“Jia will handle everything.”
As long as that mana is shining down, Jia will not be defeated.
* * *
Shin Jia is a genius.
A prodigy who understands ten things when taught one.
Even when compared to Ha Si-yeon, Shin Jia’s talent is certainly not inferior; rather, it’s outstanding.
So, why hasn’t she grasped the ‘Dragon-style Mana Operation’ that Ha Si-yeon learned at a glance?
It was precisely because of the feelings of ‘impatience’ and ‘inferiority’.
Comparing herself with Maiden, Yu Hwa, and Ha Si-yeon, she was overwhelmed by a vague sense of unease.
She lost her peace of mind.
In such a situation, there was no way she could learn the Dragon-style Mana Operation, which requires resonance with ambient mana and her inner self.
Here, a vicious cycle began.
She became impatient because she couldn’t master it, and as she couldn’t master it, she grew even more impatient.
The more impatient she became, the more distant she grew from resonating with the mana.
This fact further amplified her anxiety.
An endless loop.
It was a chain of vicious cycles.
Of course, she did not show these emotions in front of Kang Seo-yul or others. However, inside, it was festering.
And today, Shin Jia finally succeeded in breaking the chain of vicious cycles.
“What… did you just say?”
Well, it wasn’t something like dramatic growth or attaining enlightenment.
It was simply that emotions like ‘impatience’ or ‘inferiority’ had disappeared.
“Didn’t you hear? I asked if you knew anything about the death of Bishop Piale.”
Captured by the emotion of ‘rage’, she simply forgot all other feelings.
It was just that.
“Bishop Piale…”
Shin Jia’s hands trembled with rage.
“So you’re saying that Piale Aro is your subordinate?”
“Your words are a bit presumptuous.”
Saint smiled.
“He’s more of a comrade walking the same path rather than a subordinate. He is a bishop of our order, the Eden.”
It was a benevolent and gentle smile.
“…I see.”
At that moment, Shin Jia’s mind became coldly clear.
Intense rage can sometimes make a person utterly composed.
That was the state Shin Jia was in now.
“So, you’re saying that this ‘Eden’ order is essentially responsible for killing our mother.”
“That can’t be. You’re mistaken. Our order does not kill people.”
Cold rage.
“We simply offer the misguided a chance to repent and guide them to the Lord’s side.”
“I see. You’re no different then.”
It was a moment when all sorts of emotions vanished from Shin Jia’s mind.
“You’re just like Piale Alo.”
“Of course. He is my bishop, after all.”
I’ll kill this woman.
I need to stay calm for that.
Only that thought filled her mind.
“So, when do you plan to answer my question?”
Saint smiled.
Jia gave no response.
“Hmm~ Seems like you’re not in the mood to answer.”
Saint laughed bitterly.
“This is problematic. My power doesn’t seem to work on you. What should I do?”
Shin Jia possesses a mental defense trait called [Mental Armament].
An exceptional trait that once withstood Piale Alo’s [System Down].
Saint’s [Psychological Manipulation] didn’t work on Shin Jia.
“Well, I guess I have no choice but to take you by force.”
In that moment, numerous figures emerged around Shin Jia.
All of them were superhumans under the control of Saint due to [Psychological Manipulation ].
“It would be wise not to resist.”
Among those being controlled were cadets, including ‘Ha Si-yeon’.
Saint stroked Ha Si-yeon’s cheek with a smile.
“Each time you resist, these friends here will pay the price for it.”
“……”
Shin Jia quietly closed her eyes.
“You assess situations quickly. Very good.”
Saint smiled with satisfaction, thinking that Shin Jia had given up on resisting.
However, Shin Jia hadn’t given up. Quite the contrary, in fact.
‘How can I get out of this situation?’
Shin Jia hadn’t given in.
She couldn’t afford to.
Her mind raced at the speed of light.
‘How can I kill this woman in this situation?’
She couldn’t let the enemy of her mother escape now.
Then, suddenly, she remembered Kang Seo-yul’s words.
―Jia, once you master the ancient magic operation and raise your magic to S-rank, no one will be able to stop you.
She had initially thought of it as mere comforting words, but in her current clear-headed state, it felt a bit odd.
―Ah, and just in case, always keep the Essence of Ten Thousand Years with you.
If he was just trying to comfort her, vague and general words would have been enough, but Kang Seo-yul’s words were too detailed.
‘Could it be that those words from the ancestor were not just mere comfort, but truly sincere?’
If that’s the case then······.
Shin Jia thought of the ‘Essence of Ten Thousand Years’ she had kept in her inner pocket.
Fortunately, she still had the Essence of Ten Thousand Years with her.
With this, the first condition was cleared.
Next was the second condition.
‘Magic S-rank.’
Swiftly, using her bonus points, she raised her magic to S-rank.
Now, all that remained was to master the operation of the ancient magic.
‘…Calm down.’
Shin Jia took a deep breath.
With a slightly more composed mind, she recalled Rena’s words.
Rena had said to feel the essence of magic and to harmonize with the mysteries within oneself.
Until now, she couldn’t truly understand the depth of those simple words. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t feel the essence of magic that Rena spoke of.
The fog of impatience had obscured the true nature of the magic.
‘…I understand.’
Now that all unnecessary emotions had completely disappeared, things were different.
She could clearly feel what the essence of magic was.
‘It’s alive.’
Magic is life.
Realizing this simple essence only now, a bitter smile broke out.
“Have you finished preparing your mind?”
Saint said with a gleaming smile.
Shin Jia smiled with her eyes closed.
While smiling, she began to circulate her magic.
Whoosh!
At that moment.
The seed she had kept in her inner pocket blossomed. A green luminescent magic shot up into the sky.
The light began to slowly take shape.
“…World Tree?”
The shape of the World Tree.
A World Tree formed from magic was etched into the sky.
“What are you doing…”
Saint’s eyes widened in shock as she looked down at Shin Jia.
“…Ears?”
Shin Jia’s ears had elongated.
They looked like the ears of the legendary ‘Elf’.
A cold light emanated from Shin Jia’s eyes.
It wasn’t her usual shade of blue, but a very cold ‘green’ hue.
Winds began to swirl around her.
“…Elf?”
A hint of surprise showed in Saint’s eyes.
[Transcendent Lineage: Elf]
Shin Jia’s true power awakened.
“Leader of the Eden.”
Shin Jia held a bow.
The wind blew even more fiercely around that bow.
It was clearly wind-element magic.
“Don’t think you can leave here alive.”
Her fury raged like a typhoon.
* * *
Maestro was lost in thought, considering the sudden discordant note that had intruded.
“Maestro. I can’t reach Alchemist and the Saint. Did something go wrong?”
The Hermit’s voice snapped him out of his reverie.
“Alchemist is dead.”
“…What? By whom? How?”
Maestro clicked his tongue slightly.
“I don’t know. Someone set up a new stage within my domain. A new stage that I can’t control… Alchemist died there.”
“…”
The Hermit seemed to gasp in surprise, but of course, it was just an act.
“What about the Saint?”
“…She was defeated by Shin Jia.”
“…What?”
This time, he was genuinely shocked.
Shin Jia defeated the Saint?
How?
No, that’s not the important thing.
“So, is the Saint also dead?”
“Fortunately, no. You know it too, Hermit. She’s not an entity that can be easily killed.”
“…Right.”
Maestro took a deep breath and withdrew his energy.
“Are you retreating?”
“Yes. The operation failed. We have no choice but to retreat.”
“I see. I’ll prepare the escape route.”
“Please do.”
With that, the communication ended.
Maestro left alone, looked up at the sky and smiled.
“Interesting.”
Discordant note.
He thought of it as just a noise disturbing his perfect stage, but if it’s this clear-cut, doesn’t it have its own unique charm?
“Very interesting…”
Thinking of the discordant note that completely shattered his plans,
Maestro curled his lips in a smirk.
* * *
[No one noticed the secret terror! Is the security system of Korea’s Superhuman Academy okay as it is?]
[Highest casualties ever.]
[Exclusive interview with Maiden Critines! It was revealed that this terror was a retaliatory act by the “Saviors of Truth”.]
[Guild Master Yu Hwa of Bihon reveals footage from when she fought with a villain belonging to the Saviors of Truth named Alchemist.]
The news of the incident spread quickly. The world was shocked by the news of the terror at the Superhuman Academy.
Korea’s security system is one of the best in the world.
They even recently bought technology from Maiden to enhance their security.
Yet, no one was able to detect the terror in advance. They were caught completely off-guard.
[Unable to respond. The world trembles in fear of terror!]
This means that the terrorists can reach anywhere in the world.
[A special barrier that completely cuts off external support!]
[Is there no way to break through this barrier?]
The existence of a barrier that shakes the foundation of the current superhuman support system was revealed, and the confusion intensified.
[On Yu Hwa and Maiden Critines, who succeeded in resolving the terror this time.]
[Will they become the new stars of Korea? Let’s learn about the Bihon Guild.]
Amid the chaos, the reputations of Yu Hwa and Maiden, the heroes who solved the case, were on the rise.
I briefly skimmed through the overflowing news and lowered my head.
“…My head hurts.”
Thinking of the inevitable changes that this incident would bring to the future, it was impossible not to feel a headache.
“It’s getting more astral.”
I didn’t expect the four executives to attack at that time.
They would have been busy preparing for a major operation. It must mean they’re really concerned about Yu Hwa.
“Phew.”
Still, it’s a relief.
While there were certainly many casualties, all the key figures survived,
and they even succeeded in killing the Alchemist. It’s a clear gain.
“Why did you pretend to be incompetent until now?”
“…Exactly, why did I do that?”
Moreover, Jia succeeded in awakening [Transcendent Lineage: Elf], becoming strong enough to confront the Saint.
This is a huge achievement.
And finally…
I looked at the mirror, focusing on my eyes.
My pupils, like those of a reptile, slit horizontally and began to shine gold.
This change in pupils is due to the dragon racial trait I acquired recently.
Dragon’s eyes that can pierce the essence of mana directly.
“It’s the Dragon Eye.”
I smirked.
< Chapter 133: Chaos (4) > End
