The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 104

The Rebirth of the Mythical Archmage-105

U.S. Third Mana Stone Warehouse.

Shadow, taking advantage of the weakened defenses due to the Olympiad personnel being deployed, infiltrated the deepest part and was breaking through the final defense line.

‘As expected, this is where the problem lies.’

A special security system consisting of seven types of magic barriers, eleven types of analog security, and seven types of digital security.

It’s impossible for even Shadow to break through this system just like that.

No, breaking through is possible, but breaking through without getting caught is more accurate.

To break through this, a diversion is needed to buy time.

“This is Shadow. I’ve arrived at the destination.”

From now on, the parade will scatter monsters outside to draw attention.

Once all eyes are on the parade, Tkisch will temporarily shut down the main magic computer to disable the digital security.

Shadow will then handle the remaining magic and analog barriers.

This is the master plan for this operation.

It’s a near-perfect plan where each person utilizes their unique strengths.

“Tkisch? Parade?”

However, there was no response from Parade or Tkisch.

Even after reporting their arrival at their positions, there was no reply.

‘Is there a problem?’

Shadow’s brow furrowed sharply.

“Parade. Tkis…”

Just as he was about to put his hand on his earpiece again to contact the two, he heard footsteps.

Click, click. The distinct sound of shoes from behind.

“They won’t be able to contact you.”

A woman’s voice followed. A voice as sharp as a blade.

“The other two aren’t in a position to be contacted right now.”

Shadow turned towards the direction of the voice.

In the dark room, the faint light from the barrier illuminated her face.

It was a face Shadow knew well.

“The leader of the Hounds. Why are you here?”

A vigilante group called the Black Magic Tower’s dedicated task force. Since there’s no other name, the Black Magic Tower calls them the Hounds.

That woman is the leader of that group.

Her name is Charle. Her last name is not known.

“You know me? I don’t think we’ve met before.”

“We haven’t. I only know you from the documents.”

“I thought so.”

A figure whose entire body, including eyes, nose, and mouth, is covered in shadows, making it impossible to tell if they are male or female.

If he had met someone with such a unique appearance before, he wouldn’t have forgotten.

“I haven’t heard of someone like you in the Black Tower. A new executive?”

With such a unique appearance, some information should have been known. The fact that there is none suggests that this executive is new.

“You could say I’m new. It hasn’t been two years since I joined.”

“An executive in two years. You must be quite something?”

Charle chuckled.

“I’m confident in my skills.”

“Full of confidence. For a piece of trash.”

Shadow subtly sensed his surroundings before turning his gaze back to Charle.

“Did you anticipate what we were aiming for?”

“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be here, would I?”

Charle’s sneer deepened.

“How did you anticipate it?”

This operation was a near-perfect one with a 0% chance of failure.

“How did you conclude that we would target the Third Mana Stone Warehouse?”

Even if they considered the possibility of using the Olympiad as a decoy and targeting another location, it was impossible to conclude that the target was the Third Mana Stone Warehouse.

As long as there were no personnel stationed at the Third Mana Stone Warehouse, this operation could not fail.

Therefore, the probability of failure was almost 0%. Having created this situation, success was as good as guaranteed.

But what was this?

The opponent had set a trap at the Third Mana Stone Warehouse and was waiting.

“Where did you get the information?”

To deploy a large force at the Third Mana Stone Warehouse without any information.

This is something that could not have been done without obtaining information from somewhere.

“Did you plant a spy inside the Black Magic Tower?”

“Well, I don’t know about that.”

Charle shrugged.

For the record, she wasn’t pretending not to know; she genuinely didn’t know. Charle hadn’t even anticipated that the Black Magic Tower’s target would be the Third Mana Stone Warehouse.

It was the Red Magic Tower Lord, James Filler, who suggested that the Black Magic Tower was likely targeting the Third Mana Stone Warehouse. Charle didn’t know why he came to that conclusion.

‘Did the Red Magic Tower Lord really plant a spy in the Black Magic Tower?’

Therefore, Charle, like Shadow, was also suspicious about the existence of a spy.

There was no way they could have known about their operation in advance unless they had planted a spy inside the Black Magic Tower.

‘If that’s really the case, they’re essential to us.’

A group that exists to hate, despise, and exclude the Black Magic Tower.

For such a group, the existence of a spy is invaluable.

‘I should personally approach the Red Magic Tower Lord after this is over.’

Charle made up her mind.

Kugugugugu-!

At that moment, the entire Third Mana Stone Warehouse shook.

A tremor that penetrated the shock-absorbing barrier installed inside the warehouse.

A tremor that showed how intense the battle outside was.

“Shall we start too?”

Mana surged around Charle. The vast flow of mana befitting an 8th-circle mage [a very high-level mage].

Amidst it, killing intent and battle lust scattered like spices.

“I refuse. I tend to avoid meaningless battles personally.”

Shadow shrugged, nonchalantly accepting the mana.

“Trying to run away?”

“Yes.”

Considering that there has been no contact from Tkisch or Parade, this operation is as good as a complete failure.

The best course of action now is to escape.

‘First, I need to get out of here and join up with Parade and Tkisch.’

And then leave with them. That’s the best option they can choose in this situation.

“Do you think I’ll let you escape?”

Charle’s mana became an intangible force, pressing down on Shadow’s entire body.

Telekinesis, a basic magic among non-attribute magic [magic that doesn’t belong to the four elements].

It pressed down on Shadow’s entire body with the output of an 8th-circle mage.

“It’s a power that you wouldn’t think is from a basic magic.”

It’s a well-known fact that Charle, the leader of the Hounds, is specialized in non-attribute magic, especially telekinesis.

Even though it’s impressive, telekinesis is still telekinesis. I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal, but I need to revise my assessment.

“But still, basic magic is just basic magic.”

The shadows that had been covering Shadow’s body spread out along the floor all at once.

They swallowed all the light sources in the warehouse and even the surrounding mana.

Complete darkness settled over the world.

‘Magic…’

At that moment, Charle’s magic lost its power.

Charle cast a vision-enhancing spell while preparing for a counterattack. Her vision quickly returned to normal.

However.

“…Gone?”

Shadow had already disappeared.

* * *

I was still watching the Battle Survival broadcast with Adela.

―A total of 33 people are eliminated in the first area reduction!

―Two of the 33 eliminated are from the Korean team?

―You’re right. It wasn’t broadcast on the main camera, but there was a simultaneous battle between five teams in Zone B, resulting in a free-for-all. In this process, two players from the Korean team were eliminated. This leaves only Ji Soon-chan and Jin Hee-yoon in Zone B.

―It’ll be tough to hold out until Zone C opens.

Two of our team members were eliminated due to an unexpected accident.

This was just plain bad luck.

“…That’s a shame.”

“I know.”

Adela smiled wryly and got up from her seat.

“Then, I’ll go pick up the two of them.”

“Okay. Please do. And comfort them a bit.”

“…Yes. I’ll try my best.”

Adela bowed her head and walked towards the elevator.

She’ll now take the car to the stadium waiting room, pick up the two eliminated seniors, and come back.

Considering the distance to the stadium, it’ll probably take about an hour.

―Ji Soon-chan and Jin Hee-yoon with serious expressions. They lost two teammates in 12 hours. All the strategies they had prepared so far have gone down the drain. It remains to be seen how they will proceed from here.

I casually listened to the Battle Survival commentary and said nonchalantly.

“Uncle Seok-hyun, how’s the situation at the Third Mana Stone Warehouse?”

Kim Seok-hyun appeared at my question.

“At first, it seemed like they were being pushed back, but fortunately, it’s not bad now. Here. This is the on-site situation log.”

Kim Seok-hyun handed me his phone.

Kim Seok-hyun is constantly receiving updates on the current situation at the Third Mana Stone Warehouse.

I reviewed the transmitted details one by one.

[Contact with an executive called ‘Shadow’ at the warehouse core. The identification names of the three executives have been confirmed through the subject’s mention.]

[Currently, the Red Magic Tower Lord is engaged in combat with a Black Magic Tower executive called ‘Parade’. They are struggling due to the sheer number of monsters.]

[The Green Magic Tower Lord is engaged in combat with a Black Magic Tower executive called ‘Tkisch’. They are proving to be quite skilled.]

The initial reports of the battle were not good at all.

The Red Magic Tower Lord was struggling against the overwhelming monster forces.

The Green Magic Tower Lord was evenly matched with the executive named Tkisch.

[Rank-Out Disaster Species, Fenrir, appears.]

[Rank-Out Disaster Species, Gigantos, appears.]

[S-Rank 2nd Tier, Rain Giant Worm, appears.]

Furthermore, the successive appearances of monsters beyond imagination.

The opponent’s power was a level above what we had anticipated.

We continued to send reinforcements, but the rate at which the opponent’s monsters were added was faster.

[Shadow escapes from the Mana Stone Warehouse. The three executives join up.]

[Monsters are enhanced, shrouded in an unidentified shadow.]

[Requesting additional support.]

The situation became even more serious with Shadow’s arrival.

Whether the executive named Shadow was originally specialized in support or not, his arrival made the monsters and Tkisch even stronger.

Thus, the situation was rapidly heading towards the worst.

However.

“…As expected of my father.”

[The head of the Magic God Family, Shin In-hyuk, joins the battle.]

From this point, the tide of the battle began to turn.

The only family that dares to use the title ‘Magic’ and is recognized for it.

The strongest force in Korea.

Shin In-hyuk.

[43 monsters. Annihilated.]

The secret magic of the Magic God Family.

A magic that only my father possesses.

Among the various secret magics, it is always mentioned in the top five.

A magic that is the magic itself, freely manipulating four attributes.

All Elemental.

The magic, which is known for having the world’s best destructive power, turned the tables.

This happened about 3 minutes ago.

With my father’s participation, the tide of the battle is now rapidly turning in our favor.

“Reinforcements are continuing to arrive from other areas, so you don’t need to worry too much.”

“Yes. It seems so.”

The critical point has been passed.

If we take just one more step, our victory will be confirmed.

“Here. Thank you. If any more important reports come in…”

Just as I was about to shake off my worries and hand the phone back to Kim Seok-hyun.

Kugugugugung-! Kuuung!

The ground shook.

A violent tremor reminiscent of a 6th-circle earth attribute magic, Earthquake [a powerful earth magic].

It was about a magnitude 6 on the Richter scale.

Such a level of earthquake violently shook the hotel building.

“Young Master!”

Kim Seok-hyun hugged me with a serious expression.

And at the same time.

Kwaaaaaaaang-!

The hotel exploded.