The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 317

Following Sein Vinoche’s sudden intrusion, Shin Hayul appeared before Sophia.

‘Why…’

Sophia said, her voice trembling as she looked at Shin Hayul’s back.

‘Why are you here…’

The operation had already failed.

Even if two more people came to support them now, nothing would change.

It would only increase the number of casualties.

‘I thought there might be an unforeseen variable, so I moved as quickly as possible, but…’

Shin Hayul looked around with a serious expression.

‘This isn’t just a variable; it’s beyond that.’

The expressions of the mages were filled with despair.

Sophia Anscheff was similarly frustrated.

The three invisible Tower Lords [powerful mages who lead the mage towers].

And the Black Magic King, who was unscathed among them.

Even with just visual information, one could immediately grasp the current situation.

‘It seems the Black Magic King was already in perfect condition.’

‘…Yes. We were wrong.’

Their expectations were completely off.

The Black Magic King hadn’t been holding back to control his power.

The Black Magic King was already at his peak.

The result was this current catastrophe.

The alliance was brutally crushed by the Black Magic King, who was armed with 10th circle magic [the highest level of magic].

‘There’s no way to stop the Black Magic King now. He was… just toying with us. He was just enjoying watching us struggle…’

Sophia’s despair was profound.

If despair had depth, she had reached the very bottom of hell.

Sophia had already given up all hope.

Everything was useless in the face of the Black Magic King’s power.

Sophia truly believed that.

‘It’s over. Everything is over… Even if we survive and return, all that awaits us is a dark future. This world… is practically in the Black Magic King’s grasp…’

‘I can’t listen to any more of that.’

At that moment, Sein approached.

Whether the Black Magic King had simply let her go, or whether Sein had done something to create distance between herself and the Black Magic King, no one knew.

Everyone present couldn’t even see Sein’s movements as afterimages.

Therefore, they couldn’t know how Sein had managed to swing the sword that was facing the Black Magic King and arrive here.

They could only guess that Sein had done something, seeing the Black Magic King’s eyes filled with interest.

‘You’ve fallen, Sophia Anscheff.’

Sein Vinoche made direct eye contact with Sophia Anscheff.

Her eyes, like those of a fierce demon, clashed with the fragile, glass-like gaze that seemed on the verge of shattering.

‘Though our paths may be different, I thought our goals were the same. I thought we shared the same objective of reaching the pinnacle. But…’

Sein frowned, her expression one of grief rather than anger.

‘What is this pathetic state you’re in?’

It was so regrettable, so heartbreaking, that it made her angry.

‘Has the poison of time made you like this? Where has the steadfast Sophia Anscheff gone… where is the Sophia Anscheff I knew?’

Sophia Anscheff had been Sophia Anscheff since before Sein had come of age.

The world’s greatest archmage.

Sein had secretly admired her.

As someone who stood at the pinnacle of swordsmanship, she had never said it out loud, but she respected Sophia more than anyone else in the world.

Yet, what was this pathetic state?

Saying it was over.

Saying there was no hope.

Even though they were still alive.

Even though there was still a chance to resist, she was only spouting negative words.

‘How pathetic.’

At Sein’s blunt criticism, Sophia frowned, her expression irritated.

‘…The confidence of the ignorant is called recklessness.’

Sophia coldly sneered.

‘How pathetic. You can say that because you don’t know that man’s power. If you saw that man’s power, you would…’

You would react the same way I did. You would have no choice.

Sophia’s eyes were saying that.

‘No.’

Sein replied, her eyes still shining brightly.

She lightly gripped the sword she was holding again, turned her body, and looked up at the Black Magic King.

‘I am different from you.’

In the darkness, her eyes were like a sun shining brilliantly.

Sein’s eyes were blazing with all sorts of emotions.

‘I will not give up like you. I will not despair.’

No matter how monstrous the man called the Black Magic King was.

Even if the difference in skill was so great that she couldn’t even lift a finger.

She would never give up.

Sein’s eyes were saying that.

‘Until this life disappears. No. Even after this life disappears.’

Sein extended her sword towards the Black Magic King.

‘I will show you that now.’

I will cut your throat now.

Sein’s sword tip was saying that.

‘Shin Hayul.’

She called out to Shin Hayul in that state.

‘You take command of the retreat. That woman is no longer fit to perform the role of commander.’

‘That’s…’

Shin Hayul tried to object, saying that wasn’t right, but then closed his mouth.

Currently, Sophia was in a state of mental and physical weakness.

It was not a good idea to entrust command to Sophia in her current state.

However, it was also impossible to hand over command to another mage.

The other mages were in a worse state than Sophia.

‘…Understood. Then I will take command for now.’

In this situation, Shin Hayul was the only one who could take command.

‘I’m counting on you.’

Sein said, her gaze fixed on the Black Magic King.

Her sharp eyes, filled with a strong will not to miss a single move of the Black Magic King, smiled faintly.

‘I didn’t expect you to wait. You’re a surprisingly romantic man.’

‘What. I just gave you some consideration since I saw something good.’

The corners of the Black Magic King’s lips curled up slightly.

‘Then is it all over now?’

‘Yes. It’s over.’

Sein’s aura grew sharper and sharper.

Like a single sword.

Cold and sharp.

‘Good. Then bring out that thing from before again.’

The Black Magic King took a stance for the first time.

As if wary of the upcoming battle, he lowered his posture and took a defensive stance.

‘The Black Magic King is… wary…?’

Sophia was shocked by the sight.

The Black Magic King, who had been standing leisurely all this time, was now taking a stance and being wary.

What had he seen in Sein to react like that?

‘You’ll regret it.’

Sein raised her sword.

Slowly. So slowly that the movement was barely visible.

Sein’s sword rose towards its peak.

‘Giving me this much time.’

And the next moment.

The sword disappeared.

It wasn’t a metaphorical expression like the sword was too fast to see.

‘The mind (心) inherently means something that exists but cannot prove its existence.’

The sword literally disappeared.

It vanished without a trace from this world.

‘My sword is the same.’

But it was only the superficial appearance of the sword that had disappeared.

The essence of the sword had not disappeared.

‘My sword is the mind. Therefore, it exists for sure, even though it is invisible.’

Therefore, the sword of the mind.

The Mind Sword (心劍).

FWOOOSH-!

A huge fountain of blood erupted from the Black Magic King’s body.

A massive wound that stretched from his right shoulder to his left waist.

Blood poured out of the wound like a waterfall.

‘There is nothing in this world that I cannot cut if I intend to.’

The Black Magic King, having suffered an unexpected injury, fell to the ground.

The Black Magic King landed on the ground and touched his wound.

‘Is this… my blood?’

Blood.

His own blood.

The red liquid that stretched and dripped down like sticky gum.

‘It’s been a long time since I’ve seen red.’

The Black Magic King smiled brightly as he looked at the dripping blood.

‘Not bad.’

* * *

‘Now is the time.’

The opportunity had arrived.

I immediately sent a signal for everyone to flee.

At the same time, I used a barrier-breaking formula created by combining Shinan and Parhae [two different magical traditions or schools].

I made a hole in the barrier.

‘The hole I made when I infiltrated is still there. You can go out that way.’

At my words, everyone moved like a flash and ran out of the barrier.

They had all despaired after seeing the Black Magic King’s power, so they ran without looking back.

‘…The Black Magic King is currently critically injured. I think now is the time for a counterattack, but…’

Of course, not everyone was like that.

Out of the 40-plus mages, only 4, the Tower Lords, did not flee.

They saw the opportunity created by Sein Vinoche as a chance for a counterattack and were renewing their determination.

‘If we help Sein Vinoche and launch a joint attack now…’

‘No.’

However.

‘I will be blunt. You will only be a hindrance to Sein right now.’

Sein’s Mind Sword was not yet perfect.

Although she had reached the realm of Mind Sword Harmony, her training period and practical experience were too lacking.

Detailed applications such as supporting allies with the Mind Sword were impossible.

Currently, Sein’s Mind Sword was only focused on attack.

For Sein right now, a joint attack would do more harm than good.

‘There is no choice but to flee now.’

The only option we could choose now was to flee.

Entrust everything to Sein, leave the battlefield as quickly as possible.

And Sein, who was left alone, would flee last.

That was the best option.

‘…’

The mages bit their lips as if they were frustrated.

Their expressions seemed to be filled with all sorts of thoughts.

‘There’s no time to hesitate. Hurry!’

‘…Understood.’

At my urging, everyone moved with an expression that they had no choice.

No, they were about to move.

‘My words are absolute.’

That would have been the case if the Black Magic King hadn’t interfered.

‘I would have told you. To leave half of you, or the Tower Lords’ lives behind.’

The Black Magic King’s blood gathered as if it was fusing with mana.

‘Black magic that uses blood as a medium…!’

Dangerous!

I immediately moved to defend.

However.

‘Too late!’

It was too late.

The Black Magic King’s magic was prepared faster than I could prepare my defense magic.

‘I will prove my authority with my blood.’

The Black Magic King’s blood and mana became one.

And then swirled.

‘Die.’

The Black Magic King stretched out both hands and clenched his fists, pointing at different Tower Lords.

CRACK!

A sound of something twisting was heard.

And then.

THUD, THUD!

Two Tower Lords collapsed.

‘Heart Breaker.’

A high-level black magic that was activated using blood as a medium.

A magic that crushes the target’s heart from a distance, killing them instantly.

Heart Breaker.

Two Tower Lords lost their lives after being directly hit by that magic.

‘That leaves two.’

The Black Magic King fused mana and blood again.

He clenched his fists again, with the intention of killing the remaining two Tower Lords.

‘The same magic won’t work on me.’

However, the Black Magic King could not achieve his goal.

Sein swung her sword and cut off the Black Magic King’s magic.

‘…Ho.’

The Black Magic King looked genuinely surprised.

‘Your sword even cuts through my magic. Indeed, you are worthy of boasting that there is nothing you cannot cut.’

At that moment, the bodies of the two Tower Lords flew out of the barrier at lightning speed.

The two did not throw themselves out of their own will.

Sophia used telekinesis and wind magic to blow the two of them out.

‘Hmm. I missed them.’

The Black Magic King murmured nonchalantly, with an expression that showed no hint of regret.

‘I thought it would be quite unpleasant. But surprisingly, I don’t feel that bad.’

The Black Magic King smiled faintly.

‘Is it because I received an unexpected gift?’

He smiled and looked at Sein, me, and Sophia in turn.

‘I’m even happy.’

His expression was one of genuine enjoyment.